Walk event launched in eight cities across the U.S.

Immune Deficiency Foundation launches Walk for PI in summer of 2024

Baltimore, MD

The IDF Walk for Primary Immunodeficiency (PI), first established in 2013, brings together communities across the nation to gather and raise both funds and awareness for PI and the immunocompromised community in general. Fundraising can be done in teams or individually, and locations vary by year. These events are held at fun locations, are family-friendly, and help engage community members.

Funds raised from these events are used to support research projects focused on the diagnosis and treatment of primary immunodeficiency. Primary immunodeficiencies (PIs), also known as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), are a group of more than 450 rare, chronic conditions in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function correctly.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are approximately 500,000 individuals in the U.S. with a PI. These conditions are caused by hereditary genetic defects and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. PI can cause infection, malignancy (cancer), allergy, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, or any simultaneous combination of these issues.

Walk locations

• Boston | Franklin Park Zoo | September 7.
• Charlotte | Discovery Place Science | July 27
• Dallas | Dallas Zoo | October 19
• Milwaukee | Milwaukee Zoo | August 3
• Philadelphia | Philadelphia Zoo | July 13
• San Francisco | San Francisco Zoo | August 17
• St. Louis  | Six Flags St. Louis) | September 21
• Tampa | Zoo Tampa | October 5
• Coast to Coast | Virtual walk | December 2024

Additionally, there is a virtual option (Walk for PI Coast to Coast) for those unable to participate at the announced event locations.

The Walk for PI national sponsors include Takeda, CVS, Amgen Rare Disease, CSL Behring, and Grifols.

About the Immune Deficiency Foundation

The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) is the largest primary immunodeficiency (PI) patient advocacy group in the United States, with 44 years of expertise in primary immunodeficiency. As such, we take pride in helping to connect, engage, and empower families to live longer, stronger, healthier lives. Whether you are looking for subject matter experts on PI (clinicians or patients), information about an upcoming event, or a statement from the organization on a particular topic, we can offer guidance and resources in a variety of areas, including:

• Stories of rare, chronic, or invisible illness.
• Insurance access challenges.
• Plasma supply (and plasma-derived therapies).
• Issues related to the immunocompromised.
• The importance of newborn screening (particularly related to SCID).
• Genetic and inherited conditions.
• General healthcare or nonprofit topics.
• Difficult/long journeys to diagnosis.