On Monday July 28, 2003 at 7:30 p.m., The CFIDS Association of America will recognize Laura Hillenbrand, author of “Seabiscuit: An American Legend,” at a special screening of “Seabiscuit,” a feature film starring Tobey McGuire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper, in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Hillenbrand’s literary accomplishments are only part of the story that will be shared with special guests including Bob Costas, Diane Rehm, Tony Kornheiser, Arch Campbell and Andrew Beyer.
As chronicled in hundreds of publications and news programs, Ms. Hillenbrand wrote her highly-acclaimed book while battling a debilitating illness — chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
When she began work on “Seabiscuit,” the book on which the movie is based, she knew the terrible toll the project would take on her body. At times the fatigue was so crushing, the vertigo and pain so fierce, that she could only write one sentence at a time.
“Seabiscuit” took everything she had. But Ms. Hillenbrand wrote to “escape” her illness, living through the ‘Biscuit and his hard-luck jockey. “I identify with them,” Hillenbrand says. “This is a story of hardship. For me and everyone else with CFS, it’s the story of your life, to get up and gird yourself for each and every day.”
More than 800,000 Americans suffer from CFS, an illness characterized by incapacitating fatigue, memory and concentration problems, severe pain and body weakness and persistent flu-like symptoms. Despite over a decade of research, the cause of the illness is not known, there is no diagnostic test and treatment is aimed primarily at symptom relief.
Laura Hillenbrand didn’t plan to be a spokesperson for CFS. Yet, she has helped to change the perception of the illness by speaking about the serious impact it has had on her life.
The CFIDS Association of America is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to conquering CFS. Since 1987, the Association has invested $14 million in education, public policy and research in its efforts to bring an end to the suffering caused by CFS.
CFS is also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS). For more, visit www.cfids.org.
