CPF announces nationwide advertising campaign to increase awareness about PF

Fleet of More than 30 Trucks Make Trips Daily Cross Country Potentially Reaching Millions, Jumbotron Ad on Busy CA Freeway Reaches More than 130,000 People Daily

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today a nationwide advertising campaign to spread the word about Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is underway in an untraditional setting – on the nation's interstates.  Together, a billboard ad and truck ads are part of a nationwide campaign to raise eyebrows and awareness of the deadly lung disease.

The billboard ad that has the potential to reach millions of people each week delivers a message about PF as more than 130,000 people pass a jumbotron (electronic advertising billboard) billboard on Northern California's Interstate 80 each day.

The jumbotron ad copy asks "How Long Have You Had That Cough?" and then lists the CPF name followed by the web address, www.cough-cough.org .  The ad space was donated by Terry Long and Bruce Seidel in honor of Seidel's friend, Bob O'Rourke, who is suffering from PF and currently awaiting a life-saving lung transplant for the disease.   Transplant is the only known cure for the disease, however less than one percent of the 128,000 who suffer from it in the U.S. qualify.  O'Rourke has been featured in national media coverage over the last several weeks including a story that appeared on NBC's The TODAY Show.

"I am pleased I could share the message with people traveling the highway in California to try and increase awareness of this horrible lung disease," said Terry Long, owner of the Jumbotron billboard on Interstate 80.  

Millions of drivers and passengers see Inman Trucking's more than 30 tractor trailer rigs driving roundtrip from North Carolina to California.  The ad on the trucks of national carrier says simply "Stop Pulmonary Fibrosis" and includes the CPF name and a different web address, www.gaspingforbreath.org.  

Both ad web addresses take visitors to the CPF's website>

"We admit this is not a typical advertising campaign," says CPF CEO Mishka Michon.  "We think it's just different enough, though, that it may get some traction in helping build awareness of PF across the country.  We also hope that other companies with media to donate will want to help spread the word.  It's literally a life-or-death story, but we need a larger forum in which to tell it."

The founder and President of Inman Trucking, Tommy Spivey, also suffers from PF and wanted to get the word out to all who see his trucks on the road.  "I want everyone to know about this disease so that we can do something about it," he said.  "It may not be soon enough to save my life, but hopefully building awareness will lead to increased funding for the disease and others will be saved," he said.  Spivey donated the ads in memory of PF patient Anita Burgin who became friends with Spivey through the CPF and died recently as well as other patients who have lost their fights to the disease.

Jeff Berry, President and CEO of People's Branding, Ltd., donated his time and talents to create the billboard ad as well as other ads for the CPF campaign and thinks the message is pervasive.  "I helped the CPF develop a series of banners, posters and outdoor ads with the provocative headline: 'How long have you had that cough?' to make people aware of this terrible disease, how it could strike anyone, and get them to go to the website for more information. It's the kind of thing you might say to someone you care about, and who may not be aware that something as innocent seeming as a persistent cough might be the beginning of something far more serious," said Berry.