Why We're Supporting Cystic Fibrosis Care at Living North LIVE in York
Living North's chosen charity for this year's LIVE Fair is Cystic Fibrosis Care
Through welfare and hardship grants, Cystic Fibrosis Care helps with essential funds for extra food, energy bills, hospital travel, counselling, and emergency financial support. The charity also provides vital medical equipment such as E-Flow nebulisers for the paediatric units in Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull. Last year, CF patients also benefited from a Fibroscanner costing £80,000 for St James and improvements to hospital CF outpatients at Seacroft, where funding was not readily available through the NHS.
‘Cystic Fibrosis Care charity celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and we are looking to the future to provide more help to those in great need,’ says director Pat Kilpatrick. ‘We have wonderful trustees and co-founders Sasha and Christy York (Chairman), who have helped us reach this milestone, who very sadly lost their son Charlie to CF in January 2025 aged just 20.’
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the UK’s most common life-shortening genetic conditions, affecting around 11,200 children and young adults. ‘It is a complex, lifelong illness that reshapes daily life from the moment of diagnosis, touching not only those with CF but everyone around them,’ explains Pat. ‘The condition primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Thick mucus builds up in the airways, making breathing harder and increasing the risk of persistent infections. At the same time, the body struggles to absorb nutrients properly, turning food into medicine and mealtimes into part of a carefully managed treatment plan.’
‘The financial impact is significant too, with research showing that living with CF costs an additional £6,500 per year'
As people with CF grow older, the condition becomes more demanding. ‘Health needs increase, complications develop, and treatment routines intensify,’ Pat adds. ‘For some, lung damage becomes so severe that a transplant is the only remaining option. While innovative drug therapies have transformed care in recent years and helped people live longer and better lives, there is still no cure. Average life expectancy remains in the late 40s – a stark reminder of the challenges people with CF continue to face.
‘Daily life with CF requires extraordinary commitment. Many people take around 40 tablets every day, alongside physiotherapy and regular medical appointments, simply to stay stable. Nutrition also plays a crucial role, with a high-calorie, high-quality diet needed to support strength and energy. This demanding routine continues every day.’
When health takes a downturn, extended hospital stays are common, disrupting work, education and family life. ‘The financial impact is significant too, with research showing that living with CF costs an additional £6,500 per year,’ says Pat. ‘These pressures mean adults with CF are more likely to experience unemployment or low-paid work, while families often face emotional and financial strain.’
This is where Cystic Fibrosis Care makes a vital difference and Pat says the charity is enormously grateful for the opportunity to be Living North LIVE’s chosen charity this year. She encourages all visitors to the Fair at York Racecourse to visit Cystic Fibrosis Care’s stand, enter the tombola and find out how you can change lives and support people with CF in Yorkshire and beyond.
For more ways to support Cystic Fibrosis Care come along to the Yorkshire Pop Up Shopping Event on 29th and 30th April at Hutton Wandesley Stables or you can book a table for the York Races Charity Lunch on 15th May, visit their stand at the Bramham International Horse Trials (11th–14th June), take part in the Tour de Dales Charity Bike Ride on 5th July, and take a free charity place at the Great North Run Half Marathon on 7th September.
