Valerie supports the Cystic Fibrosis ‘Strawfie’ challenge

Cystic Fibrosis affects roughly 1 in every 2,500 people born – around 10,400 suffer from the disease in the UK, which has claimed the lives of 210 people in the last four years alone.

I am pleased that my colleague Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South, brought this campaign to my attention. To raise awareness of the challenges faced by people living with Cystic Fibrosis, I took part in the #Strawfie challenge. I posted a photo of myself breathing through a straw for a minute – representing the difficulty that many people with Cystic Fibrosis have breathing.

Cystic fibrosis is a complex disease that can affect the lungs, pancreas and other vital organs. Quality of life is affected with many hours of treatment, physiotherapy and numerous hospital visits for most with the disease.​ Many people who have the disease say that it can feel like trying to breathe through a straw.

The aim of the Strawfie challenge is to help the general public to feel a connection with people who live with cystic fibrosis (CF) every day.

#Strawfie​