THE NATIONAL BLOOD CLOT ALLIANCE AND ALLSCRIPTS TOBACCO ROAD MARATHON TEAM UP TO STOP THE CLOT®

Rockville, MD, May 21, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is teaming up with the Allscripts Tobacco Road Marathon (TRM) to raise funds that will support the organization’s efforts to increase public awareness about potentially life-threatening blood clots and blood clotting disorders.

“After reading about the blood clot survival story of one of our long-time supporters, I was compelled to reach out and see if there was any way we could have a positive impact and help to raise awareness and potentially save lives,” explains Kazem Yahyapour, TRM President and Founder. “I’m pleased we’re able to work with NBCA now to make this happen.” 

Each day, about 274 people lose their lives to deadly blood clots, which is why the National Blood Clot Alliance is so appreciative of the work that the Tobacco Road Marathon and its incredible volunteers are doing to help support our efforts to raise awareness about this pressing public health problem.

Teresa Bordeaux, NBCA Board member and resident of Cary, North Carolina

According to Yahyapour, he was inspired by the story of TRM volunteer Crystal Gordon, which he read on her blog.  In her blog post, “Celebrating Each Step and Every Breath,” Crystal recounted the story of running a half marathon in Utah in July 2012. A few days after she returned home, she was diagnosed and hospitalized with multiple blood clots in her lungs (bilateral pulmonary emboli).

In her blog post, Crystal shared the story surrounding her diagnosis, explaining that her doctors said that she was lucky she survived. They also told her that running played a significant role in her survival, because the cardiovascular strength or stamina she previously achieved through running helped her heart react more strongly and successfully to the challenge the blood clots posed, and also helped her recover more swiftly. 

Recently, Crystal has worked with NBCA and TRM to organize an agreement between the two organizations that allows runners the opportunity to participate in this great event, next scheduled for March 13, 2016, in Cary, North Carolina, while at the same time raising money to help support blood clot education efforts by NBCA.  The full proceeds or 100 percent of race registrations generated by runners wishing to support this great cause will be donated to NBCA.

“Each day, about 274 people lose their lives to deadly blood clots, which is why the National Blood Clot Alliance is so appreciative of the work that the Allscripts Tobacco Road Marathon and its incredible volunteers are doing to help support our efforts to raise awareness about this pressing public health problem,” says Teresa Bordeaux, NBCA Board member and resident of Cary, North Carolina. “We're honored to have this support and to be in this partnership with them.”

According to NBCA, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk for blood clots, including hospitalization and surgery, pregnancy, and cancer.  In addition, the organization stresses that knowing the signs and symptoms of blood clots is important too.  The symptoms of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or arms, where they commonly form, include pain and swelling, with skin that might be discolored and/or warm to the touch, and that the symptoms of blood clots in the lungs include chest pain, particularly with a deep breath, coughing up blood, and an accelerated heart rate.

Runners interested in supporting the cause or joining Team Stop The Clot® for the Allscripts Tobacco Road Marathon should visit Crystal’s blog at www.FitWithCrit.com, where they also can obtain a registration discount code.

“I hope that with this new partnership for TRM we’re able to help people throughout North Carolina learn more about blood clots,” says Crystal Gordon, who has been instrumental in helping NBCA and TRM work together. “If we’re successful with this effort, then we’ll be helping to save lives. There’s no better volunteer work than that.”

The Tobacco Road Marathon Association is a non-profit organization dedicated with its sponsors to providing financial assistance to partner charities by channeling the passions of the North Carolina Triangle area’s running community into a powerful force for good. Next year’s race returns to the Carolina pine-lined American Tobacco Trail (ATT) with its flat, fast, granite-screen course. TRM qualifies 10 percent of its competitors for the Boston Marathon and was named among Runner’s World Magazine’s top nine new marathons in 2014. The TRM course is USA Track & Field (USATF) certified and is largely devoid of hills. The average high temperature (51 degrees Fahrenheit) delivers an ideal performance environment. Additional information on the TRM race is available at the race Web site: www.tobaccoroadmarathon.com/participate/fees-registration

NBCA is a non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and clot-provoked stroke. NBCA accomplishes its mission through programs that build public awareness, educate patients and healthcare professionals, and promote supportive public and private sector policy.

Contact:  Judi Kaplan Elkin:  301-825-9218

Mark Dill:  919-949-9263

Kazem Yahyapour: 919-280-9737