Adult Prom |A Dance for 65 Roses – Cystic Fibrosis| Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Williamsport Photographer
March 23rd was a night to remember. Over 150 guests filled The Farrington Place  in Williamsport, PA to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. My friend Dan and + this beautiful wife Brianne organized this event for the last few years. This years event recognized co-workers of Brianne (both teachers) whose child has the disease.
After all the recognition for the volunteers, it was time to turn it up on the dance floor and and turn it up they certainly did. While dancing the night away, there was a silent auction going on. By the end of the evening those same 150 guests raised $1600 for CF research. Y’all seriously give them a hand clap right now! Humbled isn’t even the words to describe being a part of such a crazy awesome event, it was truly a blessing.
12 CF Facts
Cystic  fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic (inherited) disease in North America that affects more than 30,000 people. An additional 10 million — or about 1 in 31 Americans ( like my Topanga) are carriers of the defective CF gene
CF is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease, meaning only people with 2 CFTR mutations have the disease. People with only one CFTR mutation are carriers and do not have the disease. If both parents are carriers, there
is a 1 in 4 chance that their child will receive an abnormal CFTR gene from each parent and have the disease.
While CF is more common in Caucasians, CF occurs in all races and ethnicities.
While there is no cure, life expectancy has steadily improved with the median
survival exceeding 45 years in the United States. However, the median age of death is approximately 30 years. The median is the age that separates the older from younger halves of the group who live or those who die from CF. Half of those who die do so by or before 30 years.
There are now more adults than children with CF in the United States.
The defective gene causes the CFTR protein to not form or work properly, causing abnormal movement of salt and water across the cell, which leads to dehydration of the airway surface and thick mucus that clogs ducts throughout the body.
The sweat chloride measurement, or sweat test, is the recommended test to diagnose CF, since affected people have higher sodium and chloride levels, making the sweat more salty.
Newborn screening for CF done on blood samples can identify most children before one month of age, which allows for early treatment and disease monitoring.
Older children and adults are usually diagnosed based on symptoms, such as frequent respiratory infections, malnutrition, and/or male infertility.
New medications can now help improve CFTR function in the cells of some patients based on the type of gene mutations they have.
CF individuals have abnormally thick mucus, which blocks the airways (obstruction) and leads to repeated infections and damaging inflammation in the lungs. Treatments are directed at trying to prevent and treat these problems.
you can find more facts here
Here are some of my favorite images from the evening, you can also find the whole gallery on my website.
