Special Cystic Fibrosis Video Debuts at British Comedy Awards

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust recently announced that it would serve as the official charity partner of the British Comedy Awards for their 25th Anniversary special on December 17, 2014. Before the ceremony officially began, a very special video from the Trust made its debut in front of a star-studded auditorium of performers, producers, and key personalities of UK television.

The powerful video, titled, “The Breath Before,” was written by comedy writer Tom Edge and his partner and comedy agent, Hannah Begbie, who also wrote an inspiring and emotional article on coping with cystic fibrosis, featured in the event’s program. The couple was inspired by their son, Griffin, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis last year. The video features a cameo from comedian Frank Skinner, and represents all of what the Trust stands for and hopes to achieve for the cystic fibrosis community in the UK.

The event was estimated to have 1,000 attendees, all of whom received copies of the event program, party blowers with the Trust’s logo, and an information leaflet titled, Cystic Fibrosis is what, exactly? The A-list event also encouraged its guests to help raise awareness of CF by using the official hashtag #cfisnojoke on their social media posts.

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“We are so excited to be the official charity partner of the British Comedy Awards in their 25th year and we’re extremely grateful for the awareness it will generate,” said Oli Lewington, Engagement Director at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. “Raising the profile of cystic fibrosis is vital to the Trust’s mission, and we are very proud to be a part of such a celebrated event.” The Trust also would like to thank Tom and Hannah for sharing their inspiring story, and their help in producing the video.

In other CF news, a recent study in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases demonstrated the advanced efficacy of NovaBiotics Ltd.’s Cysteamine as a mucoactive antimicrobial & antibiofilm agent for the management of cystic fibrosis. The drug was found to be comparable to other mucolytic agents, and showed impressive antibiotic properties against active and persister cells of P. aeruginosa and other evolving CF pathogens, inhibited biofilm formation, and has the ability to reverse microbial resistance.