Music for cystic fibrosis

EMMARENTIA – Marks Park will ring with the sound of music when Shawn Phillips and other musicians perform at the Cystic Fibrosis Breathe Easy benefit concert.

Funds raised by the concert on 12 November will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Association.

The association’s Shamima Poonan said the musicians would perform at no cost to the association, and Marks Park management had substantially discounted the normal cost of the hall.

Talking about cystic fibrosis, Poonan said it is a genetic medical condition that affects numerous organs, mainly the lungs and digestive system.

“It is a debilitating, degenerative disease that requires intensive management and medication. It also requires regular hospitalisation, and there is no cure,” she said.

Cystic fibrosis usually manifests as the thickening of the mucus that blocks the smaller airways of the lungs, which allows bacteria to collect and grow, causing infections.

“It also blocks the tiny ducts of the pancreas, which supplies digestive enzymes. Food is not properly digested, and nutritional value is lost. The sweat glands are affected, and the blood loses a lot of salt, especially in hot weather,” said Poonan.

Despite medical advances that allow for a longer lifespan for people with cystic fibrosis, life expectancy is still far below average, and many children diagnosed with it do not reach adulthood.

The benefit concert will take place on 12 November at the Pavilion Hall, Marks Park Sports Club, Judith Road, Emmarentia, at 7pm. Food and drinks will be sold on the night.

Details: 082-900-5761; shadesofgreen@live.co.za