Taking 'Great Strides' to support Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Posted By MICHAEL PEELING MPEELING@STANDARD-FREEHOLDER.COM
Posted 10 months ago
The local Great Strides Walk exceeded expectations Sunday by raising more than $16,000 for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
.
Cornwall chapter president Kim Baird attributed the success of the fourth annual walk, buoyed by 75 walkers at Lamoureux Park, to the generosity of donors and an appearance by Ottawa S enator s player and Long Sault native Jesse Winchester."It has turned out to be an excellent day," Baird said at the start of the five-kilometre walk near the clock tower. "The attendance is building along with awareness and participation."
Sponsored by the Kinette Club, CIBC and StarTek, all three gave major donations to the walk.
Baird said one of the great strides made because of fundraising is the push for early testing for CF, a sometimes deadly, inherited disease that impedes the ability to breath and digest food.
"If a child isn't tested early for CF, they sometimes end up being treated for asthma instead, but if they are tested early and get the right treatment, they have a better quality of life," Baird said.
The Fontaine brothers, Evan, 8 months, and Jack, 2, were fortunate enough to benefit from early detection.
While at the walk Saturday, their mother, Christine, said Evan was tested for CF at birth, but when the doctor described the symptoms they were looking for, she said, "Hey, that sounds like my two-year-old."
"It's great because it means they are getting a better start in life," she said.
"Jack used to be tiny because the enzymes he needed to gain weight weren't working. Now he can digest food and he is much healthier.
Myles Lynch, 11, was diagnosed with CF at birth, so he has never known life without it, but he was hard-pressed to describe the difficulties living with the disease has caused him, other than laboured breathing when he runs. He was more excited to meet Winchester.
Baird said one of the great strides made because of fundraising is the push for early testing for CF, a sometimes deadly, inherited disease that impedes the ability to breath and digest food.
"If a child isn't tested early for CF, they sometimes end up being treated for asthma instead, but if they are tested early and get the right treatment, they have a better quality of life," Baird said.
The Fontaine brothers, Evan, 8 months, and Jack, 2, were fortunate enough to benefit from early detection.
While at the walk Saturday, their mother, Christine, said Evan was tested for CF at birth, but when the doctor described the symptoms they were looking for, she said, "Hey, that sounds like my two-year-old."
"It's great because it means they are getting a better start in life," she said.
"Jack used to be tiny because the enzymes he needed to gain weight weren't working. Now he can digest food and he is much healthier.
Myles Lynch, 11, was diagnosed with CF at birth, so he has never known life without it, but he was hard-pressed to describe the difficulties living with the disease has caused him, other than laboured breathing when he runs. He was more excited to meet Winchester.
Alison Wilson-Proulx, 30, a double lung transplant recipient, said Facebook had a lot to do with the great attendance at Sunday's walk.
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