CForYourself: FeBrewary special

In this special bonus episode of CForYourself, we are celebrating the start of our FeBrewary fundraising campaign.

We know this can be a miserable time of year for many people: Christmas has been and gone, the weather’s cold, and spring still seems so far away.

FeBrewary is a chance to brighten those gloomy days. Here at the Trust, we are encouraging the community to come together with friends and family during February– in person or online, host a tea party, and make your cuppa count.

To get in the spirit, Lucy is having a brew and catch up with the lovely Charlotte Bones. Charlotte is a supporter of the Trust and has raised vital funds over the years. Charlotte recently spoke movingly at our Carols by Candlelight service about her life with CF and how doctors advised her that, at age 27, she should prepare for the worst. She also talked about her experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of poor health, which left her in continuous pain.

“CF has never, and will never, get the better of me," Charlotte told the audience, and since starting Kaftrio, Charlotte's health has improved greatly.
In this episode, Lucy and Charlotte chat about a range of topics, including mental health, cross infection and Kaftrio. We also hear from Nicola, who works in our community fundraising team, about how listeners can get involved in FeBrewary 2023.
This episode deals with some issues that listeners may find upsetting, including life expectancy, mental health and Kaftrio. If you have questions about any of the topics raised in this episode, we're here for you. You can call our Helpline on 0300 373 1000, or email [email protected].The views and experiences shared in this episode are individual to Charlotte and Lucy and may not reflect the experiences of the CF community.

• Growing older with CF - Find out more about growing older with cystic fibrosis, and access relevant support and information.
• Work and CF - Information on work and CF, including details of organisations that can provide support with discrimination.
• CF Forum - Join the conversation on our Forum and connect with other people with CF.
• Kaftrio - complex and individual experiences - This factsheet contains information for people with CF and their families, whether they are taking Kaftrio or not. It includes information about dealing with mixed emotions, managing changes, the reactions of family and friends, and other possible impacts of the Kaftrio.
• Cross infection - Cross-infection, or cross contamination, occurs when one person spreads an infection to another, either directly or indirectly. Find out how cross-infection affects people with cystic fibrosis, and what is done to combat the issue.
• Research that’s underway that could help those who don’t benefit from CFTR modulators
• FeBrewary - Make your cuppa count this FeBrewary. Host a tea party and raise vital funds, so we can continue to be there for everyone with CF.