The National CMV Foundation in raising awareness for congenital cytomegalovirus this June during CMV Awareness Month!

You may participate in this event virtually, or feel free to gather friends and family and organize an in-person walk in your community! Please take health and safety measures into account (including local Covid 19 protocols, rates, etc.) when deciding to participate virtually or in-person.

HOW DOES THIS EVENT WORK?

If you want to participate virtually, simply choose your own starting line, starting time, and route. Your challenge is to walk, run, or roll for 5k (3.1 miles) on June 24th, and if you feel up for it, post your accomplishment on social media with the hashtags #Strides4CMV, #StopCMV, #Screen4CMV, and #CMVAwareness so we can see how well you did!

What is CMV?

Congenital Cytomegalovirus (sy·toe·MEG·a·low·vy·rus), or CMV, is the most common infection that infants are born with. It is a leading cause of disabilities in children and is the most common, non-genetic, cause of childhood hearing loss. 1 in 200 infants are born with CMV and 1 in 5 of these infants will have a permanent health condition due to the virus. Health conditions caused by congenital CMV can include: hearing loss, vision loss, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and more. CMV is common, serious, and preventable.

If you want to host an in-person event, make it simple by choosing a route and inviting your friends and family to walk, run, or roll with you on June 24th!

We are also looking for regional "Race Captains" who are interested in hosting an in-person event in your area! Contact us for more information.

Where can I find out more?

Visit the National CMV Foundation's website for more information about all things CMV including signs & symptoms, prevention tips, screening, outcomes, and much more. https://www.nationalcmv.org

Please let us know if you have any questions at any time by reaching out via email, or messaging us directly, and thank you for your interest in the Strides 4 CMV virtual event! ❤️

At the National CMV Foundation, we work to inform and educate others on specific prevention measures to protect against the risk of CMV infection. Congenital CMV is the most common viral infection that infants are born with in the United States, occurring in about 1 in 200 births. Because CMV is a silent disease – meaning most people who are infected have no signs of symptoms (asymptomatic) – the mother is likely unaware she has CMV during her pregnancy. Find out more about the National CMV Foundation below.