'Zebra walk' to help those with immune deficiency

The Immune Deficiency Foundation will hold its second annual Walk for Primary Immunodeficiency on Sunday, Oct. 26, at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.

Registration for the 1.2-mile hike begins at 8:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 9:45 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m.

The theme for this year's trek is "Think Zebra," a reference to the medical school saying, "When you hear hoof beats, think horses." In other words, doctors are taught to look for the most likely diagnosis, but with diseases like immune deficiency, they need to look beyond that.

Primary immunodeficiency diseases, or PI, affect children and adults who are born with an immune system that is either absent or severely compromised, which leads to a greater risk of infections. In most cases, there is a pattern of chronic infections before PI is suspected. There are more than 200 types of PI - some are relatively common and others are quite rare. Roughly 250,000 people are diagnosed with PI in the United States, but thousands more go undetected. Because PI can lead to serious and debilitating diseases, it is critical to get an early diagnosis and proper medical care.

The Immune Deficiency Foundation is a national patient organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of people with primary immunodeficiency diseases through advocacy, education and research.

The fundraising walks are designed to support the thousands of individuals and families living with primary immunodeficiency throughout the United States. Participants can organize or join a team or register as an individual. Registration is available for walkers and non-walking supporters. For details, contact www.walkforPI.org or call (800) 296-4433.