DC Charity Spotlight: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

This morning I received a message in my inbox from a friend of Shannon Leef who is doing the Cystic Fibrosis walk on May 16, 2009, and her team (Team Silvio) needs about $8,000 more to reach their goal. This cause is really important to her and her team because about four years ago they lost a friend to the disease. He was only 20 years old.

On May 1st, they will hold a fundraiser at Blackfin in Bethesda from 7 to 10 p.m., but you can also DONATE NOW online to help them reach their GOAL today!

Anything you can give from $5 to $500 brings Shannon and her team towards their goal, so please consider donating ONLINE today and stop by May 1st at Blackfin for their fundraising event.

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. Shannon participates in GREAT STRIDES every year to raise money for the CF Foundation and to honor her friend Silvio Olivieri, who passed away in March of 2004 after a life-long battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

This year, Team Silvio is walking at the Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park in Rockville on May 16th. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.

Making a donation is easy and secure! Just click the "Click to Donate" button on this page to go to make a donation that will be credited to her team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That's why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner - rather than later. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with CF! Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and GREAT STRIDES!

DONATE HERE.

Team fundraising goal: $10,000
Money raised to date: $2,315

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.