Great strides against CF

There are three choices you have when faced with any kind of challenge: give in, give up or give it your all.
Sixteen years ago, in 1992, Janet and Heskel Elias were faced with chilling news- their nephew, Jonathan, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
CF is a life-threatening genetic disease which substantially impairs respiratory and digestive functions, making the simple acts of eating and breathing a challenge. Currently, the average life expectancy of a CF victim born in 1998 is barely 40 years.
Even though the survival age has doubled in the past 25 years due to tremendous medical advances and research, to the Eliases, it simply wasn’t good enough.
After a little research of their own, they discovered the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a national charity dedicated to combating the effects of this genetic defect, which causes the lungs and pancreas to secrete unusually thick, sticky mucus that blocks their function.
On the weekend of May 17-18, the couple, along with thousands of participants across the nation, participated in Great Strides, the annual program of Walk-a-thons to fight CF.
Last year, more than $34 million was raised nationally. Since getting involved, the Elias family has raised over $1 million through their participation in the event held near their home, at the Holtsville Ecology Center on Long Island.
Donations enable the foundation to pursue as many avenues of promising research as possible and to add even more quality years to the lives of those with CF. Visit their web site at www.cff.org.
To see how the Elias family fared at this year’s Great Strides walk-a-thon, you can visit them at: www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=5181&idUser=261535.