CF banquet to highlight last five years of hope and optimism

  • By Dave Mast
  • February 15, 2010
  • 548
                        
If you could be a superhero for a day, would you? Persons living with the devastating disease cystic fibrosis (CF) are hoping that the answer to that question is yes for many area people, who are presented with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those families battling CF. The public is invited to join Holmes County Great Strides and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for 55 Years of Hope and Optimism for Curing Cystic Fibrosis Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Carlisle Inn at Walnut Creek, from 6-9 p.m. The evening will focus on the last five years of progress the CFF has made in its research to combat this killer disease. Thanks to caring organizations like Holmes County Great Strides, CF’s grip on its victims is slowly but surely slipping away, as those struggling with the disease are living longer, healthier lives. The last time the event took place, more than 400 people gathered together, and according to Erica Rosian, CF director of special events in Northeast Ohio, they are expecting that many or more again this year. The people of Holmes County have always been unbelievable with their support for research for CF,” said Rosian. “This banquet is just our way of reaching out to the local community there to inform them about everything that is going on to fight CF, and to celebrate in hope that someday soon we will find a permanent cure. We’ve had a lot of positive breakthroughs since we met five years ago, and we are excited to share them with the public.” One of the reasons CF has been so well supported in Holmes County is because it hits very close to home for many. There are currently 200 CF patients in greater Northeastern Ohio, with 15 percent of those cases located within the confines of Holmes County. Rosian said that number comes from the county’s people being a close-knit community. “Holmes County is a very closed population, in which children often come back to live and raise families,” said Rosian. “That tends to keep the disease close to home. To have 30 cases in a county with that small of a population is staggering. That’s why there has been such a huge interest in fighting CF over the years in Holmes County. So many people have family and friends who are stricken with it.” Registration for the evening will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. The keynote speaker for the event will be Nathan C. Kraynack, M.D., director, Cystic Fibrosis Center at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron. Kraynack will touch on the tremendous strides made over the past five years and what is on the horizon. There will also be a large auction during the festivities, which will include a double wedding ring quilt hand stitched with 65 roses, handcrafted wood items including a one-of-a-kind handcrafted cornhole board featuring 65 roses, an ambrosia maple wood round table, a wrought iron grandfather clock, a crossbow, a 200-pound pig roast for approximately 140 people, a fish dinner for three couples, dinners for 10 and 12 people, and many more valuable items. The evening is based on a freewill donation basis, (the value of the meal alone is $14.50 per person), with all proceeds going directly to the Holmes County Great Strides walk-a-thon to be held May 2, which supports vital research and development at the CFF in the quest for a cure and to ensure a better quality of life for those with cystic fibrosis. The event is sponsored by numerous area businesses who have generously donated. “We owe a huge thank you to all of the area businesses which helped sponsor the dinner,” said Paul Miller, who has been involved with Greater Strides for years. “Their support is one of the big reasons we are able to have a successful evening, and for that, we are truly grateful.” Seating for the event is limited, so patrons are asked to RSVP as soon as possible to Miller by calling him at either 330-893-3003 or 330-231-5688.


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