According to the CDC, 30,000 Americans suffer from Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic illness that affects mucus glands in the digestive or respiratory system, making breathing and eating extremely difficult tasks. CF is a genetic disease, meaning that those affected by it got two copies of the gene from their parents.

As of right now, the disease has no cure, but there are many treatment options to help patients with CF. Among these options are mucus-thinning medicines, chest therapy and targeted nutritional plans. There are many more options available, but treatment plans vary for each patient.

Montrose’s Lindsay Burgess ‘22 herself is in the fight against CF.  She said: “CFers aren’t asking for sympathy, but support in trying to raise awareness for the disease. It is uncommon and it’s important for people to know about it to raise money and awareness.” There are Great Strides walks occurring all over the state to support funding and research. So, get on your sneakers and take a walk!

Lindsay shares, “For three years every fall my old soccer coach had “CF Night” at Assumption College when his college soccer team played, there was a raffle and all the money went to Great Strides, and my whole soccer team, family, and friends came. Almost the whole college came in support, and we raised over $2,000 which was huge, and it was just so amazing because everyone was there to support Cystic Fibrosis!”

For more information on daily life with CF, visit “The Frey Life” on youtube. Peter and Mary are daily vloggers who chronicle Mary’s daily life with CF and film other informative videos to raise awareness for CF.

Since May is Cystic Fibrosis awareness month, the CF community is consistently looking for ways to spread awareness about and fund research for CF.