YOUNG people in Macarthur with cystic fibrosis can be in no doubt that their whole community is behind them.
Last Saturday’s Swimathon for Cystic Fibrosis raised a whopping $83,000 — and counting — to help fund research and provide support for sufferers of the disease, which clogs the lungs and digestive system with mucus.

That’s the equivalent of more than $1000 raised for each of the 82 local residents with cystic fibrosis (CF), including Raby’s Lauren Rowe (pictured above).

Former Advertiser journalist Michelle Fenech started the event four years ago, and it has now raised a total of $227,000. More than 150 local swimmers swam more than 200 kilometres at Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre.

Penny Free of Elderslie, whose 12-year-old daughter Julia has CF, said she was speechless when she found out how much money had been raised. Mrs Free said the event showed kids with CF that they’ve got a whole community behind them,” she said. “There’s a lot of people out there who care about them and want to support them.”

Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre staff faced a last minute rush to get the pool ready on Saturday morning after the gym and foyer were flooded in Friday’s storm. Mr Barnes said the most amazing thing about Saturday for him was the number of people who helped out and turned up to swim. “It gets bigger and bigger and I can’t wait till next year.”

NSW Sport Minister Graham Annesley opened the swim and other local MPs donned their swimmers.

Committee member Michelle Fenech thanked James Barnes and the team at Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, the team at Lifehouse Church Camden, Tahmoor Lions Club, Plus Fitness, Sharon’s Photography, Macarthur Castles and Rob Doorey from C91.3.

OUR SPONSORS

Platinum: Xstrata Coal, Peter Jermyn, Camden Valley Inn, Hennings Jewellers, Plus Fitness, DA Global Logistics, Byrons Chartered Accountants and the Advertiser newspapers

Gold: TRN Group, Trophy Mart Leumeah, Framing Beautiful, Macarthur Castles, Macarthur BEC, Illawarra Coal, FDC Construction & Fitout, Lifehouse Church, Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, Tahmoor Lions Club, Sharon’s Photography

Silver: C91.3, Heli-Aust, Splendour Interiors, My Gateway, Combined Real Estate, Hillbrick Racing, Hi Quality Electrical, ANZ Tahmoor, Paul Wakeling Motor Group, Splendour Interiors

Bronze: Tony Wolf & Son Quality Printers, Creations by Jas, Rydges Campbelltown, Chris Lane Photography, ANZ Stadium, GWS Giants, Masters Home Improvement, Macarthur Square, Camden Hire, Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, Balloon Aloft, Pinnacle of Pretty, Mowbray Park Farmstay, Campbelltown Catholic Club, Natalie’s Beauty & Massage, Harrington’s Bar & Grill, Uniden, House Warehouse Tahmoor

Story thanks the the Wollondilly Advertiser

Matilda, of The Oaks, is one of our brave local kids with the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis (CF). She was born in April last year at Campbelltown Hospital and at 36 hours old was rushed to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She stayed for six weeks. “She’s had four surgeries on her bowel because of the effects of cystic fibrosis on the digestive tract,” said her mum Renee Jenkins. “I didn’t know a lot about CF before Matilda, and what I did know was dated — I thought it was a death sentence.”

Her parents know they cannot change their daughter’s diagnosis of CF, but they can can raise awareness of the disease and help fund research.

The whens and wheres

When: The swimathon is on February 11 at the Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, Picton. The swimathon launch will be on February 9 at Camden Valley Inn.

Donating: Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/event/swimathonforcysticfibrosis to make a donation or visit www.stickytickets.com.au/7071 to buy a ticket to the swimathon launch.

LYING in a hospital bed, taking what could have been her last breaths, Lauren Rowe thought about her future. Ms Rowe was born with cystic fibrosis, an incurable genetic disorder that clogged her lungs with thick and sticky mucus.

At just 19, doctors told her without a lung transplant, she only had 12 months to live.
So when a donor became available and Ms Rowe came through the life-saving operation, thoughts of a bright future boosted her recovery. “After the transplant, I had some setbacks which were extremely unpleasant, but three things got me through,” she said. “One was hope for an awesome future, the other was those close to me and the third were my dogs.”

