Walkers from every corner of Canada help turn the corner on cystic fibrosis

7^th annual Great Strides™: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis walk raises more than $2.95 million in support of cystic fibrosis cause

Toronto, ON (June 7, 2011) – On Sunday, May 29, thousands of Canadians participated in the 2011 Great Strides™ walk to help step up the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF). To date, nearly $13 million has been raised since 2005 and will support CF research and care programs funded by Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

In more than 65 locations across Canada, families, friends and colleagues joined together as one community to help find a cure for CF.

“Each great stride taken and every donation made from every corner of Canada will help us to turn the corner on this devastating disease,” said Maureen Adamson, Chief Executive Officer of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “We are tremendously grateful to all the dedicated volunteers, participants, organizers and sponsors who made the Great Strides™ walk a huge success.”

Cystic fibrosis cuts young lives short and is the most common fatal genetic disease that affects Canadian children and young adults. There is no cure. Each week in Canada, two children are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and one person dies from the disease.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada helps Canadians principally by funding research and supporting high quality care. Research programs are targeted at correcting the basic defect at the cellular level; other research aims to develop treatments for the symptoms and complications caused by the disease. Cystic Fibrosis Canada supports high quality care by providing grants to 42 specialized CF clinics and five transplant centres.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada is grateful to its Great Strides™ sponsors: Zellers, Kin Canada, Siemens Canada Ltd., Advocis and Gilead Sciences Canada.

About cystic fibrosis and Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Cystic fibrosis is a multi-system disease that affects mainly the lungs and the 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. Thick mucus builds up and blocks the ducts of the pancreas, preventing enzymes, which help to digest food, from reaching the intestines. As improved therapies have helped to address the malnutrition issues, ultimately most cystic fibrosis-related deaths are due to lung disease.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada is a national health charity committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, and to helping people and families affected by cystic fibrosis cope with their daily fight. As a global leader in CF research, the organization invests more dollars in life-saving cystic fibrosis research and care than any other non-government agency in Canada. In 2011, Cystic Fibrosis Canada is investing nearly $6.5 million to fund 56 promising research projects, as well as more than 50 fellows and students, and is delivering more than $2 million to fund clinical care programs in Canada.

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For more information, or to speak with a local family affected by cystic fibrosis, please contact:

Diana Ginsberg
Acting Media Relations Officer
Cystic Fibrosis Canada
1-800-378-2233 ext. 290
dginsberg@cysticfibrosis.ca
www.cysticfibrosis.ca
 

Reviewed/updated: 2011-06-07