Each September, our client the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF)
observes Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, a 30-day campaign to raise
awareness of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a devastating lung disease affecting more
than 200,000 people in the United States.
To raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis and #PFMonth, the PFF team
tapped PFF Ambassador and retired NYPD detective Tom Frey to help us shine a
light on this disease. Tom was a 9/11 first responder who was called to Ground
Zero on that fateful day in 2001. Years later, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and then PF, all linked back to the toxic chemicals from his 9/11 rescue and
recovery efforts.
In the months leading up to September, we proactively pitched Tom’s
story to national media outlets in hopes that we can help others understand the
many journeys people affected by PF have experienced. As part of these efforts,
we secured national print, online and broadcast coverage in support of Tom’s
heartfelt story.
Broadcast: We worked with
NBC New York to plan a segment, where Tom revisits September 11 by walking the
grounds of the World Trade Center Memorial with NBC 4 reporter David Ushery.
You can watch the full segment here.
Print: Cindy Dampier of the Chicago Tribune spoke with Tom and the PFF’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Cosgrove
on a piece about 9/11-related illnesses on the rise among first responders.
Read the Tribune cover story here.
Online: Tom shared his PF
story with Today Show Online’s health contributor Agnes Pawlowski. Read about
his experience at Ground Zero in his own words here.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that remains largely unknown, even among
doctors, and can lead to later stage diagnoses. With more than 50,000 new cases
of pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed annually, it is imperative that we raise
awareness of the disease and educate patients on all of their healthcare
options. To learn more, visit www.AboutPF.org.