Fundraiser with ABC’s “Everyday Health Heroes” show and the National Psoriasis Foundation

For roughly 10,000 Pittsburgh residents with psoriasis, a chronic, genetic, noncontagious disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, trips to the hair salon can be daunting due to the public discrimination many people with psoriasis face. To help combat this stigma around psoriasis, Pittsburgh resident and National Psoriasis Foundation volunteer Kymberly Harper, teams with Verve Wellness salon for a Cut-a-thon on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, which will raise money for the National Psoriasis Foundation to help find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The event will be held in conjunction with an ABC television show titled “Everyday Health Heroes,” which airs Saturday mornings after Good Morning America for ABC’s fall season.

National Psoriasis Foundation quality of life surveys show that many people with psoriasis face discrimination in public places such as hair salons because others fear their disease is contagious. The Cut-a-thon will help dispel myths that psoriasis is something you can “catch”, while raising money for a cure for this disease and the millions of Americans living with it.

One of the best hair salons downtown pittsburgh has to offer, Verve Wellness, located at 142 6^th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, will donation a portion of each haircut scheduled on Sept. 1 for the Cut-a-thon to the National Psoriasis Foundation. The cut-a-thon will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition, local Pittsburgh area residents living with psoriasis, their friends and families, and anyone who wishes to know more about the disease are invited to attend the filmed presentation portion of the fundraiser, which will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 in Verve Wellness’ 2^nd floor fitness studio.  Light refreshments will be served.

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, causing it to crack, itch and bleed. The most common autoimmune disease in the country, it affects as many as 320,000 Pennsylvanians and as many as 7.5 million Americans.  The disease has no known cure.  The National Psoriasis Foundation is a Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit that handles advocacy, research and volunteer efforts to raise awareness and funds for the cause, as well as provide support for existing patients.

Please contact Verve Wellness at 412-471-1575 to schedule an appointment during the Cut-A-Thon

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About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the country, affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans. Appearing on the skin most often as red scaly patches that itch and bleed, psoriasis is chronic, painful, disfiguring and disabling. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, a related joint disease. There is no cure for psoriasis.

About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the world’s largest nonprofit organization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Our mission is to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and to eliminate their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education. For more information, call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit www.psoriasis.org.