What is
?
It is our goal to be the largest global day of
activism and giving for the CF community!
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..all are invited to participate this
MAY 4TH, 2022
to inspire action on a personal and grassroots level
supporting those facing challenges with cystic fibrosis.
What is cystic fibrosis (CF)?
A rare genetic and terminal disease that is progressive and affects the lungs and digestive system with thick mucus build up. This results in blocked airways and digestive issues, fostering the growth of harmful bacteria leading to life-threatening infections. You are born with CF and cannot develop it later in life, but 1-in-35 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.
Why Warrior Wednesday?
We recognize the battles that CF brings to a person’s everyday life from the day they are born. We call these people Warriors. And to honor them in their fight, we show solidarity by wearing purple face paint on one very special day each year, the first Wednesday in May, Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. It’s a global day of activism and giving for the CF community fueled by the power of social media and community collaboration via a virtual and local campaign.
Why Purple Warpaint?
For centuries, face paint has been used in many cultures when going into battle or for ceremonies. It was often believed to provide the wearer with powers including bravery, strength, and or protection. Purple is the chosen color to represent cystic fibrosis awareness worldwide as a symbol of hope. This is why we wear purple Warrior Paint on this special day to show our support.
What is the goal of Warrior Wednesday?
To amplify the awareness of CF by coming together as one united voice to let our CF warriors know they’re not forgotten or alone in this fight. We do this by posting photos on social media using the hashtag #WarriorWednesday, rallying CF nonprofits and local businesses to collaborate with #WW themed campaigns, corporations utilizing this day for corporate social good, and any other creative ways one chooses to show up and advocate!
Why are they called CF Warriors?
From the moment they are born, a person with CF fights for their life with daily battles against this disease. These battles fought are strenuous, harrowing and all too often, entirely unfair. Yet, they don’t give up easily. This is WHY we call them CF WARRIORS!
CF Warrior: Caleigh Sarah Haber
CF Warrior: Travis Flores
Every single day CF families struggle and suffer with basic daily survival needs due to the complications of living with CF. ​
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Although modern medicine has advanced, allowing those with CF to live longer, they battle more than ever to live stronger.
Years of lung infections, antibiotics, steroids, daily treatments, surgeries, and stress can be an overwhelming burden physically, emotionally, and financially, for those with CF and their families.
What most people take for granted, CF families may struggle with their entire life, such as:
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Loss of income due to long-term hospitalizations can often lead to risk of eviction.
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Sleeping countless nights in the hospital, instead of in their own bed.
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Preparing for the inevitability of an organ transplant.
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Financial stress of hotel bills, gas, airplane fare, eating out, when having to go to a hospital out of town.
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Paying their electric bill to keep their medications refrigerated and their breathing treatments going.
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Being able to afford automobile repairs that are vital for transportation back and forth to the hospital.
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Simply putting food on the table for their children.
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Paying for funeral expenses after the loss of their loved one.
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Depending on their health, the inability for CF patients to participate in extracurricular activities, sports, and sometimes school due to constantly being sick.
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The disappointment of planning for the fun things in life like concerts or trips and then being too sick to go when they come.
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High cost of groceries and supplements to gain weight, as well as high cost of copay if you have a feeding tube.
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Inability to save money when having to pay for hospitalization co pays and drug co pays.
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Maintaining a romantic relationship due to their illness and having the obstacles of working around insurance, Medicaid or Medicare issues.
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The inability and hard decisions of having children through in vitro, adopting, or not having them due to shortened life span.
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Give thanks for all that you have and help people with CF TODAY!
Everyday... Every breath... Every dollar counts!!!