In honor of the Foundation’s 65th Anniversary, we are collecting 65 short stories from an array of people in the Greater Illinois CF Community. Our goal is to celebrate those who have been touched by CF, share personal experiences and highlight all we have accomplished over the last 65 years and everything we will continue to fight for in the next 65 years.
The “65 Roses” story dates back to 1965 when an observant 4-year-old, hearing the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as "65 Roses." Today, “65 Roses” is a term often used by young children with cystic fibrosis to pronounce the name of their disease.
"And although her physical fight may be over, her want, her will, and her spirit to find a cure for CF has lived on...through friends, through family, through the Foundation, and, hopefully, through YOU."