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One year more, the Swimming Tour around Formentera against Cystic Fibrosis leaves us nice feelings. Having lived through the 11 editions, I must say that this one has been a success for several reasons: Record of swimmers, few jellyfish, few medical incidents, festive atmosphere with our DJ Gus, even when the sun hid behind the clouds, and the great work of a renovated team of volunteers led by my good friend Javi.
Respiralia grows, there’s no doubt, but the most important thing is that it still keeps the essence of a solidarity event that brings together people from very different parts of the world. This year, the Community of Valencia has had a great performance, especially with University students, coupled with a very special group for us as it is the DF598 team with representatives of the Son Dureta Hospital of Palma.
The name of this team is especially suitable as it reminds us that the DF508 mutation is one of the most serious that a child with CF can have. Therefore, although we spent 4 unforgettable days, this team continues to remind us that there is much work to do until we can find a cure for this and other mutations that cause cystic fibrosis.
Knowing that many of those who have participated this year will share with us the next edition, I propose that you learn more about cystic fibrosis and find a name related with this disease for your team or simple add a postscript to your actual name. This way you will learn more about CF and will let the rest of the people know some unknown aspects of the disease.
For the first time on this website, I will enable comments so that you can leave your impression of how you lived Respiralia 2010. I hope you tell us what you liked and what you didn’t like so that we can improve for next year.
Thank you all for your participation. I will see you next year at Respiralia 2011.
What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic, serious and degenerative disease that to date has no cure.
It mainly affects the respiratory, digestive, reproductive and sweat glands.
The treatment for Cystic Fibrosis includes antibiotherapy, a healthy and hypercaloric nutrition and respiratory physiotherapy combined with endurance exercises.
You can see the infographic published by the Cystic Fibrosis Spanish Federation in this link (Spanish version) or see how Dani tells us what this disease is for him in this vídeo (Spanish version).
Currently, more than 2000 mutations are known in the gene that is defective in people with Cystic Fibrosis, although only about 150 mutations are described as causing the disease.
Statistics show that 1 in 5,000 people in Spain has Cystic Fibrosis (1 in 6,400 in the Balearic Islands) and 1 in 35 people is a carrier of a gene that causes the disease (1 in 40 in the Balearic Islands).
In the Balearic Islands there are 76 known diagnosed cases, but statistics speak of between 85 and 90 possible cases.
The awareness project of the Respiralia Foundation aims to raise awareness of this disease in order to discover those cases of people who have Cystic Fibrosis but have not yet been diagnosed.
