Monday, December 15, 2008
FFL ON CITY TV
Wath the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHeCUicfXr0
On December 15, The Friends For Life Foundation made its first television appearance on CITY TV news. The segment featured FFL co-founder's Erick Bauer and Steve Cameron, as well CITY TV's own Anne Mroczkowski.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Comedy For A Cause
The event, which raised over $5,000, was put on in conjunction with the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Centennial College. Guests enjoyed delicious fare, cool refreshments, great giveaways, and of course, hilarious stand up comedy.
FFL would like to extend a special thank you to Wendy Matadeen-Goberdhan, Andrea Sluga, Victoria Sklavos and Jillian Cramer for their hard work, commitment and dedication.
FFL would also like to thank:
Anni Hansen
Kernels
Mike Kanellos
Moksha Yoga
Oldcastle Glass
Pan National Real Estate
Sweet Temptations
The Town of Markham
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar
The Sweet Heart Campaign
All net proceeds raised as a result of this initiative will be donated to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Oncology Unit at SickKids Hospital. To learn more about The Sweet Heart Campaign or to inquire about volunteer oppourtunities, please contact:
info@friendsforlifefoundation.ca.
Stay tunned for more details!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Kyle McMillan
My name is Steve Cameron and this is my first posting on the Friends For Life blog. I am sad to say that this posting is in response to a recent tragedy.
On the morning of Wednesday November 5, 2008 one of the most courageous men I have ever met passed away after a long and hard fought battle with cancer.
Since I was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, I have been reluctant to talk about the disease. I despise the illness and what it does to people. As a cancer survivor, I can relate to the pain and suffering that those living with the disease must face on a daily basis. It is tough to go back to that place; it rekindles emotions and anxieties that no human should have to face. That being said, I feel that it is important - now more then ever - for me to take a moment to reflect on my thoughts.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A Special Thank You From FFL
On Wednesday, October 22, Erick Bauer and Steve Cameron ,of The Friends For Life Foundation, had the privilege of meeting with the nursing staff of the Oncology Unit at SickKids hospital. The meeting was part of a formal cheque presentation to SickKids on behalf of FFL.
The Friends For Life Foundation would like to personally thank the doctors, nurses, and support staff at SickKids for their hard work and dedication. Everyday, these incredible individuals work tirelessly to end childhood cancer.
Not only do they provide important health care to hundreds of sick children every year; they also provide strength, courage and love at a time when it is needed the most. Amazingly, these inspirational individuals rarely receive recognition for their work. Their efforts are entirely selfless.
That being said, The Friends For Life Foundation would like to once again thank and recognize the staff at SickKids for their unrelenting contribution to the fight against cancer. You truly are an inspiration to us all!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Comedy For A Cause
The inaugural event will include a pre-show cocktail reception, light appetizers and live performances by some of Toronto’s most talented young comedians.
Why: The Friends For Life Foundation is a non-profit charity organization in support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Oncology Clinic at Sick Kids Hospital. Our goal is to unite people in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer. We believe in the strength of friendship, the power of knowledge and the importance of attitude. Through our fundraising initiatives we aim to raise awareness and funds for the research and treatment of these two devastating disease’s.
When: Wed. Nov. 26, 2008
Doors open: 6:45 p.m.
Pre-show reception: 7 p.m.
Show: 8 p.m.
Where: Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club
224 Richmond St. W.
Toronto, ON
Price: Tickets are $2o and will be available in advance ONLY.
Contact: info@friendsforlifefoundation.ca
For additional information and media interviews please contact:
Erick Bauer
416-587-4185
erick@friendsforlifefoundation.ca
http://www.friendsforlifefoundation.blogspot.com/
Produced in cunjunction with:
The Centre for Creative Communications
INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING
Writing. Production. Visual Communication.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Painted Rust: Surviving Cystic Fibrosis
"Painted Rust: Surviving Cystic Fibrosis" is a collection of stories and reflections by FFL Co-Founder Erick Bauer.
To learn more check out:
http://www.paintedrust.blogspot.com/
Enjoy the site, and happy blogging!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Comedy For A Cause
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Victory Beyond the Numbers
Erick Bauer - Bordon - 2007
During the summer of 2007, at the age of 22, I was confronted by the reality of what it means to live with Cystic Fibrosis.
