2025 is a milestone year for Cystic Fibrosis Care, as the charity proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary. Founded in 2015 by Charity Director Patricia Kilpatrick and trustees Christy and Sasha York, CF Care was established to address the urgent need for additional support for Cystic Fibrosis patients and their families, many of whom face significant hardship due to the condition. As parents of children with CF, the founders understood first-hand the challenges that come with managing this lifelong illness.

Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common life shortening chronic fatal genetic diseases affecting around 10,800 children and young adults in the UK. It affects the lungs and digestive system, making it difficult to breathe and digest food. Complications increase with age requiring ever increasing levels of care, treatment and support. In some cases, patients need to have a lung transplant. The average life expectancy is in the late 30’s although new drug therapies have improved the life expectancy in recent years. There is no cure.

Impact on people with CF: People with CF usually have an extensive drug regime, having to take around 40 tablets a day to maintain their health. They also need a high-quality diet to compensate for the inability to process food properly. If someone with CF becomes unwell, they need extra care and often extended hospital stays and treatment. A recent study highlighted that living with CF costs an additional £6500 per year.

This means that adults with CF are more likely to be unemployed or on low pay and therefore experiencing financial hardship. There is a huge problem with relationship breakdowns where parents find they have a child with CF and this can cause severe hardship to the children.

What we do: CF Care support people with CF who are in the most need through difficult circumstances in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Cystic Fibrosis Care step in and provide welfare and hardship grants to those who are most in need. Currently CF Care fund grants to individuals and families for food vouchers, energy, hospital travel, counselling, and welfare grants. We also fund improvements to hospital CF units and provide vital medical equipment that the NHS are unable to supply.

More information is on our website: https://www.cysticfibrosiscare.org.uk/

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To mark this special anniversary, CF Care is planning a series of events throughout the year, aimed at raising both awareness and vital funds for the charity’s continued work. The charity is calling on supporters to help organise events in local communities, particularly near the CF Units at the hospitals supported by CF Care. Whether large or small, each event plays an important role in highlighting the charity’s mission and the ongoing challenges faced by those living with Cystic Fibrosis.