**** Media Release

First annual City of Lakes swim to end cystic fibrosis will take place Saturday,
September 14th
.
At 7 am the swimmers will take off from 10 John Brenton Drive in Lake Charles completing 15KM within Lake Charles.

The participants, some of whom are participating as part of a relay team, will swim a series of out-and-backs and laps of the Lake, originally scheduled to take place in Lake Banook and Lake Micmac but has since been rerouted.

Each swimmer will be accompanied by a kayaker for safety precautions.
This is the first event of its kind for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Atlantic Region. Led by volunteer Ross Drake, a father of two children who are living with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young  adults. At present, there is no cure.

CF causes various effects on the body, but mainly affects the digestive system and lungs. The degree of CF severity differs from person to person, however, the persistence and ongoing infection in the lungs, with destruction of lungs and loss of lung function, will eventually lead to death in the majority of people with CF.

Typical complications caused by cystic fibrosis are:
 Difficulty digesting fats and proteins
 Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies because of inability to absorb nutrients
 Progressive lung damage from chronic infections and aberrant inflammation
 CF related diabetes
 Sinus infections

It is estimated that one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has CF. More than 4,300 Canadian children, adolescents, and adults with cystic fibrosis attend specialized CF clinics.