Cystic Fibrosis: From Top to Top

Press release

Montreal, September 26, 2024 — The tremendous ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, the emotional roller coaster of lung transplants, the peaks of a professional hockey player with FK, the heyday of a giant of children's literature and the deconstructed myth that CF is exclusive to the white populations of the Caucasus, the largest mountain range in Europe. Our fall edition of the magazine Health You well offers original content that will make you dizzy...

On September 5, Marc-Antoine Pelège, an osteopath and athlete living with cystic fibrosis, crossed Kilimanjaro, which rises in Tanzania to an altitude of some 6,000 km. He proudly planted the flag of Living with cystic fibrosis. A great example of courage and determination! Read her story, step by step, as if you were accompanying her on her escalation.

Then, put on the skates with Justin Ducharme, a professional hockey player who lives with cystic fibrosis. Far from feeling sorry for himself, Justin finds in his condition a source of personal achievement. Relive his exploits live from the Trois-Rivières Lions skating rink.

Others will prefer to read the edifying journey of Simon Boulerice, author of the series Six Degrees featuring Florence who had a lung transplant. The successful youth writer, who was the laughing stock of other children when he was in school, became, through his strength of character and talent, the star of the Book Shows. Now it's his turn to get autographs signed by the thousands of children who are fighting for his adventure stories!

Our health file focused on lung transplantation, which includes an interview with Karine Rancourt, clinical nurse at the CHUM transplant clinic, is followed by three inspiring testimonies from transplant CF people. We learn that, thanks to advances in scientific research and health care, the number of lung transplants has declined dramatically in recent years. But nothing is resolved once and for all because new side effects are emerging: bulimia, impact on fertility, etc.

Finally, on the scientific level, our reporter went to Africa to look for evidence of the distribution, without geographical borders, of cystic fibrosis, at the same time attacking the myth that cystic fibrosis is limited exclusively to white populations, that is to say Caucasian. We thus discover that cystic fibrosis does not discriminate: it affects whites as well as blacks.

And since not all people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) are successful athletes, mountaineers, or writers who are always at the top of their game, we are unveiling our new Healthy Living Program. The program, launched this fall, offers ways to inspire the CF community to move, stay active, and take care of themselves on a daily basis.

As we can read in this fall cuvée from Health You well, it is up to us to aim for and reach the highest heights of excellence!

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About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, chronic, and degenerative disease that accompanies patients from birth to death. A person with CF is still only 50% likely to survive to age 54.

CF isn't just limited to noticeable physical problems, such as lung and digestive problems. The financial precariousness of several patients is added to the mental health problems exacerbated by the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to the lack of inclusion and knowledge about the disease in society in general. The CF community is not only made up of people with CF, but it also includes their loved ones, family and friends who are suffering while on the front line of support and assistance.

34% of the CF community is made up of young people aged 0 to 25 who are particularly vulnerable.

About Living with Cystic Fibrosis

The mission of living with cystic fibrosis is to promote and foster the quality of life and the improvement of the conditions of people living with CF. Since 1985, the one and only autonomous community organization in Quebec has been offering local services to members. To learn more about the services offered, please consult the website.

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