The Sixth Annual Walk for Valley Fever is happening Saturday at the Kern County Museum.
The community is invited to the Walk for Valley Fever presented by Valley Fever Americas Foundation.
All proceeds go to improving treatment options and research toward a cure and vaccine for Valley Fever.
August is Valley Fever Awareness Month. Unless you have already had Valley Fever, you are at risk of getting this disease by living, working, playing, or passing through an area where the fungus is growing.
For all residents of Kern County, it has been estimated that you have a 1% - 3% chance per year of acquiring Valley Fever according to Kern County Public Health Services.
Due to the nature of the disease, the only practical way to prevent Valley Fever is through development of a vaccine. There also is no cure for the disease, and VFAF supports research to find a cure.
The organization also recognizes the need for increased awareness of the disease and its symptoms, and that it can be a very serious and sometimes fatal disease.
The event will be at the Pioneer Village at the Kern County Museum located at 3801 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield Saturday.
The cost is $20.00 per person and includes coffee, snacks and souvenirs. The first 450 participants to register will receive a free T-shirt, size guaranteed for those who register prior to July 20.
Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and th walk starts at 8:00 a.m. Survivors and children under 12 walk for free and survivors receive a complimentary T-shirt.
There will be games, prizes, face painting and more!
The goal of the walk is to promote awareness and raise funds to support promising academic research on the fungus which causes Valley Fever, in efforts to produce a vaccine or a cure.
