Kerry Rowe of Emerald urges Australians to support cystic fibrosis awareness.By Tania Martin
EMERALD woman and cystic fibrosis suffer Kerry Rowe has called on Australians to get behind the cystic fibrosis day of awareness on Friday.
Ms Rowe, 46, said that everyone should get behind 65 Roses Day, find out more about cystic fibrosis and help raise funds for research.
Apart from suffering from cystic fibrosis, Ms Rowe has lived a relatively normal life, owning hairdressing salons and raising a family.
She has 14yearold twins and a supportive husband who give her the strength to continue battling the disease.
Ms Rowe said it was important to promote 65 Roses Day to bring awareness to the disease as many people don’t know what cystic fibrosis means.
Pins, pens and ribbons supporting 65 Roses Day are on sale at LJ Hooker and Big W.
Ms Rowe said people with cystic fibrosis should get up every day and enjoy life, as they never know when their time will be up.
Cystic fibrosis is a lifethreatening condition that affects the lung and digestive system. In Australia, a child is born with cystic fibrosis every four days.
Cystic Fibrosis Australia has produced an electronic date registry that will aid health professionals to deliver the best possible treatment for young people with cystic fibrosis.
The registry is a data record of the health status of all people with cystic fibrosis in Australia.
Although here is still no cure, Cystic Fibrosis Australia chief executive Terry Stewart said there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Mr Stewart said the latest statistics confirmed the dramatic improvement in life expectancy that has been shown in overseas studies was also evident in Australia.
He said the total number of deaths of Australian cystic fibrosis sufferers had halved since 1998.
Mr Stewart said from 1998 to 2004 there had been a fall of 70 per cent in the number of deaths of people aged under 20 from cystic fibrosis.
Young children can find the condition difficult to pronounce, often calling it ‘65 roses’.
