Bowl-for-Breath to benefit fight against cystic fibrosis

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will hold its 17th annual Bowl-for-Breath fund-raiser Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Creole Lanes on Tunnel Boulevard in Houma.

Bowl-for-Breath is a nationwide event that helps raise money for the research programs of the CFF. The executive director of CFF-New Orleans Chapter Ashley Mills said the foundation, a donor-supported non-profit organization, has raised more than $30,000 over the past decade.

Mills said the foundation’s mission is to help find a cure or means to control cystic fibrosis is found and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. She said 92 percent of the monies raised are used to fund vital medical research.

Area resident Jed Pitre and his family have been participating in this event since 1996. Pitre said his involvement with the CFF stems from his daughter, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. He said he has many friends from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes with children suffering from cystic fibrosis.

“In the last couple of years, they have joined the fund-raiser. We have found that there are a lot of generous people in the Terrebonne-Lafourche area,” the chairperson said.

The fund-raiser location has varied from Creole Lanes in Houma to local bowling alley in Galliano, which has closed in the last couple of years. Pitre said a minimum donation per bowler is $25. They offered lanes sponsorships for $200 or more a piece.

Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal disease that causes lung infections, permanent lung damage and impairs the digestive system. There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. The life expectancy for the average person with cystic fibrosis is mid-30s.

Three of the Tri-parishes youth and young adults including 18-year-old Andreé Pitre, 12-year-old Dylan Danos and six-year-old Samuel Picou Pitre who suffers from cystic fibrosis.

Andreé Pitre is the daughter of Jed and Robbin Pitre and the granddaughter of Easton and Mildred Pitre and Claude and Eloise Clement. Andreé is a freshman at Louisiana State University majoring in psychology with a minor in dance.

Dylan Danos is the son of Troy and Angie Danos and the grandson of Carl and Gail Danos and Ernest and Ray Ella Angelette. He is a sixth-grader at Larose-Cut Off Middle School. Dylan is also a drummer in the school’s marching band.

Samuel Picou Pitre is the son of Billy and Emilie P. Pitre and the grandson of Constant “Bill” and Earline Pitre and Irma and the late Jelpi Picou. He is a kindergartener at Chackbay Elementary School. Samuel enjoys Karate at J.K.A in Thibodeaux.

If anyone is interested in participating in Bowl-for-Breath can contact Jed Pitre at (985) 632-5757 or (985) 632-3604. If anyone is interested in donating a door prize, they should contact one of the local fund-raiser parents so that arrangements can be made to pick-up and deliver the prizes to the bowling alley.

Donation checks should be made payable to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Pitre said they can be dropped of at the event. The donation are tax deductible, he said.

For information on Cystic Fibrosis Foundation visit Web site www.cff.org