Mar. 31, 2011
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Approximately 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year and more than 70 percent of patients are diagnosed by age two.
Shawnee State University has formed a team to walk for cystic fibrosis in the Great Strides Walk on June 4 at the 2011 Portsmouth-SOMC Friends Community Center to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The team will have a table from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 13 in the University Center to sell bracelets and recruit faculty, staff and students to join the team. On May 7 and 8, the team will set up in Tracy Park for the Tour of Scioto River Valley bike ride.
Leslie Yancy-Meadows, instructor in Respiratory Therapy, is taking strides to make "CF" stand for "Cure Found." She has a "Great Strides" Website where people can donate at http://www.cff.org/great_strides/LeslieMeadows.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was founded in 1955 and few children diagnosed with the disease ever lived to attend elementary school. Today, many people with the disease can expect to live into their 30s, 40s and older. More than 45 percent of the patient population is age 18 or older.
The Shawnee State team is looking for donations to help fight against the disease and all proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
For more information to join the group or to make a donation, contact Yancy- Meadows at (740) 351-3360 or visit the Website at http://www.cff.org/great_strides/LeslieMeadows.