Rose sales blossom for CF charity

Volunteers raised more than $7500 during a one-day charity event in Albany last month, smashing a previous fundraising record and helping get important support to families living with a devastating condition.

On May 25, a group of Albany residents managed to sell 1500 roses to raise money as part of the annual 65 Roses for Cystic Fibrosis event.

The funds will provide support to families across Australia.

Albany toddler Ivy-Jane Smith, 4, is one of a small percentage of Australians who live with the disease.

At two days old she was rushed to Perth for emergency surgery and given a 20 per cent chance of survival.

Ivy-Jane and mum Zoe Cummings spent the next three months recovering from surgery to treat the condition, and Ivy has since had 20 more surgeries.

Four years after that initial hospital visit, Ivy, like any girl her age, is full of life.

She doesn’t struggle to carry her mum’s handbag, speak her mind or declare when it is time to play, and was booming with energy when she arrived as guest of honour for the 65 Roses event, which Ms Cummings said was a great opportunity to raise awareness about her daughter’s condition.

“It’s more than just the money — (the condition is) a secret that no one really knows about,” she said.

“It’s really important for Ivy because she’s going to have this her entire life and the more people helping her in the community is great.” Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-threatening recessive genetic condition affecting young Australians in 2018, and is carried by 4 per cent of people.

The condition affects the lungs and digestive system, causing mucus to clog air passages and trap bacteria, often resulting in death.

In Australia, a child is born with CF once every four days.