My four children are fortunate to have a wonderful extended family with 17 cousins, one of whom is Charlotte Taylor, who was born with Cystic Fibrosis. Charlotte, born to Mary and Simon and little sister to Allie is a beautiful four year old who amazes us all with her zest for life and her determination to live a life unlimited.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition affecting more than 10,500 people in the UK. You are born with CF and cannot catch it later in life, but one in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.

The gene affected by CF controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. People with cystic fibrosis experience a build-up of thick sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs, causing a wide range of challenging symptoms affecting the entire body.

Charlotte’s daily routine when she’s well involves her taking more than 25 digestive enzyme tablets (to allow her to eat), nebulisers medications twice a day, physio twice a day and various other medications. 

That’s the medical interventions and then there’s the risks that have to be managed day to day- preventing colds and chest infections, avoiding risks in the environment (mud, sand, stagnant water etc) that harbour harmful bacteria and fungus that can cause intensive treatments and irreversible lung damage.

Hospitals are a part of daily life - emergency surgery just after birth and continuous appointments and extended stays, last year alone Charlotte was in and out of hospital 30 times!

Please join me in supporting Charlotte and the CF Trust.  I am hugely grateful for the contributions and support and know that Charlotte and all of our family will be too.