Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited diseases affecting over 10,500 people in the UK, that's 1 in every 2,500 babies born. Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.
Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.
CF patients must follow a rigorous daily treatment programme including physiotherapy, nebulisers, medication, exercise and nutrition.
Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.
Each week, two young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.
Around half of the CF population can expect to live over 40 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live even longer.