On the 9th September, me and my dad, John, are doing a Skydive, of approx 14,000 feet, free falling for over 30 seconds reaching approx 120mph, before parachuting back to the Black Knight Parachute Centre in Lancashire, all in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Tuesday 14th March, 2006, was the day our beautiful baby, Leah, was diagnosed with the UK's most common, inherited, life threatening disease; Cystic Fibrosis. With pneumonia, severe weight loss and no weight gain since birth, and on IV antibiotics, Leah was a very poorly little girl. She was 6 weeks and 2 days old.

Cystic Fibrosis affects every organ in the body, but predominantly the lungs and the digestive system, making it difficult to breathe and digest food.

95% of people with CF (including our Leah) cannot digest their food,  and have to take an enzyme replacement, (Creon, or similar) with anything that contains fat in their diet. The CF diet is high fat and high calorie, as keeping weight on is an issue for most people with CF. 

To help the lungs function, Leah endures at least 2 sessions of chest physiotherapy every day. This involves tipping her, head toward the floor, and using "percussion" on each side of her chest to drain the mucus which builds up in her little lungs. She has inhalers at least twice a day, and more when she has a wheezy day. The majority of people with CF (including our Leah) are prescribed powerful prophylactic anti-biotics, to be taken 4 times a day, every day, in an attempt to keep at bay, and prevent, the bacterias colonising their lungs, and causing damaging infections and pneumonia.

An issue, which is hard to face as parents, is the life expectancy, which currently stands at 31 years old. 90% of people with CF lose their battle due to respiratory failure, when transplant isn't an option, or doesn't occur in time. The medical advances which have occured over the last 30+ years (in terms of anti biotics, Creon, Cough Swabs and Sputum Samples; to culture and treat the bacterias in the lungs, hopefully before infection occurs.) have massively improved both the length and quality of life for people with CF. and this is largely down to the CF Trust's efforts.

That Tuesday, which seemed so black, was the day I got Leah's first real smile. I was telling her about all the Mars bars and chips she'd be able to eat. Now Leah, at 15 months old, remarkably, is above average weight for her age, and LOVES her food!! Over a year on, Leah is very happy (and very cheeky!) and despite her problems, Leah loves life.

Each week, 5 babies are born with the disease, and 3 young people lose their fight against it.

Please give what you can, every penny will help us, and the other 7500+ people, and their families, in the UK, to help them deal with CF.

The CF Trust largely funds the work of scientists, on Gene Therapy, which aims to eliminate or improve the function of CF lungs, by replacing one of the faulty CF genes within the lung cells. Although it is in very early stages, and many problems are yet to be overcome, this offers real hope to those in the CF community.

Please help us, and hopefully one day we can make CF stand for "Cure Found".

Thank you.

Kaye, Jonny, Leah and my dad, John, who is jumping with me, and all our family. xx

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Cystic Fibrosis Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support.