FACEBOOK PARTICIPATION CAN SAVE LIVES!

FOR EVERY 200 MEMBERS ON FACEBOOK THAT JOIN THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS RESEARCH GROUP ON FACEBOOK $1WILL BE DONATED TO THE Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. While $1 isn't much, it is really important because the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation had to cut its research budget by $10 million dollars this year. We have to work really hard to raise that extra money and keep the resarch budget going! My daughter has cystic fibrosis so this is very important to me and 30,000 other Americans.

There are already over 46,000 members, and I hope you will be part of that growing group. Can you imagine if everyone on ActiveRain joined!

What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
- clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections
- obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common genetic anamoly. Approximately 1 in every 25 Americans is has a CF gene. To have a child with CF requires that both parents have the gene. When I met and married my husband, neither of us had any idea that we were CF gene carriers. Then our daughter was born and we discovered the world of CF. My husband's son from a previous marriage met his wonderful wife, married, and then discovered that they both are carriers too when their son was born and later diagnosed with CF. This research is important to you too, because you could be a CF gene carrier.

Statistics
* About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year
* More than 80% of patients are diagnosed by the age of three
* At least 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older
* In 2005, the median age of survival was nearly 37 years

Almost 60 years ago, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond =D

Invite everyone you know to join !!
Remember for every 200 people that join $1 is donated.
2000 people = $10 !!


A story:

"65 Roses" is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.
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Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.
After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, "What am I working for, Richard?" He answered, "You are working for 65 Roses." Mary was speechless.
He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."
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Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.