The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) plans to increase the Leanne Storch Support Group Fund, which is focused on providing support and financing to the establishment or expansion of support groups to help patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The Fund will now be able to provide additional and larger grants expected to create a greater impact on the PF community.
The Leanne Storch Support Group Fund was created in 2012 with the main purpose of offering assistance to several national support groups throughout the US. In addition, the funding has also been invested in the activities taking place during Global Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, and other educational events, including a free, semi-annual PF clinic in San Antonio.
The idea is to increase awareness about the disease, as well as knowledge among patients, families and physicians in the local communities, which is being made possibility by investment from the Boehringer Ingelheim. “The PFF strongly believes that participating in a support group has a positive impact on the health and emotional wellbeing for both individuals and families living with pulmonary fibrosis,” stated the president and chief operating officer at PFF, Patti Tuomey in a press release.
“We look forward to offering additional funding to members of the PF community who want to start new support groups, as well as further assisting established groups so that they will be able to offer more programs,” added Tuomey. The Fund is also focused on supporting the PFF Support Group Leader Network, which in turn trains support group leaders and provides them with resources and the possibility to exchange ideas on best practices.
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“The grant that we received last year from the Leanne Storch Support Group Fund was essential to restarting our group in the greater Dallas area,” added the leader of the Dallas Fort Worth Breathe Support Group, Cindi Brannum. “As a PF patient myself, there was a clear need following the dissolution of our original group. The grant provided by the PFF allowed us to re-connect with the local PF community and share tips and information to help one another. The support group allows us to better manage this devastatingly complicated disease and helps us to live better.”