This Saturday, May 12, four Mum's will be running a relay of 65km's non-stop on a treadmill. They will be running for their children who have Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

 I asked one of the Mum's Donna O'Neill to explain CF for those of us who don't live with the challenges of CF.

"Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life threatening genetic disease affecting our children. It affects almost every organ in the body, but mainly the lungs & pancreas. Currently there is no cure & sufferers must adhere to a daily strict treatment regime to stay well, with daily medications, physiotherapy & often frequent hospitalisations. 

Sadly the average life expectancy is 37 years old.
 

We are incredibly inspired by our children, through everything we make them do & everything they are put through because of CF. It really is a daily "battle" to maintain our children’s health & to keep them as healthy as we can, without putting them in a bubble. A simply cold can cause a lung infection & sometimes hospitalisation for those with CF. So in a world full of coughs & colds & bacteria it is a constant challenge & that's just with their lungs. Cystic Fibrosis certainly teaches you the value of life & living it. That is why myself & 3 other CF mums have decided to do this fundraiser as a lead up to 65 Roses Day which is the annual national fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis. Inspired by the incredible amount of life that our children have & inspire us to do something to create more awareness & much needed funds that can help so many living with CF & hopefully will aid our dream of CF standing for "Cure Found".

As a parent there is an element of control you have over CF, you can ensure daily physiotherapy is done & handfuls of digestive enzymes, supplements & antibiotics are taken & that hands are washed to the point you are almost OCD over it, but every-time our children get sick, have a cough that no matter how hard you try & no matter how much antibiotics & inhaled medication is done, does not go away you are wrecked with guilt that somehow you could have done something more. Every-time they have a cough you know that little by little damage is being done to their lungs. It is an incredibly worry-some & stressful as a parent & it never lets up. 

Our fundraiser is "65kms for Cystic Fibrosis" we are doing a non stop relay of 65kms on a treadmill at our local gym, Jetts fitness - Peregian Springs on the 12th May.

Our donation page is http://www.everydayhero.com.au/65_kms_for_cystic_fibrosis we hope to raise $6500.00 for Cystic Fibrosis annual fundraising day 65 Roses Day."

Please consider donating to help Donna, Tracy, Laura & Sonia to continue their fight against CF and blast CF out of the ball park !!