Going All Out in the Race Toward a Cure

Jeannette Morrill

A few International PH Conferences ago Carl Hicks, who is now PHA’s Executive Vice President, gave a speech about “Hope is a Verb.” He articulated our community’s tradition of fighting back against this devastating disease in the best way we know how – each of us doing our part in big and small ways. We are a small disease state, but through the combined efforts of individuals, each racing toward a cure in their own way, we can - and have - accomplished a lot. At today’s Conference opening we saw just how powerful our collective spirit can be.

First, we saw a video from Team PHenomenal Hope, a team of four women and their crew, including Dr. Patty George from UPMC, who are on a literal race for a cure. While we enjoy Conference, they are competing in the world’s toughest cycling race, the Race Across America (RAAM), across 3,000 miles and 170,000 vertical feet of elevation from one end of the country to the other. For the past two years they have been training and raising awareness and funds for the cause. Throughout Conference we will be making announcements to Conference attendees with updates on the team and where they are in their cross-country trek. You can follow Team PH at www.PHAssociation.org/TrackTeamPH.

Next, PH patient Jeannette Morrill (pictured right) gave the Conference opening keynote about her journey, or “road trip,” with PH, which began 38 years ago when she was diagnosed in 1976. She talked about the pit stops and challenges she has had to overcome, who her pit crew is and what her hopes are for the future. In the race for a cure, Jeannette fights back as a support group leader, event organizer, advocate, speaker and Conference committee member. She also published a book about her life with PH called Living with Pulmonary Hypertension: 34 Years and Counting.

Then as a special treat, PHer Chloe Temtchine sang her PH anthem “Be Brave.” You can purchase her song on iTunes, and half the proceeds will be donated to PHA.

What a way to get this PHamily reunion officially kick started!