Get a Donut, Help Fight Cystic Fibrosis

By Sarah Grill

Submitted on behalf of Dunkin' Donuts

, America’s all-day everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, is supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through the annual Sneaker Campaign for the 8th year to help improve the quality of life for those suffering from cystic fibrosis and to support research to ultimately find a cure for the disease.

At participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout New Hampshire through Sunday, monetary donations will be collected to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Guests who donate $1 or more will receive a cystic fibrosis sneaker pin-up icon in exchange to put their name on it.

All icons will be displayed in participating restaurants throughout June. Sneakers are the symbol used by the foundation to signify Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and the annual Great Strides Walks that occur throughout the country.

Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in New Hampshire are dedicated to increasing awareness for cystic fibrosis research and have raised thousands of dollars for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through multiple fundraising initiatives, including the annual Sneaker Campaign. Since the Sneaker Campaign began in New Hampshire in 2004, approximately $142,000 has been raised to benefit the foundation.

Additionally, for the past five years, Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees have participated in the New England-based annual Seacoast Safari cycling tour, a two-day, 150 mile bike ride to benefit cystic fibrosis research.  Since Dunkin’ Donuts has participated in this program, the team has raised approximately $50,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“Cystic fibrosis negatively impacts an overwhelming number of people in the United States, so Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in New Hampshire are devoted to raising awareness and funds to ultimately find a cure for this debilitating disease,” said Durval Salema, New Hampshire franchisee. “My teenage son lives with cystic fibrosis, so I know firsthand the struggles that come with being diagnosed. It is my greatest hope that the work we do at Dunkin’ Donuts in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will aid in increasing the life expectancy of children and adults suffering from the disease and in ultimately finding a cure.”

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly the lungs and pancreas. When mucus clogs the lungs, it can make breathing very difficult. The thick mucus also causes bacteria (or germs) to get stuck in the airways, which causes inflammation (or swelling) and infections that lead to lung damage.

Most people are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth through newborn screening, or before the age of 2. Approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have cystic fibrosis. An additional ten million more—or about one in every 31 Americans—are carriers of the defective cystic fibrosis gene, but do not have the disease.

Currently, there is no cure for cystic fibrosis. However, specialized medical care, aggressive drug treatments and therapies, along with proper CF nutrition, can lengthen and improve the quality of life for those with CF.

For more information about the disease and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, visit: http://www.cff.org/