In celebration of World Pulmonary Hypertension Day on May 5, Enterprise CarShare announced its support of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).

The association helps raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension, a rare but serious heart and lung condition often misdiagnosed as asthma.

Enterprise CarShare members Marvin V. Acuna and his wife Chloe Temtchine have been working to raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension in the New York City area. For example, at a kickoff event for an Enterprise CarShare social media promotion − #CarShareNYC – Marvin revealed that Chloe suffers from pulmonary hypertension. The couple used the car-sharing vehicles instead of mass transit when traveling to Chloe’s doctor appointments to limit her exposure to germs and illness, according to Enterprise.

Last month, the New York City Enterprise CarShare office requested a $1,500 grant from its philanthropic arm, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, to support the work of the regional PHA chapter.

“PHA’s work is vital to people like Chloe who are living with and fighting this disease,” said Suzanne Appezzato, sales manager for Enterprise CarShare in New York. “This grant is a meaningful way to honor them and to support PHA’s efforts to educate the public about pulmonary hypertension, its debilitating effects and the importance of early diagnosis.”

PHA expressed gratitude for the support and funding, stressing that both are critical to increasing awareness of pulmonary hypertension.

“Chloe and Marvin have brought so much energy to our local efforts,” said Carl Hicks, PHA executive vice president. “We greatly appreciate the way Enterprise CarShare is supporting them and joining with us in the fight against pulmonary hypertension.”

Currently, Enterprise CarShare is available in more than 35 U.S. states.