Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Announces PPE Grant Fund of up to €120,000 for People with Cystic Fibrosis Living in Republic of Ireland
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has today announced the establishment of a PPE grant fund for people with cystic fibrosis living in the Republic of Ireland. The grant of €100 per applicant is open for applications from today until August 22, 2020. People with cystic fibrosis, or their guardians, wishing to apply can do so online at www.cfireland.ie/ppe-grant
From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has undertaken a range of measures to support people with cystic fibrosis at a time of unprecedented challenge.
These measures have included the introduction of online counselling for members, access to online exercise supports and mentoring, and financial support for a number of hospital CF Units to develop virtual clinics. Well-being initiatives have also been initiated, alongside teaching support and educational webinars, as well as the provision of very practical supports to members such as emergency finance and access to everyday items such as alcohol-based hand gel.
Speaking about the announcement, Philip Watt, CEO Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, comments:
“People with cystic fibrosis are still ‘cocooning’ but as we move towards further possible relaxation of the COVID-19 regulations in forthcoming weeks and months, it is important that they have some practical assistance towards the costs of PPE if and when they go back to study, training or employment.
“While people with cystic fibrosis are well used to observing regular and proper hand-washing, cough etiquette and social distancing, research among our members has highlighted PPE as a particular issue.
“As a member-led organisation, we know that there are additional costs associated with purchasing PPE for non-hospital activities and we hope that this initiative will help with some of these additional expenses as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic. I would encourage all those with cystic fibrosis in Ireland who feel they would benefit from this grant to apply before the closing date of August 22.”
To access the grant, applicants simply have to be registered as a member of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (at no charge) as well as be a permanent resident of the Republic of Ireland. The grant is not means-tested and so income is not assessed for eligibility. Full information at www.cfireland.ie
Disclosures and thanks
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland would like to thank all fundraisers and donors who have helped to raise funds that have helped us continue to support people with Cystic Fibrosis at this time as our fundraising events have been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. We also wish to thank Foundations and Corporate sponsors who have provided vital support at this time including The Community Foundation for Ireland, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Gilead Sciences.
ENDS
For further information: Philip Watt, CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, tel.: 087 6370557
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas, stopping natural enzymes from enabling the body to break down and absorb food. Approximately one in 19 are thought to carry one copy of the altered gene that causes CF.
People with CF experience a range of symptoms including frequent lung infections, persistent coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, along with poor growth and weight gain in spite of a good appetite. Over time people with CF accumulate significant damage and scar tissue in their lungs which leads to end-stage lung disease requiring a double lung transplant if possible.
There are almost 1,400 people with CF in Ireland. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland Annual Report 2018, between 2010 and 2018, an average of 40 individuals were diagnosed with CF each year. In 2018, there were 140 individuals with CF aged 40 years or older. In 2018, the median age of a person with CF was 21 years. In other words, half of the 1,239 individuals registered were under 21 years of age, and the other half were aged 21 years or older. However, survivability for a growing number is now predicted into their 30s and 40s and beyond. The counties with the largest numbers of people with CF are Dublin (327), Cork (167), Limerick (73), Tipperary (60) and Galway (59). In 2018, there was a total of 1,129 hospitalisations for 529 people with CF.
In Europe, including Ireland, there are very few people with CF who have contracted COVID-19 to date – likely because they were “cocooning” before they were told to do so. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is aware of only two people in Ireland who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and both are making a recovery. However, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland also recognises that that the easing of restrictions is a time of increased anxiety for many members.