Press Release

           

PRESS RELEASE

21 November 2011

HOPE ROSE DELIVERED TO RESEARCHERS ON THE BRINK OF GROUND-BREAKING CF TREATMENT

James Peckham, from Southampton will be completing an astonishing feet this week by cycling over 400 miles to deliver a Rose of Hope to each CF Gene Therapy Research Centre in the UK. He will begin his challenge at The Imperial College, London, cycling on to John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, then to Edinburgh University.

James, who works in Southampton, decided to do this after seeing the Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s gene therapy appeal in the newspaper. He wanted to raise funds to help an innovative gene therapy trial to go ahead. Thousands of people living with the genetic condition, Cystic Fibrosis (CF), may be given the opportunity to enjoy a better quality of life if the new innovative gene therapy trial goes ahead and proves successful.

The UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium, funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, has been working for ten years to find a way of inserting a healthy gene into a CF patient's lungs to ensure that the damaging effects of the faulty CF gene are stopped in their tracks. They are now waiting to find out if they can test the product on patients in a multi-dose clinical trial which aims to determine whether this new treatment works.

James will present the Rose on 21 November at 9.20am to Professor Eric Alton, Group Leader of the UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium.

James said:

“As a Biochemistry graduate, I know how complex but vital gene therapy work is, so when I saw how close the research was to finding a way to help people with CF to live longer, I felt I had to do something to make this happen. I know that this will be a huge challenge, so I hope people will dig deep and help me to fundraise to keep this trial going. I will be delivering the CF Rose of Hope to each research centre, I wanted to show how much the public is backing gene therapy research.”

Carol Hunt, CF Trust Regional Fundraising Manager for the South East said:

“This is an incredible challenge and all the more so because James has no connection with Cystic Fibrosis in his family. We were bowled over by his generous fundraising bid and will support him every step of the way. Families waiting to find out if this trial will go ahead will be touched by this support.

If all funds that are needed and the relevant authorities satisfied the trial will go ahead in the Spring 2012. Donations to James’s fundraising page can be made at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesPeckham

ENDS

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Louise Banks on 020 8290 7912 or email lbanks@cftrust.org.uk

Notes to Editors          

• The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK’s only national charity dealing with all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis (CF).  It funds research to treat and cure CF and aims to ensure appropriate clinical care and support for people with Cystic Fibrosis.

• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited diseases.  Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a single defective gene.  As a result, the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, become clogged with thick sticky mucus resulting in chronic infections and inflammation in the lungs and difficulty digesting food.

• Each week five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis and two young people die – 90% from lung damage.  Only half of those living with Cystic Fibrosis are likely to live past their late 30s, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today is expected to live even longer.

·         Further information can be found on our website www.cftrust.org.uk.  Help and advice for those affected by Cystic Fibrosis is available through our Helpline on 0300 373 1000.  For further information, media should contact Louise Banks on 0208 290 7912 or email lbanks@cftrust.org.uk