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CF Staff on their Marks for Sheffield Half Marathon

Tuesday 5th May 2009

The staff of the CF (Cystic Fibrosis) Unit at the Northern General Hospital are winners as far as the National Cystic Fibrosis Trust are concerned. They named the Unit as a Centre of Excellence for the care and treatment of patients with this genetic disease.

But the team of staff from the CF Unit, who ran in the Sheffield Half Marathon, have not set their sights on winning awards or medals.

Frank Edenborough is one of the consultants in the CF Unit, He said:

"We have a winning team of professionals, including specialist doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians and others working at the CF Unit.  Although the team may be winners at work, we did not expect to win the Sheffield Half Marathon. Our goal was just to get around the course without stopping  and to raise as much money as we could for our cause - to  improve treatment facilities for CF patients in Sheffield."

Cystic Fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease. Approximately 8,000 people are currently living with the disease, which occurs in about 1 in 2500 of the population. It is caused by a genetic defect that leads to abnormal function of glands in almost every part of the body. Cystic Fibrosis particularly affects the lungs and breathing, and the body's ability to digest food and absorb nutrients.

In the past CF care was a specialty that was run by paediatricians, because patients died before reaching secondary school age. There is no cure, but advances in treatment have significantly increased life expectancy from a mere five years in the 1960s, to an average of 31 years today. Survival into adulthood has become the norm and the need for adult services has increased rapidly.

Currently, young adult CF inpatients at the Northern General Hospital have to stay on wards amongst elderly patients. The Sheffield Cystic Fibrosis Appeal aims to raise funds to improve facilities for CF patients. 

Nick Perks, Director of Sheffield Hospital Charitable Trust, said:

"The CF Unit is recognised as a centre of excellence for the care of CF patients. Through the Appeal, we aim to raise funds to improve the facilities, so patients can continue to receive first class clinical care in an environment that is designed with their needs and age group in mind."

If you would like to support the Cystic Fibrosis Appeal or would like to know more please contact Fundraiser Isla Denoon at isla.denoon@shct.nhs.uk or on 0114 226 3415.

 

 

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