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 and 70,000 worldwide. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus. This clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. People with CF can have a variety of symptoms. They can have very salty-tasting skin, persistent coughing, frequent lung infections, wheezing or shortness of breath, poor growth, poor weight gain in spite of good appetite and difficulty in bowel movements.
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 for children and adults with CF. Those with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. The predicted median age of survival for a person with cystic fibrosis is more than 37 years. About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two and more than 40% is age 18 or older.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit donor-supported organization, is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
The Foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to cystic fibrosis. It funds and accredits more than 115 CF care centers, 95 adult care programs and 50 affiliate programs, and has 80 chapters and branch offices nationwide.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one of the most efficient organizations of its kind with nearly 90 percent of every dollar of revenue available to fund cystic fibrosis research, care and education programs.
Charity Navigator, the country’s largest independent evaluator of charities, has given the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation its coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management.