Bowl for Breath slated for Saturday

Calling all kingpins.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 18th annual Bowl for Breath fundraiser will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Creole Lanes in Houma.

“Depending on the year, we usually draw between 60 and 100 bowlers,” said Jed Pitre, co-coordinator of the event.

Bowl for Breath is a nationwide event that raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Last year’s local event raised more than $30,000 for research.

Pitre asks that interested bowlers make a minimum contribution of $25.

“When I helped take over 12 years ago, about $2,500 to $3,000 was raised,” Pitre said. “We created a letter campaign soliciting friends and businesses to donate, and we kept growing. A few more people always find out each year and participate.”

As of last week, this year’s Bowl for Breath fundraiser had already collected close to $20,000.

“It’s already been a success as far as we’ve been concerned,” Pitre said.

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that causes lung infections and permanent lung damage. It can also create problems for a person’s digestive system.

Pitre has seen the effects of Cystic Fibrosis up-close. His 19-year-old daughter, Andree’, was diagnosed with the disease at age 5.

“Her cells don’t allow the normal passage of sodium chloride (salt), and this produces a thick, sticky mucus in the lungs,” he said. “The lungs act like fly paper for people who have Cystic Fibrosis and they can’t move (toxic) stuff out like we do.”

Pitre feels fortunate that his daughter’s lungs have functioned pretty normally – save an occasional hospital visit.

There is no current cure for Cystic Fibrosis and the average life expectancy for the afflicted is somewhere in the mid 30s.

Nonetheless, strides in medicine continue to be made each year and 92 percent of all monies raised by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are used to fund vital research.

“Doctors discovered the cause (of Cystic Fibrosis) in the late ’80s and early ’90s,” Pitre said. “Since then, they’ve been able to invent medicines and therapies that slow it down. Money that has been raised has helped improve my daughter’s quality of life and has allowed her to take part in normal activities. Two years ago, she was captain of the dance team at South Lafourche High School.”

People interested in participating in Bowl for Breath or donating a door prize can call Pitre at (985) 632-5757 or (985) 632-3604. Pitre can also be e-mailed at jed.pitre@capitalonebank.com.

Checks can be made payable to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information, visit www.cff.org.