Hi there, Lets talk about CF/Cystic Fibrosis.

• Imagine breathing through a straw your whole life.
• 2014 was the first year the CF population had more people over the age of 18 than under. 

Scary right?

So, I'm Dale, 29 year old dad of 2 & this is my story.

I never anticipated to ever be in this situation where a charity has become so close to our hearts, that was until our daughter was born. I Completed the NC500 at the start of August, completing 1,487miles in 2 days. The car is stickered with Cystic Fibrosis stickers and quotes to do with CF to raise awareness - Courtesy of Derby sign & graphics. 

It was a comical but long Journey by myself. Roads were fantastic but mostly spread the CF word up the country!

Little bit of back ground :

Ayda, our 5 month old daughter has been diagnosed with CF.  The diagnosis was hard. But our main reason for doing this is to raise awareness. Me and my partner had no idea we were carriers for CF… we knew nothing about it. Ayda’s result from her heel prick meant that she needed more blood tests doing, at this point, we both were researching and seeing many symptoms in her. The result came back…. Just a carrier. Upon being given this information, we were told we could feel relieved. I did feel relived. Jess, my partner, said at that point, that something was off and that this wasn’t over. We went back and fourth to the doctor about Ayda’s symptoms, we were told over and over that her brother must have bought a virus home from nursery… that we were overthinking. We both were becoming accepting of what we were being told. Until one appointment, with one doctor, who referred us back to the hospital, to be sure. From there, we were offered a sweat test, essentially to rule out CF. Only, it didn’t. It confirmed that Ayda does in fact have Cystic Fibrosis. While this news was hard to digest for us, when asked by her amazing team if we felt shocked. My partners reply was that she was more relived that somebody had listened to us. To which the response was that, many parents had said the exact same thing. 

Which brings me to here. Where we are now. Wanting to raise funds for the charity, but more importantly, raise awareness. Awareness of cystic fibrosis, so that everyone knows the facts. And that just like anyone could be, we are the start of a family history of CF. 

We were not over thinking, we were not worrying too much, we were doing what we thought best for our daughter. That would have been so much easier if knowledge and awareness of CF was prominent, among parents, healthcare professionals, everybody. Because this is not just our story, this is the story of so many families that have been in our exact same situation. Not knowing where to go or what to think, or if this could actually happen to us… wondering if by chance, we are both the 1/25 people who carry a mutation, and happened to meet and have a baby together… it can and it does happen. 

Our daughter is amazing, and she is thriving and developing perfectly. As so many others are and continue to do.

So off I go, to spread the word, not just for our family, but for all of the families who are affected by CF. 

Please read on for more info about CF!