Canadians Encouraged to Give the Gift of Time to Families Impacted by Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis Canada is celebrating Giving Tuesday today with the launch of its sixth annual holiday fundraising campaign, Time is the Most Precious Gift. Today, on Giving Tuesday, the organization aims to raise $75,000 in a single day for Canadians with cystic fibrosis and every donation, up to $75,000 will be doubled by a generous private donor.
The campaign features three Canadian families who are impacted by cystic fibrosis (CF) and shares the tough reality they face – that time many take for granted is not guaranteed when you, or someone you love, live with the fatal genetic disease, cystic fibrosis.
By donating to the campaign, Canadians can help give the precious gift of time to families and individuals impacted by cystic fibrosis. This might mean more time out of the hospital, more time playing outside with friends, more time with beloved family members, more time to chase dreams and more time do to everything that people without a fatal disease take for granted.
“It is hope for the future that has allowed us to cope with our CF diagnosis. I am so grateful for those that are fighting now to make a brighter future available to our infant daughter,” says Melissa White, mother of Charlotte, 15 months, who lives with cystic fibrosis. “This holiday season our simple hope is to enjoy another year together, happy and healthy and full of gratitude for all that we have.”
The stories featured in the campaign focus on families with young children, like the Whites, who are hopeful for a better future for their kids thanks to the great strides in access to medicines and in research that Cystic Fibrosis Canada is helping to lead today. New cystic fibrosis treatments, like the miracle drug Trikafta, are becoming more accessible in Canada and are set to change the trajectory of the disease for many Canadians with CF in years to come. For those who Trikafta cannot help, there is hope for more research breakthroughs, and Cystic Fibrosis Canada is focused on advancing research to find new treatments and ensure every Canadian with cystic fibrosis has the chance to live a longer and healthier life.
“Every Canadian living with cystic fibrosis deserves the gift of time. We hope this holiday campaign resonates with donors and supporters of Cystic Fibrosis Canada – especially at this time of the year, when families are all looking forward to time spent making precious new memories together,” says Carly Schur, Chief Development Officer at Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “A gift to Cystic Fibrosis Canada this season is the best way to ensure our important work to lengthen and improve lives continues.”
Following the Giving Tuesday $75,000 gift match, there is a second phase of the campaign with another incredible gift-matching opportunity. A second generous private donor is matching all donations up to $150,000 by 11:59pm EST on December 31st, when the campaign ends.
As a donor funded organization, this annual campaign, and others, is an important part of Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s work. It ensures that the organization’s critical work to lengthen and improve the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis can continue. This work includes: getting access to vital CF medicines, like Trikafta, for all who can benefit; running the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Registry to inform research & healthcare initiatives; driving CF research to find the next breakthrough; funding specialized clinics and healthcare programs to ensure Canadians receive the best possible care; and, providing needed information and support to the CF community.
The campaign is featured across multiple channels, including on social media, email and in the mail. You can view short videos of the White family and Houle-Gélinas family’s stories on Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s YouTube channel.
Visit the Time is the Most Precious Gift campaign page now to make a donation and help change lives.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. There is no cure. Of the Canadians with cystic fibrosis who died in the past three years, half were under the age of 34. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, degenerative multi-system disease that affects mainly the lungs and digestive system. In the lungs, where the effects are most devastating, a build-up of thick mucus causes severe respiratory problems. Mucus and protein also build up in the digestive tract, making it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients from food. In addition to the physical effects of the disease, mental health concerns are emerging; anxiety and depression are common among this population. Double lung transplants are the final option for patients with end-stage disease; most fatalities of people with CF are due to lung disease.
About Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Cystic Fibrosis Canada has dramatically changed the cystic fibrosis story. We have advanced research and care that has more than doubled life expectancy. Since being founded by parents in 1960, Cystic Fibrosis Canada has grown into a leading organization with a central role engaging people living with cystic fibrosis, parents and caregivers, volunteers, researchers and healthcare professionals, government and donors. We work together to change lives for the 4,344 Canadian children and adults living with cystic fibrosis through treatments, research, information and support. Despite our remarkable progress together, we are not yet done. Not when half of the Canadians with cystic fibrosis who died in the past three years were under the age of 34. We will keep pushing, keep going further until all people with cystic fibrosis can and do experience everything life has to offer —and enjoy everything life has to offer.
For more information, please contact:
Aisha Champness, Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 647 218 1255
Email: achampness@cysticfibrosis.ca
Cateryne Rhéaume, National Bilingual Communications and Marketing Associate
Tel: 438 868 4451
Email:crheaume@fibrosekystique.ca
