Lunar World Record

An incredibly ambitious project to create the largest ground-based mosaic image of the Moon, and enter the Guinness Book of Records will raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

A team of people, comprising of some of the world's foremost astro imagers, gathered at the home of Sir Patrick Moore, a long-term supporter of the Trust, in April this year. Using specialist astronomy cameras with telescopes and special software to compile and mosaic the frames, they have created an image which has eclipsed any other so far taken of the Moon.

All proceeds from the use of the final image, which is already being mooted for use at various planetariums around the UK, and is available to view and purchase at http://www.lunarworldrecord.com/, will be donated to the CF Trust.

CHARITY PLACES FOR THE GREAT NORTH RUN AVAILABLE TIL FRIDAY!

We still have some charity places available for this year’s BUPA Great North Run on Sunday 20 September.

The BUPA Great North Run is the world's biggest half marathon. Every year thousands of runners take to the streets offering a fantastic atmosphere.

All runners will receive a running vest to wear with pride on the day, a fundraising pack, newsletters, access to our online interactive training zone and an invite to the post-run party complete with masseurs

Charity places are available until this Friday, 10th July. You can find out more by contacting 0845 859 1100 or email events@cftrust.org.uk.

Well done Alex!

CF Trust fundraiser Alex Crossland was the fastest on two wheels at the Capital to Coast Cycle Challenge for Charity on Sunday 28 June.

The scenic ride ending up in the picturesque seaside town of Hove in East Sussex was organised on behalf of several charities, including Norwood, The Down’s Syndrome Association, The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Heart’s Have a Heart appeal. More than 1,600 cyclists got in gear to raise £300,000.

The fastest rider was 18 year old Alex from Haynes near Bedford, who completed the 60 mile route from Esher in three hours and 10 minutes. Alex, who was sponsored by Virgin Active, was riding on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in memory of his older sister Victoria, who suffered from the condition and died last year at the age of 23.

He said he enjoyed the ride, particularly the first half, but added: “Bedfordshire doesn’t have a lot of hills so Devil’s Dyke was a nightmare.” The former Bedford School pupil, who lost about four stone during his eight-month training, is now set to raise an incredible £1,500.

Riders chose from three different routes this year: a 60 mile ride from Esher College in Surrey; a gentler 30 mile ride beginning at Haywards Heath in West Sussex; and a new 60 mile Hove to Hove circular route, starting and finishing on Kings Lawns at the bottom of Grand Avenue. They enjoyed the blazing sunshine and were refreshed by the ample food and drink provided by the organisers along the route to help them cope with the tough cycling challenge.

The event was endorsed by well-known personalities, including Olympic cycling gold medallists Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins, TV presenter Fern Britton and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Your opinions on a CF Trust DVD for children

We’ve had an amazing response on the message boards to the idea of a DVD for children and we’re posting here in case anyone hasn’t seen it.

We plan to produce a new DVD for children explaining Cystic Fibrosis. We would like to get lots of feedback from the CF community before we begin production to ensure that the DVD is appropriate and useful.

The kind of things we would like to find out are: what age your child/children started asking about CF, what sort of questions they ask, are there any questions siblings and friends ask, what are the most difficult questions to answer, and any other things you feel are relevant.

We would also like to hear about what kind of format you think would work best eg cartoons/comic strips vs real people, and whether you think this would be a useful resource overall.

We envisage that the DVD will be for children aged five and up, but again this will depend on the feedback we receive.

Please could you email any comments or suggestions to Jacqueline in the Communications Team on jali@cftrust.org.uk

We will also want to show the DVD to children with CF at various stages of the production process so if you think your child might like to be involved in this, please let me know.

We look forward to your feedback!

Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

Well done to the group of Cystic Fibrosis Trust supporters who braved the weather conditions this weekend and took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in the stunning Yorkshire Dales.

The gruelling 26-mile route took them over 3 of the county’s highest summits – Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. That’s about a mile of ascent!

Despite horizontal sleet on top of the first peak and very strong winds on the second, group morale remained high and everybody did a fantastic job and raised lots of money in the process. It is estimated that the event will have raised over £8,000 for the CF Trust.

To see some photos from the day, head over to our Facebook gallery. For a peek at some of the other Treks coming up around the UK this summer please see our website.

BLF campaign to end oxygen charges on flights

The CF Trust is supporting a campaign by the British Lung Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to end additional changes for people travelling with oxygen and to ensure that all airlines offer the same level of service to people with a lung condition.

Find out more from the British Lung Foundation website www.lunguk.org/media-and-campaigning/campaigns/travelling_with_oxygen.htm

Click here to email your MP about this issue http://tinyurl.com/md48jq

Click here to read a survey of 22 airlines by Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK conducted Spring 2008 http://www.phassociation.uk.com/living_with_ph/travel.asp

If you have recently had to pay to use oxygen on a flight please email us with more information gfoy@cftrust.org.uk and jjones@cftrust.org.uk

Breathing Life Awards

Hi everyone

Well our annual awards ceremony, the Breathing Life Awards, took place last Thursday and a great time was had by all. There were some fantastic nominees across the categories which made it very hard for the judges to pick the winners but the results were as follows.

Junior Sport presented by Jake Humphrey and Gail Emms

Cameron Saltmer age 16 from Dover

Artistic Award sponsored presented by Claire Foy and Caroline Feraday

Chris Benbow age 21 from Crewe

Adult Fighting Spirit sponsored by Next presented by Zoe Salmon

Sarah Elsbury age 26 from Norwich (pictured above)

Fundraising Award sponsored by Prospect Distributions Ltd presented by Cheryl Fergison and Adam Croasdell

Jodie Symington age 24 from Hebburn, Tyne and Wear

Academic Life sponsored by Forest Laboratories presented by Jenny Agutter and James Mates

Nigel Brooke age 33 from Besseccar, Doncaster

Adult Sport sponsored by BT presented by Ben Fogle

Chris Goulden age 19 from Poole

Junior Fighting Spirit Award Sponsored by Next presented by Barney Harwood and Gemma Hunt

Sam Roonan age 10 from Havant, Hampshire

Well done to all who were nominated!