Lucy Baxter is a second year Communication and Media student from Lancashire. When Lucy was two-years-old she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and ever since Lucy and her family have campaigned to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
To mark Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week (Monday, 17 June – Sunday, 23 June), Lucy wanted to share her story with you and tell you more about her upcoming sponsored bouncy hopper race.
In October, I was incredibly ill with my Cystic Fibrosis due to a horrendous chest infection that I could not shift. I was having lots of intravenous antibiotics and they were not working. After a few weeks they began to work and I improved, but it was in my hospital bed I decided to start a Campaign on Facebook called Lucy’s Leap for Life.
I created a video to raise awareness that reached over 8,000 people.
https://www.facebook.com/LucysLeapforLife/videos/293003434586334/
What I really want to do is help get precision medicines funded for everyone. But I also want to be a role model for younger people with Cystic Fibrosis too, so that they know they can still achieve their dreams in life without the illness stopping them. I will not stop campaigning until everyone with Cystic Fibrosis has access to these lifesaving drugs that we need to stay alive.
“Not sure what Cystic Fibrosis is? It’s a genetic condition that’s the most common rare disease in the U.K. It affects over 10,000 people. It affects the lungs and the pancreas. We struggle to breathe and frequently pick up fatal chest infections because we have a lot of sticky mucus. Breathing with Cystic Fibrosis is like breathing through a straw and running at the same time. We also struggle to put on weight. We need to take enzymes whilst we eat as our pancreas doesn’t work.” Lucy Baxter
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness week is all about raising awareness. On Friday, 21 June of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness week, everyone wears yellow to gain more awareness. I’m creating a campaign video on the day, featuring my friends, family and fellow campaign workers who will all be sending me yellow selfies. Take a look at my Lucy’s Leap for Life Facebook page on the day to see it!
Bouncy hopper race fundraiser
To help raise money I’ve organised a Bounce for Baxter fundraiser in Lancashire, which is taking place from 11am on Saturday, 13 July. It’s a sponsored bouncy hopper race where people can bounce either 300m, 1km or 3km. If you want to take part, email me! So far, we have around 60 people planning to bounce.
All the money is going to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. There will be music playing to motivate the bouncers and a cake stall. In the evening, we are having a mini-festival where we have four local singers and bands performing. There will also be a hog-roast. I’m hoping to raise £1,000. If anyone wants to donate, you can do so on my Sponsored Bouncy Hopper Race Virgin Money Giving page.
If you want to find out more about Cystic Fibrosis, visit the official Cystic Fibrosis website. You can also find out more on my Lucy’s Leap for Life Facebook page.