Why our social responsibility is aligned to Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Limited contacted us in early 2018, and through a very engaging and passionate advocate, educated us on how our support as a trampoline retailer was important and valuable to their community, of mostly kids and young adults who are living with a debilitating lung condition.
We had been selling trampolines for 10 years and really didn’t know what cystic fibrosis was, honestly, we were part of the vast numbers in the community who didn’t know the very big differences between Cerebral Palsy and Cystic Fibrosis. This goes to show the struggles that Cystic Fibrosis Queensland has in engaging with the wider community.
6 staggering facts we learned:
1. There is no cure.
2. The life expectancy is short – less than 40 years.
3. People with Cystic Fibrosis are encouraged to not socialize with each other for risk of cross-infection at any time, even when in a hospital or especially when in hospital. How sad and isolating is that? When people with other shared conditions, gravitate to each other in support.
4. The treatments are fatiguing, and the volume of drugs taken annually amount to enough to fill a bathtub or a wheelie bin! Or around 80 tablets per day! How do they get little kids to do that every day?
5. Cystic Fibrosis purely by definition is not covered by NDIS as it is deemed a “chronic illness” and not a “disability”. This leaves individuals and their families with challenges that are physically and emotionally draining and challenges the general public wouldn’t expect they would have to be dealing with.
6. If not included in NDIS they must be covered by alternate government support bodies? No not true - There is no designated state or federal government funding for Cystic Fibrosis; not for life-giving equipment or even research.
A Cystic Fibrosis awareness video, made by a 17-year-old sibling of someone who has Cystic Fibrosis, was created for the recent Geelong Gala Dinner. It interviews with some of the people in Geelong with Cystic Fibrosis.
You should watch it for a real insight into the effects of Cystic Fibrosis.
From that bullet point brief learning, it seems these people with this condition are falling through the gaps.
This is where we see the huge benefit of Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, as they are there for these people, operating as a charity, working tirelessly to fundraise in the community. Working toward private and Government grants, and corporate support, while also being the facilitating welfare and equipment provider for these families and individuals.
The most relevant fact we learned in association with our business was; using a trampoline daily is one of the best forms of exercise to improve overall wellbeing. Jumping itself, assists in the airway and lung clearance, enhances cardiopulmonary performance, encourages sputum production, and improves the overall wellbeing of the individual. You cannot jump on a trampoline and not help but to smile.
Using a trampoline daily is a genuine medical treatment to improve the health of the many people living with cystic fibrosis. For us, as business owners, coming to understand the true relevance of our products to each person being able to own and use one daily to live fuller, healthier lives, was a pivotal moment. We have risen to the challenge, and are looking at more ways we can become more socially accountable to this cause and importantly everyone living with cystic fibrosis.
We don’t want to just sell more trampolines, we want to do something good as a wider social benefit and cystic fibrosis is where we see our calling. In addition to our major role with a Cystic Fibrosis Queensland fundraising program, Bounce 2 Breathe, we are working to include cystic fibrosis awareness as part of our brand and post-sales materials and even looking to rebadge a trampoline the “Rose Trampoline”.
Here are the links to the other amazing Cystic Fibrosis Organisations in Australia.
Cystic Fibrosis Australia
Geelong - Our home town
New South Wales
Queensland / Northern Territory
Research - Cure4CF Foundation
South Australia
Victoria
Western Australia
Recent Movie Trailer "Five Feet Apart" a love story of teens with Cystic Fibrosis - which moved many in the theatre I was viewing it at to tears.
