In for the long run: 10 years raising funds for cystic fibrosis
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Picture: Donna Eaton, gym owners Warren White and Jill Bingham, Laura Stoll & Sonia Marshall. Donna, Laura & Sonia are the original mums who started 65kms for Cystic Fibrosis
Donna Eaton knows it can be hard to raise money for cystic fibrosis (CF), but she’s found an effective way to help find a cure.
“Our children with CF, they look well,” Donna said. “It’s hard to fundraise for a child that looks well. But internally, they’re not well.”
Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic condition that damages lungs, the digestive system, and other organs. It gets worse with time, but people with CF are living longer, thanks to recent medical advances.
Donna’s son, Saxon, has CF. Ten years ago, Donna was on the treadmill at her local gym, trying to think of a new way to raise funds for CF research and support services.
“I thought, why don’t we get a team of CF mums on a treadmill? We could run or walk 65 kilometres in a non-stop relay.
“I approached gym owner Warren White, who supported us, and off we went. We started 65kms for Cystic Fibrosis and we raised $29,000.”
This past weekend, about 50 runners and supporters ran the 65 kilometres on treadmills in a tenth anniversary event that added several thousand dollars to the 10-year total of $152,000.
Why 65 kilometres? 65 is significant in the CF community, because of Ricky Weiss, a four-year-old American boy who couldn’t say the name of his disease and rendered it as “65 roses”.
Over the years, the event Donna created has spread, with teams taking part in other parts of Queensland, interstate, and even in the US state of Florida.
“We’ve also had staff at the Queensland Children’s Hospital join the events, physiotherapists, nurses, dieticians & even a CF doctor, running on treadmills at the hospital to raise funds,” Donna said.
The tenth anniversary run, at Jetts Gym, Nambour, has raised almost seven thousand dollars, with donations still coming in.
“The feeling in the room was amazing, so many people turning up wanting to help. We even had a group who started at midnight, and ran to Jetts from Golden Beach, and they worked out a route that was 65 kilometres,” Donna said.
“It’s a really long way, 65 kilometres. Feels even longer on a treadmill.
“But we’re so close to finding a cure, since the discovery of the gene that causes CF.
“If we just keep fundraising, eventually, I hope and believe that we will have our cure.”
Donna Eaton’s event raises funds for the Cure for CF Foundation , which supports medical research, and Cystic Fibrosis Queensland , which supports about 850 CF families through advocacy, breathing equipment and subsidised sports activities.
