Stick with me here: imagine you are swimming in the ocean. You go out further into the sea and get caught by the waves. You go around and around in the tide, and every time you swim to the surface you get caught into another wave. You are clawing to the surface for air, but cannot reach it. Now, picture that suffocating feeling happening to you every other day or every day. If you can then you have a glimpse into part of the life of a person who is suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimate 30,000 children and adults in the United States have CF(Cystic Fibrosis Foundation).

In people who are living with Cystic Fibrosis, a defective gene and its protein 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 food and absorb vital nutrients (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation). In the 1980s people with CF were expected to live to 14 years old, but with the medical advantages we have today, the life expectancy is 40 years old (HowStuffWorks.com Contributors).

Another advantage that people with Cystic Fibrosis have are the millions of voices that are speaking for them and striving to find a cure for the disease. One of those voices are Great Strides: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest national fundraising event. The foundation has more than 125,000 people participating every year in hundreds of walks across the country to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research and drug development. The CF Foundation has raised and invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support the development of new CF drugs and therapies. Walks are held at nearly 600 locations nationwide and are open to the public. Great strides provides a fantastic opportunity for family, friends, students, co-workers and colleagues to come together in support of a worthy cause (Great Strides).

Do you want to help find a cure? Then click here to see how you can help!

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