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For more information on Cystic Fibrosis please visit the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cysticfibrosis.ca

Each province in Canada has active Chapters. There are a total of 50 chapters located in Canada. Individual chapters are made up of volunteers who are deeply committed to finding a solution to CF. They organize and stage fund raising activates, raise awareness of CF in their local communities, and support family and friends who are coping with CF daily.

Click here to find a CCFF Chapter near you.

Contact Us

Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Vancouver and Lower Mainland

4050 Graveley Street
Burnaby
British Columbia
Canada
V5C 4A5

Telephone: (604)436-1158

Our chapter office is open
Monday-Friday from 9:30am-5:00pm
James Zlosnik PDF Print E-mail
James Zlosnik

James is riding for Alex! (again!)

Well it is 2008 and I'm back again for GearUp4CF 2008! Having survived last years mountainous route through the Rockies to Calgary, I've decided to take on the equal challenge to Jasper. The cause is of course no less important than last year. Your sponsorship will directly help both people with CF and scientific research into CF.

I've been into semi-serious cycling for a couple of years now. However, what brought me to this ride was my job. I am an infectious disease microbiologist and I have been working on cystic fibrosis, specifically the bacteria that often cause infections in people with CF, for the last 8 years. I trained in Britain (London and Cardiff) and moved to Vancouver a couple of years ago to work in David Speert's lab at UBC, having eyed it up for a number of years because of his reputation as a CF researcher.

Sponsor James Zlosnik

London proved to be a good training for cycling too - if you've tried navigating the Hammersmith roundabout at 8 o'clock in the morning then you know what busy traffic really is! I couldn't resist last year when David invited me on this ride and I am just thrilled to be doing it again in 2008. I'm really looking forward to riding the new route this year and raising money for CCFF.

I'm also delighted that I will again be riding for Alex. It was such a pleasure to meet him and his family last year, they are inspiration to me. This year I am making it my goal to raise $10,000!

I look forward to receiving your donations. I have a blog (www.vancouver2jasper.wordpress.com) so you can keep up with preparations for the ride. Like last year I will also do my best to provide a record of each day both on the blog and through photos too.

Here's to 2008!!

editor's note:

James has posted his 2007 ride pictures here:

Sponsor James Zlosnik
 

Is there a cure?

As yet, there is no known cure for CF, but there is real hope. Comprehensive treatment programs have dramatically extended the life expectancy of persons with CF and many are living into their 20s, 30s and beyond.

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in CF research. Since 1989 when Canadian researchers discovered the gene responsible for CF, global research to find a cure for the disease has brought us closer and closer to a solution.

The astonishing pace of CF science suggests that there is good reason to feel optimistic about the future.

How does CF affect daily life?

For persons with CF, life includes a daily routine of therapy and periodic visits to a CF clinic. Otherwise, most individuals with cystic fibrosis lead normal lives, for many years, in terms of education, physical activity, and social relationships. Eventually, however, lung disease places increasing limits on daily life.

Thanks to the advances in research and clinical care, growing numbers of children with CF are surviving into adulthood. In 1960, when the CCFF was founded, a child born with cystic fibrosis rarely lived four years. CCFF is one of the few organizations that maintains extensive records, tracking a CF patient from first diagnosis. This data base called, the Canadian Patient Data Registry, is proving that advances have been made with the recent announcement that the median age of survival of Canadians with CF has reached its highest point ever: 37 years of age. This means that Canadians with CF now have a 50% chance of living beyond the age of 37. While this is positive news, the need for a cure is crucial for the 50% who won't reach the age of 37.

Over 41% of all Canadians with CF are over the age of 18 years. These men and women are pursuing post-secondary education, careers and many are having families of their own; a tremendous accomplishment, but not enough.