Living Stronger! Living Longer!

Ken WieheVice Chairman, CFLF

Photo courtesy of www.cflf.org

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. Its one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults.

It is a life-threatening disorder

Photo courtesy of www.cflf.org

41 yeardifference!

78.5

When Brian was born in 1976 he wasn’t expected to live beyond the age of 15, if he was lucky.

Thanks to awareness and research, the life expectancy has advanced with him. Unfortunately, the life expectancy has now only reached 37. Brian is 37.

Even though Brian is up against his life expectancy he is in great shape and credits a large part of his survival and health to his active lifestyle.

It is this active lifestyle that drove Brian to create the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation (CFLF)

Photo courtesy of www.cflf.org

http://www.cflf.org/Photos courtesy of www.cflf.org

Research has shown that exercise helps clear the lungs, helping to prevent infection, and benefits the patient psychologically. These benefits in turn can have a drastic impact on a patient’s life span.

One board member of CFLF, Barbara Harison, has CF and has been physically active her entire life, swimming literally 3-5 times per week, every week. She is now 65 years old!

More than 160 individuals have benefited from our grants since 2007 but with approximately 30,000 people in the US who have CF there are many more to help!

Unfortunately, the story is not always a positive one. One grant recipient passed away at the age of 25 only a few months after receiving a grant from CFLF and before she was able to utilize it to pursue her gym membership.

This is the reality of CF. The message is that we need to do what we can now, because every day

counts. With your support we can have a drastic and lasting impact on more people

continuing to live longer with this disease.

Please consider making a contribution to support the CFLF in helping people like Rosie, Mario, Kyle, and Rachel with Living Stronger! and Living Longer! with CF

If you can’t make a donation now but would like more information, please sign our mailing list.

WWW.CFLF.ORGPhotos courtesy of www.cflf.org

Our mission is simple: Raise money to provide grants to those living with CF that they can use towards exercised-based recreation.

The feedback that we receive from grant recipients is amazing. Below is an excerpt of a letter we received from the mother of one of our grant recipients, named Rosie:

“The grant enabled Rosie to attend this awesome summer program and as a result helped her to take her mind off of all the difficult parts of having CF and instead she felt just like all of the other kids. She was so happy and carefree, and got tons of exercise at the same time. Thank you so much for giving us the grant. It was so appreciated and has added so much happiness to our daughter's life.”

This is not about something monumental or earth shattering, its about helping a little girl feel good and healthy and more importantly to feel normal, just like all the other kids.

Please visit our website: www.cflf.orgFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFLifestyle and https://twitter.com/KennethWieheFriend us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFLifestyle

Letter excerpt courtesy of www.cflf.org