CW’s 7th Heaven Actress Mackenzie Rosman to Visit Birmingham Area High School to Honor Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Fundraising

Vestavia Hills High School Raises More than $17,000 and Beats Schools Nationwide

May 5, 2009

(Bethesda, Md.) — The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced today that CW’s 7th Heaven actress Mackenzie Rosman will visit Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, Ala., to honor students for leading the nation in school fundraising for cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease. Students raised more than $17,000 for the CureFinders^® program for the 2008–2009 school year.

Rosman, whose stepsister Katelyn died of cystic fibrosis in December, is the Foundation’s National Honorary Chair for the CureFinders^® program.

“We want to thank the students and staff of Vestavia Hills High School for their extraordinary efforts to raise money and help us fight cystic fibrosis,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Foundation. “We are grateful to all the students across the country who participate in CureFinders^®. With everyone’s help, we hope to make CF stand for ‘Cure Found.’”

Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects 30,000 adults and children in the United States and 70,000 people worldwide. It causes life-threatening lung infections and serious digestive complications. More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the CF gene. Young people are lost every day to this disease.

More than 1,000 schools nationwide participate in CureFinders^®. As part of CureFinders^®, students from grades K-12 collect spare change and classes compete to raise the most money at their school. The program has raised more than $2 million—each dollar vitally important to funding critical research that will save lives.

To help fight CF, get involved in CureFinders^® by calling (800) FIGHT CF or visiting cff.org/GetInvolved/Events/CureFinders.
 
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation funds CF research, has more than 70 chapter and branch offices throughout the country, and supports and accredits a nationwide network of 110 CF care centers, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources to patients and families.

Contacts:  Kori Saucier – (205) 870-8565
Laurie Fink – (301) 841-2602