Taking Great Strides to Cure Cystic Fibrosis
As a child what if your only wish as a child was to run and play like all of your friends. If only your lungs could get enough air. Sounds like easy tasks for most children, but not for a child with cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States, 39 of those reside in Brevard County. CF causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus, which clogs the airways and leads to life-threatening lung infections. The thick CF mucus also obstructs the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to break down and digest food.
When the CF Foundation began in 1955, few children with CF lived to attend elementary school. Today, because of CF Foundation supported research, the median age of survival is early 30’s. Still, only 50% of those with CF reach their 30’s. In order to help save these precious lives, the CF Foundation needs to continue to raise monies to fund the vital life saving research that is available, research that will one day lead to a cure.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Space Coast Office of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hosts a variety of special events throughout the year.
“Our exciting family event is Great Strides: A Walk For a Cure”, says Dana C. Kelley Ashley, executive director. “It’s fun for the everyone!” Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraiser, with almost $24 million raised in 2004.
Locally, family members, schools, groups and businesses can form teams of walkers. Walkers raise money through sponsors, donations, or any creative idea they come up with. All monies raised are turned in on walk day, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2005 at Wickham Park in Melbourne. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. There is food, fun, prizes and activities for all. And every walker who raises $100 will receive a “TEAM CF” t-shirt.
There are also other exciting events for 2005. A singles gala/auction, a wine and food tasting, golf tournaments, a casino night and fishing tournament. If you would like to get involved, attend an event or sponsor an event, please call the Space Coast office.
The CF Foundation has consistently been recognized as one of the top health organizations in the country at efficiently using the funds raised to invest in research and care. According to Smart Money, the magazine of The Wall Street Journal, the CF Foundation is one of the top 10 charities you can trust. Approximately 91 cents of every dollar raised goes toward research and care.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s mission is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. We need your help to raise awareness in our community and nationwide about cystic fibrosis and the ways everyone can help to find a cure.
Visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s site at https://www.cff.org/
Post Facto: There is no longer a Space Coast chapter, but visit these sites serving Orlando and West Palm Beach, FL.
North Central Florida Chapter at https://www.cff.org/north-central-florida/ is based in Winter Park, FL.
Greater Palm Beach Florida Chapter at https://www.cff.org/PalmBeach/