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Steins aloft for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Stu Cohn of Winnetka and Stuart Feldman of Wilmette | Lee A. Litas ~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 11, 2012 12:15PM
The event: Though ranked third after water and tea on the world’s most-consumed beverage list, beer was decidedly the main event at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 6th annual “Festiv-Ale: A Celebration of Beer,” on Sept. 14.
The sprawling warehouse of Carmichael’s Steakhouse in Chicago provided ample space for the 800 attendees to appreciate the showcase of craft brews put together by CFF’s Young Professional Leadership Committee.
Originally envisioned as a way to engage the younger demographic, the event has grown steadily over the years, helping to shed light on the foundation, teach about cystic fibrosis, and groom the next generation of champions of the fight for a cure.
Cause célèbre: “When I started six years ago, I was meeting with families and talking about drugs that were working to help the symptoms of the disease. Now, as of Jan. 31, I’m talking to families about compounds that we are discovering to correct the defect at the cellular level,” said Amy Patterson CFF associate executive director.
“There’s not much research that gets done without this foundation,” said David Reitz, 26, who was diagnosed with CF two days after he was born. He’s been attending CFF events since fourth grade.
Returning attendee’s Ryan Maguire’s daughter also has CF. “Over the last 10 years, CFF has moved forward solutions for this disease in so many ways. My daughter wouldn’t be as healthy or as happy without them,” said Maguire.
The research funded by CFF has gone a long way towards insuring that cystic fibrosis itself is being treated, not just its symptoms. “When we are able to show proof of concept for something so scientific …we are really putting our dollars where it matters,” said Patterson.
Bottom line: Festiv-Ale raised $70,000 for CFF’s critical research.