In late April my lung function plummeted nearly 50%. The relentless lung infection left me exhausted, frustrated, and sincerely concerned about the prospect of recuperation.
For the first time in my life I was forced to accept the limitations imposed upon me by the disease. I felt as though the statistics were finally catching up with me.
Over a four-month period I endured several courses of oral and intervenes antibiotics; which, to my dismay, never seemed to stabilize my condition. My pulmonary function continued to drop, my hospital stays grew longer and more frequent, and the prescribed medications began to take their toll both physically and mentally.
The absence of physical activity in my life left me humiliated and aggravated. A once avid cyclist, runner, hockey player, and all round athlete, I found myself unable to complete even the most remedial tasks. The journey from my hospital bed to the washroom became a test of endurance, leaving me gasping for air.
Enthusiasm soon turned to impatience, vigor to fear, as the relentless infection continued to intrude upon every aspect of my life. What I needed was inspiration, a flash of encouragement to disrupt the pattern of negativity that had taken hold of my life. I found that inspiration in a copy of Triathlon Canada magazine.
As I sat in my hospital bed, magazine in hand, I read about a 38-year-old woman named Lisa Bentley, who, like me, was living with cystic fibrosis. However Lisa was no ordinary CF patient; she was an athlete, more specifically, a triathlete. A former math teacher turned professional athlete, Lisa made her mark on the sports world by winning an astonishing ten Ironman triathlon championships despite the fact that she was living with a potentially fatal respiratory disease. Her success was the inspiration I needed.
I found myself digging through magazines and on-line articles in an attempt to learn more about Lisa and her amazing journey to the top of the triathlon world. The more I read, the more inspired I became. It was this moment of inspiration that gave rise to my passion for triathlon and multi-sport.
I vowed to compete in my first multi-sport event. I wanted to achieve the satisfaction of completing such a grueling task, but more importantly, I wanted to prove to my friends and family that I was still in control of my CF. After some deliberation, I decided to register for the C.F.B Borden Duathalon (the last race of the year in the HSBC triathlon series). The race was only two months away, and my health was the worst it had ever been, however I found confidence and strength in the accomplishments of fellow CF patient (and new found inspiration) Lisa Bentley.
As the weeks slowly passed by I began to regain my strength. With an intravenous line in my arm and a bag of antibiotics around my waste, I began riding my bike. At first I struggled to ride to the end of my street and back; but as the days passed, and my endurance improved, I began riding further and harder. My lung function increased, and my intravenous line was removed. I felt liberated. I felt like I was in control once again. As September approached, I found myself unable to contain the excitement that came with the idea of racing in my first duathlon.
The race was a absolutely grueling. I finished in 98th place out of 132 participants –a rather mediocre result. However, as I crossed the finish line on that warm fall day what I experienced was the unmistakable, undeniable, feeling of victory.
Lisa has chosen to not let her disease rule her life. Her advice to fellow CF patients is simple, “Attitude is more important than fact. The fact may be that you have an obstacle in your way, but it is how you think about that obstacle that determines its manageability.”
The truth is, not every CF patient has the ability to participate in a duathlon or triathlon. Nevertheless, by staying active and recognizing the importance of a positive attitude CF patient’s can maintain a level of control over a disease that quite often seems uncontrollable.
Although my health has improved over the last year, my lung function has still not completely recovered. I still rely heavily on antibiotic treatments, nebulizer therapy, anti-inflammatory puffers, and daily prednisone ingestions. Regardless, I am determined to overcome the limitations that CF has placed on my life.
Thank you Lisa; you are an inspiration and a role model to an entire community of CF survivors.
See you at the finish line!
Erick
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
FFL Bio's
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal, genetic disease affecting young Canadians’ today. The disease affects one in every 3,600 people born in Canada. My name is Erick Bauer; and I am one of those people. At the age of five I was diagnosed, and from that day forward every facet of my life has revolved around the disease. From the rigorous therapy to the emotional struggles involving infertility and mortality, CF has found its way into all the corners of my life.
The realities of living with a life threatening disease are dauntingly complex. The deterioration of health is often followed by the deterioration of will, and, in turn, a sense of powerlessness that cannot be described - only experienced. Such a devastating disease is intrinsically intertwined with pain and struggle; however, those living with CF learn to embrace the positives while disregarding the negatives.
