The FH Foundation And BMC Racing Team Partner To Bring Awareness To Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)

PASADENA, Calif., May 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The FH Foundation today announced a partnership with BMC Racing Team to raise awareness of a genetic disorder known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

FH is the most common cause of early heart attacks and premature coronary heart disease, impacting people of every race and ethnicity.  More than 30 million people worldwide have FH, and yet 90% remain undiagnosed.¹

If FH is found early in life, it can be managed, adding decades of life to those who receive appropriate care.  In addition, FH is a family condition.  Each first degree relative has a 50% chance of also having FH.  As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have designated FH as a top level priority for family screening.

"Entire families are riddled with heart disease and yet they do not know why.  The FH Foundation and BMC Racing Team are partnering to bring greater awareness to this inherited cause of heart disease.  Diet and lifestyle are always important, but for those of us with FH, we have a different path to winning the race against heart disease," said Katherine Wilemon, Founder and President of the FH Foundation.

"By raising awareness through our partnership with FH Foundation, we hope to educate our fans on identifying and managing their risk of heart disease," Said Jim Ochowicz, manager of BMC Racing team.

This partnership between BMC Racing Team and the FH Foundation will kick off during the Amgen Tour of California, America's premiere cycling race. Through this joint effort, the FH Foundation and BMC Racing Team will engage participants and fans, bringing awareness that a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol levels are strong indicators of FH and require specific screening and care.  Unlike many genetic conditions, FH is a story of hope - science and medicine can change the future of generations.

About the FH Foundation™
The FH Foundation is a Pasadena-based patient-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to education and research of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). The mission of the FH Foundation is to raise awareness and save lives by increasing the rate of early diagnosis and encouraging proactive treatment.  To learn more about the FH Foundation, visit www.thefhfoundation.org.  Health care providers can visit www.theFHFoundation.org/FIND-FH to gain insight into how many individuals with probable FH are in their practice and community.

About BMC Racing Team
BMC Racing Team is a California-based registered UCI World Tour team sponsored by BMC Switzerland. Driven by a passion for cycling and desire to be the best cycling team in the world, BMC Racing Team has recorded 30+ wins per season since 2013 and is home to some of the greatest cyclists in the world.

About Tour of California 
Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California has become one of the most important races on the international cycling calendar, showcasing the most accomplished cyclists from around the world.  In addition, the event provides cyclists the opportunity to preview prospective competition leading to summer's Tour de France.

¹ Weigman, A, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in children and adolescents: gaining decades of life by optimizing detection and treatment, Eur Heart J 2015, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv157.

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SOURCE The FH Foundation