Illinois Sepsis Challenge 5K Fun Run and Walk

Orland Park Will Be Ground Zero August 9th in Battle against Deadly Medical Emergency

2nd Annual Illinois Sepsis Challenge 5K Fun Run and Walk

to Raise Awareness on America’s Third Leading Killer

A cut at a playground, a tear of a cuticle at a nail salon, a wound from a house repair…

If left unattended, these everyday events can – and too often do – lead to one of our nation’s top killers: sepsis.

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, is a toxic response to infection that kills more than a quarter of million Americans each year – more than breast, lung and prostate cancer combined. In fact, sepsis is the third leading cause of death in the US, killing more kids than cancer. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Hundreds of Illinois community residents will join forces Saturday, August 9th, in Orland Park to raise awareness of this potentially deadly medical emergency at the 2nd Annual Illinois Sepsis Challenge 5K Fun Run and Walk. The event, organized by Presence Health in coordination with the national Sepsis Alliance, also will help raise money to educate people about actions they can and should take to fight sepsis. Illinois lawmakers underscored the importance of this issue by passing a resolution declaring August 9th Illinois Sepsis Day and encouraging people to join the fun run and walk.

“Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that can affect anyone, but, unfortunately, the signs of this medical emergency are not widely-known,” notes State Rep. Fred Crespo (D) who championed the Illinois resolution. “By raising awareness of this important public health issue, we can help to ensure that the symptoms of sepsis can be quickly recognized and treatment administered when every minute counts.”

Individuals interested in joining the Sepsis Challenge are encouraged to sign up online at http://illinois.sepsischallenge.org/

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