Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand has launched a bold campaign for CF Awareness Month this May, asking New Zealanders to ‘Give a F’ for the 600-plus Kiwis living with the disease.

The “Give a F” campaign is a cheeky call to action, designed to get New Zealanders talking about a condition that isn’t widely understood, Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand executive lead Simone Brown said.

“Most people don’t know that much about cystic fibrosis, and that’s exactly why we’re asking them to Give a F,” she said.

“We are so pleased to be standing alongside other countries in the developed world with access to modern therapies, and we will always be grateful to those whose decisions made that possible for our community.

“The recent funding of Alyftrek and widening of access to Trikafta and Kalydeco was a major step forward for our community, and an outcome we do not take for granted.”

However, Brown said being Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, it’s important to recognise those for whom that decision came too late, and those unable to benefit.

“It serves as a reminder that, while these therapies are life-changing, cystic fibrosis is not cured. There is still work to be done to support the ever-changing landscape of living with this long-term chronic condition.”

Cystic fibrosis – knowns as CF – is New Zealand’s most common life-threatening genetic condition. One in 25 New Zealanders carry the gene mutation, most without knowing it. For couples who both carry the CF gene mutation, there is a one-in-four chance they will have a child with CF.

The disease causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that damages the lungs, digestive system, liver and other organs. Most people with CF require daily physiotherapy, enzyme supplements with every meal, regular clinic visits and, as the condition progresses, increasing periods of hospitalisation.

“CF doesn’t just affect one person, it shapes an entire family’s world,” Brown said.

“Parents are giving enzymes with every feed, doing physiotherapy twice a day and managing infections and hospital admissions.

“Families all over the country are navigating daily treatment regimens and dealing with a kind of isolation that most of us will never experience. We want people to understand that, and why we still need their support.”

The month-long campaign is built around four weekly themes, each connected to the real, everyday lives of people with CF: the shock of a newborn diagnosis; the isolation that comes with an often invisible illness; CF as a whole-body condition affecting far more than just the lungs; and the ongoing reality that people in NZ are still dying too young from the condition.

Each week, families from across the country will share their stories through media and social channels, putting real faces and names to this challenging condition, Brown said.

She said CFNZ provides one-to-one social worker support, financial and practical assistance, advocacy, education and community connection to people with CF and their whānau, from the moment of diagnosis throughout life.

“CFNZ has been walking alongside our community for almost 60 years, through diagnoses, hospital admissions, transplants and loss. The one-to-one support, the financial assistance, the community connection is needed every day, and we’re asking New Zealanders to help us keep it going.”

The Give a F campaign is live. New Zealanders can donate $3 instantly by texting “FUTURE” to 2447 or visit: cfnz.org.nz/FUTURE.