Cystic Fibrosis and the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Many have heard of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) but there may be a few of you who do not know what it really is.  The following is some general information to help you understand the disease, as well as details about the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF)

 
What is CF?
How Many Canadian Have CF?
What Causes CF?
The Role of the CCFF
How Do CCFF Chapters Help?
Further Information About CF and the CCFF

 

What is CF?

CF is an inherited disorder, affecting mainly the lungs and the digestive system.

In the lungs, where the effects of the disease are most devastating, CF causes increasingly severe respiratory problems.  In the digestive tract, CF often results in extreme difficulty in digesting adequate nutrients from food.

Most persons with CF eventually die of lung disease.

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How Many Canadian Have  CF?

It is estimated that one in every 2,500 children born in Canada has CF.

At the present time, approximately 3,000 children, adolescents, and adults with CF attend specialized CF clinics.

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What Causes CF?

CF is a genetic disease.  It occurs when a child inherits two copies of the defective CF gene, one from each parent.

Approximately one in every 25 Canadians is a carrier of the gene, which causes CF.  As they only have one copy of the gene, these individuals do not have CF themselves, and can never get the disease.  In most cases, they are not even aware that they are carriers, since they do not have CF, or any of its symptoms.

However, if two persons who carry the CF gene have a child, each pregnancy involves:

a 25% chance that that child will be born with CF,

a 50% chance that the child will not have CF, but will be a carrier,

a 25% chance that the child will not have CF, and will not be a carrier.

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The Role of the CCFF

Since 1960, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) has worked to provide a brighter future for every child born with CF.  Through its research and clinical programs the Foundation helps to provide outstanding care for affected individuals, while searching for a cure or control for the disease.

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in CF research.  Since the Canadian discovery, in 1989, of the gene responsible for CF, an increasingly global assault on the disease has brought them closer and closer to a solution.

The astonishing pace of the CF science suggests that there is every reason to feel optimistic about the future.

The CCFF helps support a Canada-wide network of CF clinics, which provide expert care for all Canadians with CF.  Across Canada there are 36 CF clinics which offer specialized care for children, adults, or both.  In some areas of Canada benefit from specialized care through CCFF's program of outreach clinics.

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How Do CCFF Chapters Help?

The Foundation's Chapters are made up of volunteers with a shared commitment to finding a solution to CF.  In communities across Canada, CCFF Chapters:

Promote public awareness of the CF cause through displays speaking engagements, and a wide range of activities:

Organize fundraising events to support research into a cure or control for CF;

Provide emotional support to members and help them cope with living with CF on a daily basis.

The CCFF is active in every province in Canada.

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Further information about CF or the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

For further information, contact
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Vancouver Chapter
4050 Graveley Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4A5  Canada
#13-4829 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC V5H 2C8
Canada

Or check out the Vancouver Chapter CCFF website.

You can contact the main CCFF office in Toronto.

Or check out their CCFF website.

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Reference:

Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  September 1999.  "You Were Asking".

If you have any further questions about the Scrap-A-Lot for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, are in need of tickets for the Scrap-Thon, or would like further information about Cystic Fibrosis and the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation contact Debbie.

Comments and/or problems encountered on this web site should be directed to Nancy.