2008 Woodie Awards
Tri Beta host Cystic Fibrosis Walk
Stephanie White-Olsen
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: News
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Today, one in 25 Caucasian Americans carry the gene for Cystic Fibrosis, and it affects about 30,000 people in the US. You may have the gene and live a normal life, and it even helps to protect you from tuberculosis and cholera. But if your significant other is also a carrier, your child will have Cystic Fibrosis.
According to a Newsweek article published on MSNBC.com, Ben Whitford, wrote in the 1930s, 80 percent of people with Cystic Fibrosis died before their first birthday. But new advances in medication and treatment come in spurts. Now, patients are living until their mid-30s and some into old age.
With a genetic disorder that only affected children for so long, how are they going to treat all the adults that still are surviving and waiting for the next new treatment in order to survive? More clinics are opening to treat adult patients who, until recently, had to be treated in the pediatric ward.
Along with continuous treatment is the continuous effort of people raising money in order to fund and help extend the survival age of patients. Dr. Jennifer Roberts, professor of biology, pre-health professions director, and advisor to Tri Beta Biological Society at Lewis, helped to organize the walk.
"I would like people to be aware of the importance of research for Cystic Fibrosis. They've made great strides in research and it gives people more time to live a semi-normal life."
She also stated that this cause is important because it is such an unknown disease and not well-funded. However, doctors are now regularly screening women who want to have a baby to determine if the baby will have Cystic Fibrosis or be a carrier of the gene.
Tri Beta Biological Honor Society offered free food and free body fat analysis to all donating participants. The walk was all around Lewis' campus, following the route of the AIDS walk the day before. It started at the Recreation Center, went down to the soccer fields, across to the other soccer fields, and back by the aviation building.
