BUFFALO, N.Y. – The American Lung Association and the Chris Draft Family Foundation (CDFF) have recognized families that are tackling asthma by sharing the stories of their battles. Now, professional football players have joined the cause to become captains of the Chris Draft Family Foundation’s Asthma Team™ and tell their own stories of fighting asthma. Players from NFL teams, including linebackers Chris Draft and Larry Grant and defensive linemen Leonard Little, Adam Carriker and Gary Gibson, will join families nationwide to highlight the diversity of the fight against asthma and inspire those with the disease to keep fighting.

For the past three years, the CDFF and the American Lung Association have been working together to recognize families across the country for their fight against asthma. The CDFF works with local Lung Association’s across the country to arrange for Chris Draft and other players to speak with many of the families to encourage them to keep tackling asthma. The Chris Draft Family Foundation would like to thank the Lung Association and their staff for their assistance with the Asthma Team™ program, as they have been instrumental in identifying and recognizing families nationwide. To further enforce this message, Draft serves as the National Spokesman for the Winning with Asthma campaign, working with the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association.

The Asthma Team™ is comprised of more than 23 million people that have asthma and their friends and family that are helping them tackle asthma. The team seeks to inspire, educate and recognize those that are tackling asthma or helping someone they know fight the disease. If you have asthma, or are looking out for somebody that does, you are already on the Asthma Team™. To learn more about the Asthma Team™, the NFL Captains or the Winning with Asthma campaign, visit the Asthma Team™ website at www.chrisdraftfamilyfoundation.org/initiatives/asthmateam.

About the Asthma Team™
The Asthma Team™ is a social support network driven by a nationwide coalition of individuals, families and agencies who power the Tackling Asthma™ movement of inspiration and education.

An estimated 23 million Americans suffer from asthma, and it is one of the most common chronic conditions among children. It is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children, as well as a leading cause of school absenteeism, accounting for more than 14 million total missed days of school.

Every day in America:
    * 78,000 people miss school or work due to asthma.
    * 35,000 people have an asthma attack.
    * 4,600 people visit the emergency room due to asthma.
    * 1,200 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma.
    * 10 people die from asthma.

About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.

About the Chris Draft Family Foundation
The mission of the Chris Draft Family Foundation is to strengthen communities by empowering families to live healthy lifestyles.  The Foundation focuses on seven primary initiatives with overarching themes that stress the importance of education, healthy lifestyles, character development, personal responsibility, self-discipline and physical fitness.  In the spirit of the Foundation’s logo, inspired by a painting called “The Journey”, the Chris Draft Family Foundation actively pursues partnerships with individuals, families and organizations.  On “The Journey” to change the world for the better, merging our different paths and perspectives powers our mission and strengthens our commitment to improvement and ensures the success of our actions.  For more information, please visit our website: www.chrisdraftfamilyfoundation.org.