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SFU Swimmers take aim at World Records for Cystic Fibrosis
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Liam Donnelly, 604-291-3176; mailto:liam@sfu.ca
Penny Pedersen, 604.733.2400; mailto:pedersen@sfu.ca
Joyce Taylor, 604.436.1158; administrator@cfvancouver.ca
Marianne Meadahl, Media/pr, 604.291.4323
Liam Donnelly, 604-291-3176; mailto:liam@sfu.ca
Penny Pedersen, 604.733.2400; mailto:pedersen@sfu.ca
Joyce Taylor, 604.436.1158; administrator@cfvancouver.ca
Marianne Meadahl, Media/pr, 604.291.4323
March 23, 2006
Simon Fraser University's varsity swim team hopes to break a few world records on Saturday, April 2 in the SFU pool. But their bigger goal by the day's end will be to increase awareness and raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a debilitating and eventually fatal disease.
The team will join young swimmers from neighbouring swim teams and clubs for the CF Foundation’s 32nd annual Swim-a-rama, which has been held since its inception at the SFU pool. Swimmers have been collecting pledges and will spend the afternoon (beginning at 1:30 p.m.) swimming lengths of the pool.
At 3 p.m., they will attempt to break three world records, including the women’s 800-metre freestyle, held by Laurie Manaudou of France (eight minutes, 11.25 seconds); the 200-metre women's individual medley, held by American Allison Wagner (two minutes, 7.79 seconds), and the men's 200-metre individual medley, held by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary (one minute, 53.46 seconds). Team members will combine their efforts and race relay-style.
"It's all for fun, but our team members are taking up the challenge and really getting prepared for this," says SFU swim coach Liam Donnelly.
"What we really want to relay is that this is a devastating disease that doesn't get a lot of attention," he adds. "There is no cure and a lot of lives are cut short by it. By contributing to this event, we are hoping it will make a difference towards seeing a cure within our lifetime."
For the past five years the event has benefited from another SFU connection, with the involvement of former university president George Pedersen and his wife, Penny. The Pedersen's two grand-daughters were born with CF, a genetic disease. Two years ago, one died at the age of 12. Penny Pedersen says the pair became involved to help educate the public about CF and the foundation’s work.
"Having been personally touched by this disease, we wanted to help in some way," says Pedersen, who Donnelly describes as a tireless volunteer. "There is a great need for more research and greater understanding of this disease.”
Joyce Taylor of the CF Foundation says the disease afflicts 3,500 Canadians, who require extensive therapy and drugs. The disease gradually diminishes lung function. The median age of survival is 37.
Taylor notes that while more research is needed, the efforts of researchers such as SFU biochemist Fiona Brinkman are helping to shed light on aspects of the disease.
- 30 -
Websites:
Cystic Fibrosis: http://www.cysticfibrosis.ca
CF Foundation Vancouver: http://www.cfvancouver.ca
(digital photo of Pedersen and Donnelly at the pool available)
The team will join young swimmers from neighbouring swim teams and clubs for the CF Foundation’s 32nd annual Swim-a-rama, which has been held since its inception at the SFU pool. Swimmers have been collecting pledges and will spend the afternoon (beginning at 1:30 p.m.) swimming lengths of the pool.
At 3 p.m., they will attempt to break three world records, including the women’s 800-metre freestyle, held by Laurie Manaudou of France (eight minutes, 11.25 seconds); the 200-metre women's individual medley, held by American Allison Wagner (two minutes, 7.79 seconds), and the men's 200-metre individual medley, held by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary (one minute, 53.46 seconds). Team members will combine their efforts and race relay-style.
"It's all for fun, but our team members are taking up the challenge and really getting prepared for this," says SFU swim coach Liam Donnelly.
"What we really want to relay is that this is a devastating disease that doesn't get a lot of attention," he adds. "There is no cure and a lot of lives are cut short by it. By contributing to this event, we are hoping it will make a difference towards seeing a cure within our lifetime."
For the past five years the event has benefited from another SFU connection, with the involvement of former university president George Pedersen and his wife, Penny. The Pedersen's two grand-daughters were born with CF, a genetic disease. Two years ago, one died at the age of 12. Penny Pedersen says the pair became involved to help educate the public about CF and the foundation’s work.
"Having been personally touched by this disease, we wanted to help in some way," says Pedersen, who Donnelly describes as a tireless volunteer. "There is a great need for more research and greater understanding of this disease.”
Joyce Taylor of the CF Foundation says the disease afflicts 3,500 Canadians, who require extensive therapy and drugs. The disease gradually diminishes lung function. The median age of survival is 37.
Taylor notes that while more research is needed, the efforts of researchers such as SFU biochemist Fiona Brinkman are helping to shed light on aspects of the disease.
- 30 -
Websites:
Cystic Fibrosis: http://www.cysticfibrosis.ca
CF Foundation Vancouver: http://www.cfvancouver.ca
(digital photo of Pedersen and Donnelly at the pool available)