ST. LOUIS — The Conquer Chiari Walk Across America is an annual fundraising and awareness event designed to draw attention to Chiari malformation, a serious neurological disorder.
The event is a series of local walks held on the same day. Organizers say in 2023, the event was held both live and virtually, involving thousands of participants and raising more than $300,000 for research and other patient-centered programs.
The 17th annual walk will be held on Sept. 21 and 28 at Boulevard Park in Lake St. Louis.
“Our goal is to have at least one walk in every state,” Conquer Chiara Executive Director Rick Labuda said. “We have invested over $5 million into Chiari research.”
Chiari Malformation
Chiari Malformation is a serious neurological disorder where the bottom part of the brain, the cerebellum, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine. This can occur in both adults and children. Symptoms include crippling headaches, neck pain, balance problems, trouble breathing, numbness and weakness in the limbs. Organizers say to date there has been very little research on Chiari and fundamental questions remain regarding its underlying cause, diagnosis, and treatment. They estimate Chiari affects over 300,000 people in the US.
Conquer Chiari
Conquer Chiari, known formally as the C&S Patient Education Foundation, is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to improving the experiences and outcomes of Chiari patients.
“We are looking for corporate partners to help us achieve our mission,” Labuda said. “If you would like to sponsor the Conquer Chiari Walk Across America, sign up online at walk.conquerchiari.org.”
For more information, call 724-940-0116. You can also email Labuda at director@conquerchiari.org.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.
