Update:   The words "thank you" hardly seem to express the appreciation that my family and I have for all of you who contributed to this cause.   Through your support we have accomplished our goals.    With the help of my sister, Julie, brother Paul, nephew Zach; my oldest son's mom- Cindy and her husband Ken- I completed the American River 50 Mile Endurance Run on April 14, 2007.  I could not have done this with out them or the inspiration I found through your support; or without the lessons I learned from my Dad about hard work, setting goals and the belief that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.    What an joy to be able to honor our Father with this run.

I hope all of you know that you have not only touched our lives but through your contributions, the lives of so many others suffering with IPF.

Thank you again,

David S. Houston

Shortness of breath stopped my dad from going to karate.  Shortness of breath stopped my dad from walking on the treadmill.   Increasing shortness of breath and the fear of “pneumonia” forced my dad to finally seek medical help.   His shortness of breath continued even after April 2005 when he underwent heart bypass surgery.  Though the surgeon noted “something” on the lungs, they decided not to worry about it until afterwards.  

As Dad recovered from the heart surgery, we decided that our family would run/walk the 2006 Heart Run 5k together to celebrate our Dad surviving heart disease.   It was again, the unrelenting shortness of breath that kept dad from running or walking with us in April of that year.

Finally, the root of the shortness of breath was revealed.  A referral  to a pulmonary specialist resulted in a diagnosis Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or I.P.F.

Some estimates indicate that approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from this disease with approximately 48,000 new cases each year.  My father was one of  those new cases this year.   The death toll each year is estimated at 40,000, about the same as the death toll for breast cancer. 

IPF is a lung disorder which slowly steals away its victim’s ability to breathe.   There is no known cause; there is no known cure.    Equally troubling is that the median survival rate for IPF patients is less than three years.

The more I learned about IPF and how it would affect our family, the more a sense of hopelessness crept in to my thoughts.   Our father is sick and there is nothing we can do to help him.   Unlike many medical conditions, IPF has no cure and until very recently, there were no uniform diagnostic standards for IPF.  Even now there is no FDA approved treatment for IPF.  Researching IPF did not provide a great deal of hope.

In my search, however, I found the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which is leading the charge to further education, patient support and research efforts for pulmonary fibrosis. www.coalitionforpf.org. With that discovery I also found a way to not only honor my father during his struggle, but to help other families who have been impacted or will be impacted by this horrific condition.   I determined to raise money and raise awareness.   I need your help.

Please join me in honoring my father.  On April 14, 2007 I will be running the American River 50 Mile Endurance Run. www.run100s.com/AR50.  This run will be 50 Miles for my father and for others suffering from IPF.   While it is a bit longer run than the 5k of a year ago, with your help, I believe we can reach the goal of raising $15,000.00.   Together we can fight the shortness of breath that is taking the lives of so many.

Please dig deep and donate online.   Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.   All funds will go directly to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis.   

Your individual support will affect the lives of many.   On behalf of my father, my family and the many others who hope to find a cure for IPF, thank you.

David S. Houston