“It’s Not Easy Being Wheezy!” Teen Skydives to Support Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Jess Harrison is a 17-year-old cystic fibrosis (CF) patient who was diagnosed when she was only a baby at 18 months, like so many other patients. The difference is that she — as well as an increasing number of children and teens with the disease — decided to do something to give back. The teenager recently organized a skydiving event, called “It’s not easy being wheezy!“ to help raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust on October 4th.

Harrison has already raised £195.00 of the £500.00 target and continues the fundraising campaign until the date of the event. “Having lived with the condition all my life, I don’t let it bring me down. I try to live life to the fullest and take on any challenge that comes my way. Despite the life expectancy of just 34, I aim to see my first grandchild born. This is because I have CF, CF doesn’t have me,” she says in her presentation on the website JustGiving.

Donations can be made online here.

Although the research on the disease has evolved, there is much yet to be done, and Harrison believes that her skydiving event may contribute to help the CF Trust, which has helped her family during dealing with the disease, especially when she was newly diagnosed. “I am doing a skydive! for Cystic Fibrosis Trust because I want to give something back. But I need your help!,” she says, and with some humor she asks: “Lets go and kick CF’s butt.”

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Young patients are becoming more aware of the disease and engaging in initiatives like this one. Recently, a 23-year-old CF patient, Beau Rich, decided to embark in a cross-country trek through the United States to document how CF patients can deal with the disease and have an active lifestyle, as reported by Cystic Fibrosis News Today.