Since receiving new lungs almost two years ago, Ms Rowe, who lives in Raby, said she tried to “experience and embrace the many things life has to offer”. “Last week for instance I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge with my girlfriend, who is also swimming in Team Lozza.”

Team Lozza is a group of steadfast friends that don pink tights and turn out for the Advertiser’s Swim for CF. Each year they raise between $2500 up to an impressive $6000. “The team started getting more sponsors because of the pink tights,” she said. “It is such an empowering feeling to have people swim for me. “I am filled with so much gratitude that I have had so much support.”

Not put off by the colour code is Macarthur MP Russell Matheson who will join Team Lozza at the swimathon on February 11.

Money raised at the swim and the launch night goes towards supporting CF sufferers.
There are 80 living in the Macarthur region.

THE WHENS AND WHERES
When: The swimathon is on February 11 at the Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, Picton. The swimathon launch will be on February 9 at Camden Valley Inn.
Donating: Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/event/swimathonforcysticfibrosis to make a donation or visit www.stickytickets.com.au/7071 to buy a ticket to the swimathon launch.

Details: Visit www.cysticfibrosismacarthur.org.au, email alicia.bowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au or call 46405117.

“We are honoured to be asked to perform at an event like this,” Fred-Day said. “It’s for the Macarthur area — our home town. It’s about making people smile. A lot of people supported us and we want to give back to them any way we can.”

Mr Gatehau said he hoped that all the fans who voted for Three Wishez would come to see himself and Fred-Day perform.
“Having the name we now have, it’s a good opportunity to support the community and get behind a cause,” he said. “They are our supporters and fans and they matter the most.”

The launch will start at Camden Valley Inn at 6pm on Thursday, February 9. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children or $50 for a family (two adults and three children). Tickets include a buffet meal and entertainment. They can be bought from stickytickets.com .au/7071 or from the Advertiser office, Shop 3, 342 Camden Valley Way, Narellan.

BY SCOTT DOUGHERTY
25 Jan, 2012 01:00 AM

VISIT Wollondilly Leisure Centre next month to help Macarthur kids with cystic fibrosis.
The Macarthur Swimathon for Cystic Fibrosis has a carnival theme this year and for $10 visitors get entry, jumping castle rides, face painting, fairy floss, popcorn and snow cones.The money raised will go towards research of cystic fibrosis and support for Macarthur residents with the disease.
Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system and is the most common life-threatening, recessive genetic disease affecting Australian children. Fourteen-year-old Jaylee Booshand said while she wanted to hang out with friends and visit the beach, cystic fibrosis often got in her way.
“A lot of my friends have been going to the beach in the holidays but Mum doesn’t like me going because I can get sunstroke heaps quick and then I have trouble breathing,” she said.
“In year 7 a lot of people didn’t want to hang out with me because I coughed a lot and I was too scared to tell a lot of people about CF. “As I started telling people I got more friends because they had [previously] just thought I was going to make them sick. ”But every time I go to hospital it’s pretty depressing because I’m always at Westmead so I’m never with my friends.” The St Helens Park teenager starts year 9 at John Therry Catholic High School this year and takes daily medication to prevent lung infection.
She was in hospital five times last year for about three weeks at a time. But she said the swimathon was a highlight and she was looking forward to being with family and friends. “But the best moment is when we find out how much we’ve raised,” she said.
The swimathon will be held at Wollondilly Leisure Centre on Saturday, February 11 with a swim launch at Camden Valley Inn on Thursday, February 9.

Read the full story in the Macarthur Advertiser
Join in the Swim at Every Day Hero

Doorey is the ambassador for the swimathon, which raises money for research into cystic fibrosis and support for the 80 Macarthur residents living with the disease. “I’ll be on site throughout the day, crossing back to C91.3, promoting what’s going on hour by hour and calling for people who may not have decided to come down yet to get down there,” Doorey said.  ”I’ve met some kids in the local area and their families and parents and had a good chat about how it affects them.

