Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States ( 9,000 in the UK, and 70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
Recently published in
The Guardian, scientists in the UK have found a treatment for this deadly disease that uses gene therapy to incorporate a gene into the lungs of CF patients so they produce healthy proteins. But, the recession has hit the CF Trust hard, and the funding for such an incredible project has run out. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has launched a
campaign to raise money to support Stage II Clinical Trials. They need to raise £6 million over the next 6 weeks in order to move forward. They're currently at just around £50,000.
I don't know if anyone here has been affected by CF, but the young daughter of a former coworker of mine has this deadly disease. Isla has to undergo physical therapy twice a day, where the wind is basically knocked out of her for 30 minutes straight. Apart from that, she has to do several 20minute breathing treatments, and takes at least 35 pills per day. She is the sweetest and toughest little girl, who just celebrated her 5th birthday and started kindergarten last month. 50 years ago, she wouldn't have lived long enough to see either of these milestones. Please try spread the word and donate whatever small amount you can afford, so that children with CF can live long and healthy lives just like the rest of us!!