Cystic Fibrosis, therefore, serves as a reminder to live life to its fullest and to cherish the time we have with friends, family, and loved ones. These notions of friendship, caring, and teamwork are what led to the formation of the Friends For Life Foundation.
For myself, the Foundation has become a support network, an emotional lifeline, and a way to extract positives out of an incredibly negative situation. It is a source of inspiration; a flash of encouragement that works to disrupt the inevitable patterns of negativity that often seem to take hold of my life. Friends For Life is more then just a charitable organization - it is a core philosophy embraced by a group of people who have chosen to unite in the fight against two devastating diseases. I derive personal inspiration from the success that we have achieved with the Foundation and I look forward to continued success in the years to come. Most importantly, I have come to realize that I am not alone in my fight against Cystic Fibrosis. I find strength in those who stand by me, and I move forward knowing that they will always be by my side.
Steve Cameron
At 16 years of age I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Large Cell Anaplastyic Lymphoma. I was immediately put on a 12 month treatment protocol consisting of chemotherapy and the daily ingestion of various medications. The side effects of both the disease and the treatment therapy were at most times unbearable; I missed out on an entire year of school and was forced to give up many of the social activities that had been a part of my life for so long (such as hockey). It was without a doubt, one of the most difficult things I have had to endure; yet I persevered and am here today because of the support I received from my friends and family.
The entire experience strongly impacted my outlook on life and has become an integral part of the person I am today. Like many other survivors, Cancer has changed my life forever. During the year of my recovery - from both the cancer and the chemo – it became evident that my experiences could perhaps be used positively to help other cancer patients who are forced to endure the pain and strife that are inherently associated with the devastating disease. I was determined to give back to the cancer community – I just wasn’t sure how I was going to go about it.
During that year I spent a lot of time with a friend of mine who was also battling a life threatening disease. Although we first met in middle school, Erick Bauer and I became very close during high school. Erick was a Cystic Fibrosis patient who had been diagnosed with the disease at a young age. As a Cystic Fibrosis patient, he was forced to endure many of the same painful experiences that I, as a cancer patient, knew all too well. At the very minimum, both of us understood the daily struggles of pain, humiliation, feelings of defeat, and devastation. The strength that we found in each other was quite apparent to those around us. One of our closest friends – Chantal -was particularly touched by our respective battles with CF and Cancer. Her vision was to create a charitable organization that celebrated the strength of friendship, the power of knowledge, and the importance of attitude. As a result, the Friends For Life Foundation was officially formed. In 2006 Erick and I took over the Friends for Life Foundation. The main theme of the charity remains the same: friend’s help friend’s overcome difficult times in life.
The money raised through our charitable initiatives goes to support The Oncology Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in hopes that other patients can be spared the pain inflicted by these two diseases. My diagnosis, medication regime and recovery were life altering experiences. Our annual charity event is one way that I have decided to give back to the community of researchers and doctors who dedicate their lives to fighting these two devastating illnesses. Most importantly, The Friends for Life Foundation hopes to make a difference in the lives of those fellow patients who, like us, are forced to spend every day dealing with these life altering diseases. It is my dream to grow Friends For Life in hopes of making it more successful with the passing of each year.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Hospital For Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country. As innovators in child health, SickKids improves the health of children by integrating care, research and teaching. Since its inception in 1875 this world renowned hospital has acted as a temporary home to thousands of sick children. As ex-patients, both Erick Bauer and Steve Cameron have close personal ties to the hospital.
Erick, who lives with Cystic Fibrosis, was followed regularly by the medical staff at The Hospital For Sick Children from the time of his diagnosis, at age 5, until the time he turned 18. During his 13 years as a Sick Kids patient Erick was lucky enough to come into contact with a variety of wonderful doctors, nurses, therapists, volunteers and researchers; each of whom played an integral role in his fight against CF. The unrelenting care and support that Erick and his family received is a testament to all of the wonderful people who help make The Hospital For Sick Children such a special place.
Friday, July 25, 2008
What is CF?
Cystic Fibrosis, on the other hand, remains a relatively misunderstood disorder. The harsh realization is that most people simply do not know enough about CF to consciously make an effort to fight against it. For those of you who might fall into this category this posting is for you! The following will address some of the most common questions and misunderstandings regarding Cystic Fibrosis.
