25 May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day and you can support this by purchasing a sticker for R10 and wearing jeans on the day. Proceeds of the R10 stickers will be used to purchase medical equipment for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients and help spread awareness of CF in SA.

CF is a chronic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and pancreas, blocking them up with a thick mucus. Repeated infections and blockage can cause irreversible lung damage. As the disease progresses, frequent lung infections (pneumonia) often lead to problems breathing and debilitating lung damage.

People are born with Cystic Fibrosis; it is a genetic disorder. There is no cure for CF and most individuals with cystic fibrosis die young: many in their 20s and 30s from lung failure. However, with the continuous introduction of many new treatments, the life expectancy of a person with CF is increasing to ages as high as 40 or 50 in some CF individuals.

Early diagnosis and proper treatment is critical and improves quality of life and survival age significantly. Symptoms include persistent cough, frequent lung infections, weight loss, bowel problems and salty skin.

For more information on where to obtain a Jeans for Genes sticker, please visit www.sacfa.org.za