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Thrifty Foods helps fight cystic fibrosis

Thrifty's grocery stores in Campbell River, Courtenay and Comox are taking donations during May
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Thrifty Foods managers (from left) Jeff Ackinclose

Thrifty Foods stores in Campbell River and the Comox Valley will be collecting donations at their tills during the month of May to support cystic fibrosis (CF) research and programs.

Managers Bill Rutledge (Campbell River) Andy Carter (Courtenay) and Jeff Ackinclose (Comox) have joined together in supporting the fight against CF.

Through their participation and support of the Rod Brind’Amour Cystic Fibrosis Golf Classic, they have learned a great deal about the disease and the impact it has on the people who have it, their families and friends.

“I feel I have come to know some of the young people in our community who have CF like Sylvana Denroche, Kim Wood and Mike Hamilton,” said Ackinclose. “I’m inspired by their courage and determination to fight the disease – I wanted to help make a difference in their lives.”  Rutledge added, “Raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada is important to me – we have seen improvement in care for people with CF thanks to some of the research and clinical care happening right here in B.C.”

CF is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. It is a multi-system disease that affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system.

In the lungs, where the effects are most devastating, a build-up of thick mucus causes severe respiratory problems. Mucus and protein also build up in the digestive tract, making it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients from food.

As improved therapies have helped to address the malnutrition issues, ultimately most deaths related to cystic fibrosis are due to lung disease. Currently, there is no cure.

Children like Denroche spend hours every day doing physiotherapy treatments and taking many different kinds of medication to help combat their disease.

“Sylvana deals with ongoing fatigue, breathing problems and must eat more than the average person as she doesn’t digest her food very well so her nutrition is compromised,” said her mom River Stoppard. “We spend a lot of time on therapy and activities focused on her health – often interferes with the things she wants to do – she would really like to just be like other children.”

Stoppard went on to say how grateful she is for the support of Thrifty Foods in helping to raise funds so a cure or control for CF will be found.