Ireland has the highest incidence of CF anywhere in the world with an estimated 1 in 20 Irish people carrying the CF gene and approximately 40 infants being born with CF each year. In the past five years 91 people have died from CF related illnesses, many of whom died awaiting lung transplant operations. Their average age at time of death was just 17 years of age. Donors are urgently needed to help prolong life and give those on transplant waiting lists some chance of survival.
Three Irish brothers are undertaking a 22,000 mile drive that will take them overland from Melbourne, Australia via 19 countries through to Dublin to raise life-saving awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. The full line-up taking part in the voyage are the three Crowley brothers, Darragh, twins Shane and Cian, friend Ray McMahon (29) who will join them in Indonesia and cameraman Stephen O'Reilly who is recording the event for a forthcoming documentary.
The Drive for Life team members are funding the trip themselves to ensure that all funds raised go directly to the CF Association of Ireland.
According to Darragh Crowley "Our main purpose in undertaking this trip is to let people know of the significance of Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland and that by simply carrying an organ donor card you can help save lives through lung transplants. Lung deterioration is the major cause of CF related deaths. In the past five years 91 people have died from CF related illnesses. We need people to know that they can help by doing this one small thing."
Cian Crowley developed the idea in tandem with his twin brother Shane, who has helped organise the activity from where he lives and works in Melbourne. "My ambition was to raise funds and we are aiming to reach €250,000, but as we progressed we also became aware of the need to get more information to the wider public about what CF is and how it affects people's lives - hence the name Drive For Life."
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