Head Start To Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Hi my name is Josh,

I am 28 and live with Cystic Fibrosis.

I have an upcoming powerlifting competition which I will dedicate each lift to others with CF and carry this fundraiser through till the end of May, as May is CF awareness month.

Cystic Fibrosis is a life shortening condition that effects many organs, but primarily the lungs and pancreas.

Cystic Fibrosis causes the mucus in our body to be a lot thicker/stickier than the average person, causing blockages throughout the body.

This mucus in our lungs reduces our lung function. The thick mucus becomes a prime breeding ground for bacteria, which means ongoing damage/weakening to our lungs and ongoing chest infections which lead to multiple hospital admissions each year.

The thick mucus in our Pancreas causes a lack of digestive enzymes, which leads to malabsorption (poor weight gain, malnutrition, weakening bones etc.).

In time we will also develop diabetes, because the pancreas becomes blocked and struggles to produce insulin.

As a lot of you are aware Cystic Fibrosis has been in the spotlight, due to a medication called "Trikafta".

Trikafta is available but NOT funded here in New Zealand. This medication treats the cause of Cystic Fibrosis rather than just the symptoms, and allows people with CF to live a normal life without the excessive amount of chest infections, hospital admissions, lung transplants etc.. However without funding, Trikafta costs the average person with Cystic fibrosis $330,000 per year.