Bob Woodruff Gets Roasted for Spina Bifuda

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22  — ABC News anchor Bob
Woodruff, nearly killed by a roadside bomb while reporting in Iraq, will be
the guest of honor during the 19th Annual Roast for Spina Bifida on Monday,
Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C.

A who’s who of media and political leaders will gather to roast
Woodruff and raise funds to further the fight against Spina Bifida, the
most common, permanently disabling birth defect in the United States
affecting more than 70,000 men, women, adolescents and children. At
Washington’s Omni Shoreham Hotel, media colleagues and legislators will rib
Woodruff on his endeavors to date including his time as co-anchor of “World
News Tonight.” The distinguished leaders who will roast Woodruff will be
announced in September.
A multi-lingual lawyer turned journalist, Woodruff’s diverse and award-
winning, global reporting to date includes Operation Iraqi Freedom, the
death of Pope John Paul II, North Korea and Iran, Hurricane Katrina, the
2006 Palestinian elections and many others. In February, Woodruff and his
wife, Lee, published an account of their lives after the injury titled, In
an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing. A bio may be found at:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=127761 .
“We’re thrilled that Bob is lending his time to help show the
importance of improving the quality of life for people with Spina Bifida
and educating women on how to prevent it,” said Cindy Brownstein, Spina
Bifida Association’s Chief Executive Officer.
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect (NTD) that occurs in the first
month of pregnancy when the spinal column fails to close completely. The
Roast was founded in 1989 by Judy Woodruff (no relation) and Al Hunt, whose
25-year-old son, Jeffrey Hunt, was born with Spina Bifida.
Advance tickets may be purchased through the SBA office at 800-621-3141
or 202-944-3285 or via e-mail: Roast@sbaa.org. For more details, contact
Mary Corcoran Knoll at (888) 837-8777.
Approximately 65 million women of childbearing age in the United States
are potentially at risk for having a pregnancy affected by Spina Bifida,
which may occur with no prior family history. Women of childbearing age can
reduce their risk of having a child with Spina Bifida by taking 400
micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. The Hispanic community is the
largest U.S. risk group.

SOURCE Spina Bifida Association