By Victoria Calles, TUBC Glendale Heights
Sunday, June 10, Tricoci University campuses gathered a group of students to give away free manicures to runners and walkers that participated in a 5k walk for Cystic Fibrosis. The Greater Illinois Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis foundation hosted a 5k Run in Barrington. Participants raised money to benefit the thousands of families in the Chicago area who are waging a daily battle with CF, one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases in the US.
Ninety cents of every dollar the CF foundation raises goes to support research, medical and education programs. This event alone raised $152,500. After doing some research, I learned that Cystic Fibrosis is a disease in which sticky mucus forms and blocks airways causing lung damage and making it hard to breathe. People with CF have shorter-than-normal life expectancy. In the 1960’s a child born with CF had a life expectancy of only five years. Today, a child born with the horrible disease has a life expectancy of 25 years, which is more than amazing! A boy suffering from the disease made a speech about how he is on a new medicine that helps him not cough as much. But the sad thing about that medicine is that it only works for 4 percent of children with the disease.
With about 15 girls from Tricoci University, we did about 3-4 manicures each, from young children to adults. Listening to some of the many struggles the young children have been through makes me want to do everything I can to help. I had the opportunity to do a manicure on a young teenager who has been participating at the event ever since she was born because someone in her family has CF. I found that to be so remarkable and even told her how awesome it was that she could be there showing her support. Even just one person can make a difference. I couldn’t image waking up every day knowing it could be my last; it has to be one of the worst feelings ever!
Imagery by Christina Nielsen.