Wescoe Walk for Awareness of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Guest blog post by Jennifer H. Wescoe, M.Ed., NCC, Executive Director, Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis

My Dad, Ron Wescoe, was the type of Dad who had all the time in the world for my two older brothers and me. He would sit and talk with us, really talk with us, about what was happening in our lives. We felt important and loved. Being a present and amazing Dad, translated into being a present and amazing football coach who was very involved in the community. He was there for his football players by simply listening to them, picking them up for practice, buying them cleats or handing out Tastykakes; yet, he expected them to do their very best.

My Dad was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a lung disease with no known cause or cure, in the fall of 2003 and sadly passed away on Friday, October 29, 2004. My Dad was committed to his family and the community. Now, we are committed to him by helping others coping with this serious lung disease. He will always be remembered.

On Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Upper Saucon Township Park in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, the Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis hosted the Wescoe Walk and celebrated 12 years of raising awareness and educating the community about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

The Wescoe Walk has weathered thunderstorms, the freezing cold, and, yes…a blizzard! I believe the weather represents the many obstacles and challenges a patient with IPF and their caregivers cope with every single day. Yet, hope was clearly felt on that Saturday with blue skies, warmth and laughter in the air.

There were great opportunities for walkers to learn more about IPF throughout the two-mile walk. Informational signs were posted on the route such as, “What is IPF?”; “What are the symptoms?”; “What is the prevalence?” In addition, the Gift of Life had an informational table to help educate the community about organ and tissue donation.

It was a morning of excitement and fun, too! 99.9 FM “The Hawk” was spinning the tunes while Southern Lehigh High School cheerleaders rooted on the walkers! There were refreshments with raffle baskets, as the Walk is graciously supported by area businesses.

The benefit of the Wescoe Walk has been profound for many people. One walk participant who suffered from this disease said,

"I have been attending the Wescoe Walk since 2008, shortly after I was diagnosed with IPF. I have been blessed with a double lung transplant in December 2014, but so many are suffering and dying from this disease. Attending the Wescoe Walk is very important to me because it is continuously helping bring awareness to this horrific disease and raising money to help find a cure."

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung condition where the lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This scarring thickens and stiffens the tissue, making it more difficult for the lungs to work properly. Pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, and the need to raise awareness and educate the community is very important for patients so that they are properly treated and find the support that they need.

The Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis has worked together with Temple Lung Center to continue to help promote the importance of research, education, and awareness in the IPF community. It is a privilege to have the Temple Lung Center as our sponsor. Temple continues to reach out to the community to push forward in an effort to raise awareness and educate the public about IPF.

Overall, the walk was a great day for patients, caregivers and supporters, and we look forward to another Wescoe Walk next year. 

To learn more about our upcoming IPF community events, support group, and 2017 IPF Information Seminar contact:

Jennifer H. Wescoe, M.Ed., NCC
Executive Director, Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis
[email protected]