I feel so fortunate that in our family we’re not affected by CF and anything we can do to help those suffering is great.” He said he was looking forward to seeing the antics of various teams on the day and catching up with local people in the area. “I urge everyone to get behind the swimathon and to come down and swim on the day and get involved,” Doorey said.

The Advertiser is a sponsor of the swimathon, which will be held at Wollondilly Leisure Centre on Saturday, February 11.

GET INVOLVED

Cystic Fibrosis Swimathon 2012
When: 9am Saturday, February 11 at the Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, 434 Argyle St, Picton.
The swimathon launch will be on Thursday, February 9 at Camden Valley Inn, 290 Remembrance Drive, Camden Park.

What: Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Treatment includes regular physiotherapy, tablets and nebulizers, but there is no cure. Life expectancy is early adulthood.

Donating: Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/event/swimathonforcysticfibrosis to make a donation or visit www.stickytickets.com.au/7071/Cys tic_Fibrosis_Launch_Party.aspx to buy a ticket to the swimathon launch.

Details: Visit www.cysticfibrosismacarthur.org.au, email alicia.bowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au or call 46405117.

OUR SPONSORS

Platinum: Camden Valley Inn, Hennings Jewellers, Plus Fitness, DA Global Logistics and the Advertiser papers.

Gold: Illawarra Coal, FDC Construction & Fitout, Lifehouse Church and Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre, Tahmoor Lions Club.

Silver: Macarthur Castles, Macarthur BEC.

Bronze: Mowbray Park, Councillor David Funnell, Campbelltown Catholic Club and Natalie’s Beauty and Massage.

Take a plunge to help Corey

Read the full story in the Macarthur Advertiser
Join in the Swim at Every Day Hero

Named in honour of the team captain, Elderslie’s Julia Free, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six, the team is a regular at the swimathon. Julia’s mother, Penny Free, said she encouraged anyone to join the team and help raise money and awareness. “We usually have a lot of people who swim for us on the day,” she said.

“We get a lot of Julia’s school friends and a lot of people turn up on the day and swim a few laps. We’re open to new members. Everyone is welcome. You don’t even have to swim — some people walk the laps.”

Mrs Free said the swimathon meant a lot to her and her family. ”Apart from the fact that it’s helping to raise awareness and funds, it’s a really fun community day,” she said. ”It does show people with CF and their families that they’re not by themselves. CF can be a very isolating disease.”

Team Julz has set a fund-raising target of $5000 this year.

Read the full story in the Macarthur Advertiser
Join in the Swim at Every Day Hero

In the past three years the swimathon, backed by the Advertiser, has raised more than $150,000 for cystic fibrosis services and research. ”Research gives us a better understanding of how treatments work and how people live with their cystic fibrosis,” chief executive of Cystic Fibrosis NSW Alex Huntir said. ”We’ve already seen a tremendous increase in the life expectancy based on pretty simple improvements in clinical-based research with local doctors saying ‘I’ve noticed this or that’. ”We think if someone was born today with CF they would live to about 55 because of the improvements.”

Mr Huntir said focusing on nutrition, antibiotics and physiotherapy had helped improve lives and life expectancy. ”If we continue to research those key drivers then we can fully expect that one day people with CF will live until old age.” He said Macarthur had a high concentration of people living with cystic fibrosis because it was close to treatment but not an expensive place to live. “Macarthur’s 80 people is equivalent to all the people with CF in Tasmania — there’s about 100 there,” he said.

Mr Huntir took part in this year’s swimathon and said he would be out again next year. ”We know this is something that the people of Macarthur are passionate about,”. ”Their contributions have made a real difference and I’m confident they will continue to.” Cystic fibrosis primarily affects the lungs and digestive system and is Australia’s most common life-threatening, recessive genetic condition.

The swimathon will be held on Saturday, February 11 at Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre and the launch night will be held at Camden Valley Inn on Thursday, February 9.

Tickets for the 2012 Macarthur Swimathon for Cystic Fibrosis Launch Party are now available at Sticky Tickets
Read the full story in the Macarthur Advertiser
Join in the Swim at Every Day Hero

 Find out more on how to become a sponsor of this great event..
Join in the Swim at Every Day Hero