Unleashing My Story by Helping to Stop CF

i just signed up for a great fundraiser. basically during the month of september i have pledged to read 1300 pages (of any book(s)) and write 7000 words per week. these are things i love doing so it won't be hard for me to keep to them. those are my individual goals. the program is called unleash your story.

the cause is cystic fibrosis. this is where you come in. i have set a fundraising goal of $500. thats really not that much money. if you could give $5 or $10 i'll reach the goal in no time. you can give by either clicking on the link in the sidebar or by going to my cf fundrasier homepage here.

here are some basic facts about cf, taken from the cf foundation's website.

What Is Cystic Fibrosis?

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.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

very salty-tasting skin;
persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
frequent lung infections;
wheezing or shortness of breath;
poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics

About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.

so join me in searching for a cure. seriously - $5. you won't even miss it. i'll be reading and writing and together we will help save thousands of lives.

if you are interested in also signing up for this challenge/fundraiser, check out this website.