31 March 2008
This morning, 31st March 2008, three of Cork's leading sports personalities, Frankie Sheehan - Ireland and Munster Rugby Star, Cork City Football Star George O'Callaghan and Joe Dean, left corner-forward on the Cork Senior Hurling Team joined together to help kick start the launch of Cork Cystic Fibrosis Week which will take place from 21st to 26th April 2008 which is being run by Build 4 Life and supported by the Evening Echo.
Build 4 Life was founded by friends and family of Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Cork and Kerry. The aim of Build 4 Life is to:-
Through the launch Build 4 Life are appealing to organisations, schools, businesses, clubs and individuals to organise a fund raising event or make a donation, during Cork Cystic Fibrosis Week to raise vital funds for this worthy cause.
Cystic Fibrosis - or CF is Ireland's most common life threatening inherited disease. Approximately 1 in 20 people are carriers of the CF gene and when two carriers parent a child there is a 1 in 4 chance of the child being born with Cystic Fibrosis.
Ireland has the Highest Incidence Rate of Cystic Fibrosis in the World and one of the lowest life expectancy rates for CF Patients at 21, whereas in many European Countries and in the US, CF patients can lead healthy and productive lives well into 60's. The main reason for this is the lack of dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Units throughout the country. The a Cystic Fibrosis Patients can be in serious threat of infections on an ongoing basis, which results in many visits to hospital. At present CF Patients have to be admitted to hospital through A&E departments which leaves the Patients open to infections which can be very dangerous. There is an urgent need for dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Units throughout the country, so that patients can be segregated with the risk of cross infection greatly reduced. These units, one of which Build 4 Life is fundraising for in Cork University Hospital in Cork, will increase the life expectancy and improve the quality of life of the many CF Patients in the region.
For further information on Cystic Fibrosis and how you could help this worthy cause, please call (021) 4273000 (Mon to Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm - Phones kindly manned by Mardyke Entertainment Complex) or after hours call (086) 386 3949. Information and a downloadable information pack can be found on www.build4life.net. Donations can be made directly through any AIB branch or on line banking. Build4Life Bank Account Allied Irish Bank. A/C No: 42797173: Sort Code 93-41-43.
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