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Finding a cure for a devastating disease…
When Linda and I received the stunning news that our three-month-old baby was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), we knew nothing about the disease. We quickly learned that CF is an inherited chronic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. And we learned that we were not alone — an estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States and 70,000 worldwide have CF.

According to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. The mucus obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

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 life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. Recently developed therapies and specialized care have enabled people with CF to gain greater control over their disease. So, children and adults are not only living longer, but also living a better quality of life.

While much progress has been made in the fight against CF, we still have far to go to find a cure. To that end, the Angela Warner Foundation provides financial support to the cystic fibrosis community in its quest to find a cure for this devastating disease.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Since 1955, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been the driving force behind the pursuit of a cure. 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 funds and accredits more than 115 CF care centers, 95 adult care programs and 50 affiliate programs, and has 80 fund-raising chapters and branch offices nationwide. Click here to learn more about the Foundation and its work.

“65 ROSES”

Known by families of children with CF, the term “65 roses” was first said by the young son of a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis  Foundation in 1965.

All three young sons of Mary Weiss had CF. When she asked her four-year-old what he thought his mother was working for, he had answered, “65 Roses.”

His pronunciation became widely used by children to describe the disease, and 65 Roses® became a registered trademark of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which thereafter adopted the rose as its symbol.

Click here to learn more about the Foundation and its work.