Kin Canada and Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young
Canadians. CF affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs,
CF causes severe breathing problems. A build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult
to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage
the delicate lung tissues.
In the digestive tract, CF makes it extremely difficult to digest and absorb
adequate nutrients from food. Thick mucus also blocks the ducts of the pancreas,
preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. Therefore, persons
with CF must consume a large number of artificial enzymes (on average 20 pills
a day) with every meal and snack, to help them absorb adequate nutrition from
their food. They must also follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy
to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.
It is estimated that one in every 2,500 children born in Canada has CF.
At the present time, approximately 3,400 children, adolescents, and adults
with cystic fibrosis attend specialized CF clinics.
From a relationship that began on a barstool in 1963, a 40-year friendship has
grown into a committed partnership. Over the years, Kinsmen and Kinettes have
devoted their efforts to an incredible assortment of events ranging from Daisy
Days to road tolls to barbecues - all to help fight cystic fibrosis.
The friendship between Kinsmen and Kinettes and Canadians with CF began out
of a conversation between Dr. Douglas Crozier, then director of the CF Clinic
at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Kinsmen Bill Skelly. During a chance
meeting at a Scarborough pub, Dr. Crozier spoke to Bill about his young CF patients.
This conversation left Bill interested in joining the fight against cystic fibrosis,
and Dr. Crozier was invited to speak to the North York Kinsmen Club. Almost
immediately, the North York Kinsmen enthusiastically backed the CF cause.
By 1964, District 8 had formally adopted CF as its District Service Project.
District 8's commitment sparked the interest of other Districts, and, before
long, involvement spread Canada-wide, throughout the Kin organization. In 1987,
the Association of Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs adopted CF as a National Service
Project.
Today, Kinsmen and Kinettes remain loyal friends of CF, continually fundraising
for CF research and promoting CF awareness. In 1997, Kin reached a great milestone
when total funds raised for CF amounted to $25 million. In 2001, Kin raised
more than $1 million to help beat CF, bringing the Kin's cumulative contribution
to the CCFF to more than $33 million! These funds have helped Canadian researchers
make major strides in the fight against cystic fibrosis.
For more information, please visit the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
(CCFF) website at
http://www.cysticfibrosis.ca
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