World Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Day success-fully commemorated on September 8th

For the first time in the world the inaugural edition of the World Atrial fibrillation Awareness Yoga and Run was organized on world Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Day (Second Saturday of September). This year it was celebrated on the 8th of September. It was a wonderful inspiring community awareness event, conducted in two cities in United States at Kansas City, Kansas and Glendale, Arizona. The participants included people from different walks of life, all united for a noble cause. This event was organized by the Global Atrial Fibrillation Alliance (GAFA), a not for profit physician-patient-industry partnership work-ing towards improving Atrial Fibrillation awareness around the world. University of Kansas Hospital partnered with GAFA on this successful event.

About the Run: The event at Kansas City on a beautiful Saturday morning at 60F in Shawnee Mission Park was a perfect start which began with a 30 minute Yoga session which helped relax the body and mind. Yoga session was followed by a 5K Run/Walk along the trail of picturesque Shawnee Mission Park. The race day started with registration and ended with heart healthy breakfast which provided an excellent opportunity for participants and support groups to interact with each other. The event kick started with a brief introduction by Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, Founder of the Global Atrial Fibrillation Alliance (GAFA) and the Walk/Run. Patients, physicians and supporters took part in the run to make it a grand success. The proceeds of the event will benefit investigator initiated research for the treatment and management of AF. We focus not only on diagnostic treatment and tools, but also on alternate forms of AF management such as yoga and lifestyle changes along with patient education.

The event logoAbout Atrial Fibrillation:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasingly prevalent arrhythmia that may cause significant symptoms and impair both functional status and the quality of life. It affects on average of 2-3 million people in the United States and 25 million plus people worldwide. It increases the risk of stroke and systemic embolism by 5- fold and thereby contributing to a major global public health burden. The prevalence of AF is expected to more than double its current estimated 2.3 million people in Northern America in the next 50 years and hence the need to promote awareness of this condition.

About the Organization:Global Atrial fibrillation Alliance (GAFA), a non-profit organization is a brainchild of many physicians and patients working together to promote education about Atrial Fibrillation and seeking patient involvement. GAFA aims to use this alliance as a proactive tool in involving patients in their health care decisions regarding treatment of AF. GAFA strives to promote AF awareness globally and brings international collaboration of great minds to contribute to meaningful research and successful treatment methods. Our goal is to provide people who have been affected by AF with adequate knowledge through the most current news and developments in research, information on prevention, management, and their treatment of AF, along with outlets for support and ways to raise awareness in your community and on a more global front. We will continue to raise awareness by initiating World AF Day, which will be held on the second Saturday of September every year. World AF Day is an opportunity for patients to learn the facts about AF and use this knowledge to make educated healthcare choices for themselves and their loved ones. Scientific advances have been made in the treatment of AF, and much more is understood

about the condition than was known even a decade ago. Despite these advances, many people are still unaware of AF and the management options that are available. World AF Day is an important time to promote awareness and improve education globally. This event will be celebrated worldwide next year.

Learn how you can make a difference at your next racehttp://www.global-af-alliance.org/

Event participants Bruce Knapp, Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy (Founder GAFA), Dr. Loren Berenbom (Director, Bloch Heart Rhythm Center), Shevonne Clark and Edward Ossie at Shawnee Mission Park, Shawnee, KS

Participants doing Yoga at the beginning of the event

Even the little people participated along with their parents

Drs. Emert and Lakkireddy finishing the run

Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas Hospital, Founder of the Global Atrial Fibrillation Alliance