Dear Friends of the CPF:
Like many of you, my life was unalterably changed the day my father was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF). He was my touchstone in life and once I realized that he was suffering from a disease that was 100% fatal, I found myself feeling utterly helpless and broken-hearted. It has taken me a great deal of time to begin to heal and I still shed tears at the most unexpected moments. He was taken at what seems to me a fairly young age of 61 - my heart was not ready to let him go.
I am now in the fight to stop this horrible disease because you can't change anything by bemoaning your fate or sitting on the sidelines. After dealing with this tough loss, I have determined that my course needs to be one of helping to stop the disease - my loss can be turned into a win for all those diagnosed with PF in the future.
None of us can effect change on our own, but as a united group we can use our numbers to build national awareness of this terrible disease, demand attention to it and help fund the day-to-day work needed to help all those affected. We need a very large team of people coming together to generate a more active national campaign against PF.
My decision to help the CPF in their work to stop PF is my way of keeping my dad's legacy alive and making a contribution to the world in his name. There are many causes that are better known, but watching the inexorable destruction that PF wreaks on the patient and their family and friends has convinced me of the urgency of this work. We are losing as many patients as breast cancer, but the investment in research for PF is minimal - it's time for a change.
I welcome your support, both as an advocate and donor, and hope you will help the CPF and me win important victories over Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Thank you,
Rose McGowan
