October 15, 2013, 1:12 pm -- /EPR NETWORK/ -- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism in partnership with the Human Growth Foundation will host a 4.8K W alk for Kids Growth community event on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Griffith Park, in Los Angeles. Walk for Kids Growth will increase awareness of childhood growth disorders, early diagnosis and treatment, and to raise funds for research, education, support and advocacy. Individuals of all ages and groups can register to participate at www.StepUpAndWalkForHGF.org.
Walk for Kids Growth is hosted by award-winning TV/film actor/comedian Mark Christopher Lawrence (GLEE and Chuck) and KABC Radio host Dr. Tony O'Donnell. Live entertainment will be provided by the hugely popular boy band IM5 (founded by Simon Fuller, creator of American Idol and Perez Hilton), along with 2-U-NEEK, Sophie Rose and more.
The fun-filled, community event will also feature display booths, refreshments, auction, giveaways, and a celebrity Meet & Greet/Autograph signing tent. Approximately 1,000 attendees are expected to participate including celebrities, community leaders, local businesses, and the general Southern California community.
Registration fees are $10 for youth under 18 and $15 for adults. Each registered participant will receive an event tee shirt and refreshments.
This year's event sponsors are (as of October 12, 2013) KABC Radio, Genetech, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk, Dexa Percy, and Puritas Organic Gold.
Research shows 48 percent of children in the United States evaluated with the two most common forms of growth failure have gone undiagnosed.
Our mission is for the entire Los Angeles community to get involved on December 7th, says Dr. Duke Pitukcheewanont, president of Human Growth Foundation and pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. We need community-wide support to increase awareness of childhood growth disorders so children do not have to suffer from undiagnosed and untreated growth disorders that can last for a lifetime. Children deserve to grow and lead healthy, happy lives.
For more information about Walk for Kids Growth, to sponsor or donate, contact Daphne Plump at Daphne@hgfound.org.
About the Human Growth Foundation
The Human Growth Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1965 by five families of children with growth disorders.Today, the organization is composed of thousands of parents with children who have various growth disorders, adults who are Adult Growth Hormone Deficient, physicians and other interested healthcare professionals. Their mission is to "help children and adults with disorders related to growth or growth-hormone through education, research, support and advocacy." For almost fifty years they have been the leader in providing information and educational materials to healthcare providers, affected individuals and the general public. HGF's commitment to expanding & accelerating research into growth or growth-hormone disorders has contributed over $1.5 million to young investigators through their "Small Grants Program and the Human Growth Foundation Awards Program." HGF provides two Internet Support Lists-pediatic and adult on their website. For more information about Human Growth Foundation, visit http://www.hgfound.org.
About Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Children's Hospital Los Angeles is a private, nonprofit hospital that is ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for endocrinology and diabetes care on the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals List. One of the three largest endocrine programs in the United States is operated through the hospital's Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. The Center is pioneering pediatric care through basic and clinical research programs for diabetes, obesity, growth, weight management, bone metabolism and endorcinology. For more information about the Children's Hospital Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, visit www.chla.org.