The search for a cure for cystic fibrosis will include walking 1.9 miles for the cause at the Great Strides walk.
The walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at North Oak Park. Hosted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, check in begins at 8:30 a.m. with the walk following at 10 a.m.
According to cff.org, about 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects the lungs and digestive system, causing thick mucus to clog the lungs. This leads to severe infections and can prove life-threatening.
An airway clearance is mainly done each day to help loosen the built up mucus in the lungs. People with cystic fibrosis also take antibiotics, like inhaled medicines, to help keep their airways clear. Pancreatic enzyme supplements are also taken to guide the absorption of needed nutrients. Patients take their disease day by day with the given treatments waiting until a new one is found.
Raising money, mainly through fundraising, for these walks is one of the main goals of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
There are teams that can be put together in order to help support the cause.
“The teams fundraise usually if they have someone like a grandmother or loved one who battles cystic fibrosis, by having bake sales or sending letters out to their friends to seek support” said Ashley Mills, executive director of the New Orleans chapter.
If you do not want to create a team there are several pre-existing ones that can be joined.
“We have teams raising money all year long and the money is later turned in at the walk,” said Mills. “Money [raised] throughout our Foundation goes to fund cystic fibrosis research all across the country. One of our mainly funded care centers is at Tulane University.”
To register for the Great Stride walk, make a donation or volunteer, visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s website cff.org/greatstrides.