My Team CF Story

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting 30,000 children and young adults in the United States.  An additional 10 million people or about 1 in every 31 Americans are carriers of the defective CF gene, but do not have the disease. The disease affects the lungs and digestive tract by creating a thick, sticky mucous which makes it difficult to breath and increases one’s susceptibility to infection. The digestive tract is unable to absorb nutrition from a healthy diet. Patients with the disease take medication and undergo daily physical therapy to assist in minimizing the effects of the mucous. In 1955, the life expectancy of a CF patient was under 3 years. Today it is over 50 years of age.

The New England Classic Adventure Ride raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Trail Riders.  Since 1980, this ride has donated over Two Million Dollars. (Ninety cents of every dollar going directly to research) and the average life span of a CF patient has risen from 15 to 50 years old, and the genetic code of the disease has been unlocked. A few key drugs developed help, but it is not a cure!

Please make a tax deductible contribution to help brighten the future of thousands of children and young adults who live with this disease.

Sincerely,

Matthew C. Leighton, DDS