What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. CF is a multi-organ disease affecting primarily the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, CF causes severe breathing problems. A build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage the delicate lung tissues. They must follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection. In the digestive tract, CF makes it extremely difficult to digest and absorb adequate nutrients from food. Thick mucus blocks the ducts of the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. Therefore, persons with CF must consume a large number of artificial enzymes (on average 20 pills a day) with every meal and snack, to help them absorb adequate nutrition from their food.
How many Canadians have cystic fibrosis?
It is estimated that one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has CF. At the present time, approximately 3,500 children, adolescents, and adults with cystic fibrosis attend specialized CF clinics.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis?
- difficulty breathing;
- constant cough which expels thick mucus;
- excessive appetite, with weight loss;
- bowel disturbances;
- skin which tastes salty;
- repeated or prolonged bouts of pneumonia.
CF was first described as a disease in the late 1930s. At that time, it was usually recognized only after a child had died, often as a result of malnutrition or pneumonia. Medical awareness of CF has increased tremendously over the years. Nevertheless, cystic fibrosis can still be confused with other common diseases -- such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, and celiac disease.
What Causes Cystic Fibrosis?
People are born with cystic fibrosis; it is a genetic disorder. Approximately one in every 25 Canadians carries a defective version of the gene responsible for CF. A carrier has only one copy of the gene responsible for CF. Carriers do not have cystic fibrosis, and can never get the disease. In most cases, they are not even aware that they are carriers, because they do not have cystic fibrosis, or any of its symptoms.
How is CF diagnosed?
If a physician suspects CF, he or she will probably suggest a "sweat test". This simple and painless test measures the amount of salt in the sweat. A high salt level, along with other symptoms, points to the presence of cystic fibrosis. Increasingly, genetic tests are being used in the diagnosis of the disease. Genetic tests are also used to diagnose CF prenatally.
When is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?
Approximately 60% of patients are diagnosed in the first year of life, and 90% by 10 years of age.
How is CF treated?
Treatment programs are tailored to individual needs and depend upon the stage of the disease and which organs are affected. Treatments followed at home generally include: tapping or "clapping" the chest and the back vigorously(percussion) or PEP (positive expiratory pressure) Mask Therapy or other forms of chest physiotherapy to help loosen the mucus which clogs the lungs; taking pancreatic enzymes with all meals, to aid digestion; taking nutritional supplements and vitamins to promote good nutrition; taking antibiotics in pill, intravenous (IV), and or inhaled forms, to ease congestion and protect against and fight lung infection; exercise.
How does cystic fibrosis affect daily life?
For persons with CF, life includes a daily routine of therapy and periodic visits to a CF clinic. Otherwise, most individuals with cystic fibrosis lead normal lives, for many years, in terms of education, physical activity, and social relationships. Eventually, however, lung disease places increasing limits on daily life. Thanks to advances in research and clinical care, growing numbers of children with CF are surviving into adulthood. In 1960 a child born with cystic fibrosis rarely lived four years. Today, half of all Canadians with CF are expected to live into their late-thirties and beyond. In 2006, for the first time, more than 50% of all Canadians with CF were 18 years and older. These men and women are pursuing post-secondary education, careers and many are having families of their own; a tremendous accomplishment, but not enough.
Is There a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis?As yet, there is no known cure for CF, but there is real hope. Comprehensive treatment programs have dramatically extended the lives of persons with CF and many are living into their 20s, 30s and beyond. As of 2002, the median age of survival of Canadians with cystic fibrosis is 37 years of age. The median age of survival is the age beyond which half of the CF population can be expected to live. Since 1989 when Canadian researchers discovered the gene responsible for CF, global research to find a cure for the disease has brought us closer and closer to a solution. The pace of CF science suggests that there is good reason to feel optimistic about the future.
Hopefully this article has helped de-mystify some of the common misconceptions that surround CF!
Thanks for checking in.
The FFL crew.
The 3rd Annual FFL Charity Benefit
Those in attendance enjoyed delicious fare, tasty refreshments, amazing musical performances, dancing, the excitement of both a live and silent auction, and of course - fantastic company! Once again we would like to thank everyone who attended and supported this years event. Your dedication and generosity have made this charity a reality.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the 4th Annual Friends For Life Charity Benefit.
Much love.
The FFL crew.
Welcome to our Blogspot
Blog on!
The FFL crew.