Thank you Striders!

Thank you for being part of a record-breaking year by raising more than $1.5 million at the 2008 Great Strides™: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis walk. These funds will support vital Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funded research and care.

The official Great Strides™ walk Web site is now closed and will re-launch in February 2009. If you still wish to make a donation to Great Strides™, please contact us directly at info@cysticfibrosis.ca or call 1-800-378-2233.

For more information about the work of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the 2009 Great Strides™ walk, please visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca.

Canadians stepped up the fight against cystic fibrosis

4th annual Great Strides™: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis walk raises more than $1.5 million for cystic fibrosis research and care

Toronto, ON (May 26, 2008) – On Sunday, May 25, thousands of Canadians participated in the 2008 Great Strides™ walk to help step up the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF), raising more than $1.5 million to support the work of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF).

In more than 40 communities across Canada, dedicated volunteers, participants, organizers and sponsors made Great Strides™ a huge success – grossing over 25% more than the 2007 walk.

“We are so very grateful to all the volunteers and participants of the 2008 Great Strides™ walk,” said Cathleen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “This has been another record setting year, and it could not have happened without the help of caring Canadians from coast-to-coast.”

Cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and the digestive system, is the most common, fatal, genetic disease affecting young Canadians. Although currently there is no cure for CF, there’s real hope.

This year, the Foundation is supporting more than 50 research projects, which are exploring all aspects of the CF puzzle; from investigating new methods of fighting infection and inflammation in the lungs, to finding new therapies that target the basic defect at a cellular level.

The CCFF is grateful to its corporate sponsors Zellers and American Airlines, and long-standing partner, Kin Canada. The Foundation welcomes Siemens Canada as its newest national team partner.

About the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) is a Canada-wide health charity, with 50 volunteer chapters, that funds CF research and care.

The CCFF deeply appreciates the help of countless volunteers, donors and friends who assist the Foundation and its chapters across Canada. The CCFF is honoured to be supported by Celebrity Patron Céline Dion; Honorary Director, Mrs. Mila Mulroney; Kin Canada; Zellers and the Hbc Foundation; thousands of Shinerama students; friends at CARSTAR Collision Repair Centres, and Advocis/Chambre de la sécurité financière; and many generous individual, corporate and foundation donors. For more information, visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca.