My name is Alice and I am a CF researcher working within a Cystic Fibrosis Trust Strategic Research Centre, which is investigating better ways to detect the CF lung infection Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For me, there is a very personal inspiration behind my work: my older brother has cystic fibrosis.

My brother’s diagnosis at 7 years old was life-altering for the entire family. In addition to the physical aspects of CF, he struggled mentally, finding it hard to accept his mortality at such a young age and that he could never live a normal life.

In September 2020, at the age of 40, my brother received the life-changing news that he was eligible for Kaftrio. He received his first package of Kaftrio on 31 December 2020 – the timing was wonderful as we were all sat around the dinner table on New Year’s Eve as he took his first tablet. I’ll be forever grateful to all those who made it possible.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust to me, means hope. Without it we wouldn’t have had the funding to conduct the research that has changed so many people’s lives. The Trust always gave me hope that one day, through research, the lives of those with CF would be changed for the better. For my family, the hope turned into reality with the start of his Kaftrio treatment. But that isn’t the case for everyone.

Thanks to your support, the Trust can continue to be there for my family, and thousands of others like us, helping to bring forward the day when everyone affected by CF can access the treatments they need.