May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Toronto, ON – (May 1, 2009) – When the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) was created in 1960, children with cystic fibrosis (CF) were not expected to live long enough to attend kindergarten. Today, thanks to great progress in CF research and care, half of all Canadians who have cystic fibrosis are living well into their 30s, and beyond.

Cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and the digestive system, is the most common, fatal, genetic disease affecting young Canadians. During May, Foundation members and supporters make a special effort to raise awareness of the disease and to let the public know what they can do to help.

"We have come a long way since the 1960s, and have much more insight into cystic fibrosis, but there is more work to be done," said Cathleen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "While as yet there is no cure, cystic fibrosis research is making everyone very hopeful."

The CF community asks Canadians to support events that will help fund research into a cure or an effective control for cystic fibrosis.

National Kin-CCFF Day: Saturday, May 2
On Saturday, May 2, members of Kin Canada clubs across the country will host community-based fundraising events. Please visit www.kincanada.ca, or contact your local Kin club for details.

Splash for CF: Saturday, May 23
Beginning May 23, BioGuard, a manufacturer of pool and spa care products, will host Splash for CF at 130 dealer locations across Canada. This spring and summer, BioGuard dealers will display in-store coin boxes, sell water droplet cut-outs, and donate a portion of the proceeds from many of their products to the Foundation. To learn more about this new campaign, visit www.SplashforCF.ca.

Great Strides™ walk: Sunday, May 31
Take steps to cure cystic fibrosis! Join the Foundation for the fifth-annual Great Strides™ walk on Sunday, May 31. The Great Strides™ walk will take place in more than 45 communities Canada-wide. Visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides to register or to make a donation.

About the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a Canada-wide health charity, with 50 volunteer chapters, that funds CF research and care. In 2009, the Foundation is supporting more than 50 research projects which are exploring all aspects of the CF puzzle; from investigating new methods of fighting infection and inflammation in the lungs to finding new therapies that target the basic defect at the cellular level.

Supporters
With the help of countless volunteers, donors and friends, the Foundation has improved the lives of people with cystic fibrosis. Special thanks to Kin Canada and Shinerama students who celebrate 45 years of partnership in 2009. Supporters include Celebrity Patron Céline Dion; Honorary Director, Mrs. Mila Mulroney; Kin Canada; Zellers and the Hbc Foundation; thousands of Shinerama students; CARSTAR Collision Repair Centres, and Advocis/Chambre de la sécurité financière; BioGuard; and many generous individual, corporate and foundation donors.

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If you would like to interview someone affected by cystic fibrosis in your community, please contact:

Sagal Ali
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
1-800-378-2233 ext. 290
sali@cysticfibrosis.ca
www.cysticfibrosis.ca