Local mother Christiane Aupry is organizing a fundraising event to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. It’s a DJed dance party called “Dance for CF”, something that Aupry said she thought would be fun for everyone to attend. She hopes to raise enough money that the donation will make a difference.
“This charity is really close to my heart since my son Antoine has this disease. He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was six weeks old,” Aupry said. “Five years ago, I started speaking for CF on behalf of health partners, and I’ve also participated in the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History. I’m raising money from this event for that walk.”
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes mucus to build up in the organs of the body, and people with the disease don’t reject this mucus like healthy people do. The buildup can cause respiratory infections, breathing problems, chronic lung disease, malnutrition, and poor growth.
CF impacts Antoine’s daily life even when he’s comparatively healthy. If he contracts a respiratory infection due to being more susceptible, his routine is disrupted with even more hospital visits and medication.
“We have multiple appointments per year to see if everything’s going well. There’s a crew of doctors we see every three months, and we’ve had multiple visits to the hospital because he’s more susceptible to infections,” Aupry said. “At home he’s taking all sorts of medication and we’re doing physio treatments every day. If he gets an infection, he’ll have to do some treatments with a medicated steam mask he has to breathe in for thirty minutes, twice a day.”
There is currently no cure for CF, but Aupry hopes that this fundraiser will make a difference for research into the disease. The “Dance for CF” will take place on April 29 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Camille-Piché Community Center in Embrun. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door, with a limit of 400 people at a time. The staff of the Pearson Street food truck will be preparing food for purchase in the community centre kitchen, and the bar will be open for adults to purchase alcohol.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/christianeaupry/856830, with all proceeds going to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
