Bayshore Foundation Supports Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Since the Bayshore Foundation for Empowered Living was created in 2017, Bayshore HealthCare staff across Canada have raised funds for dozens of charities, including health organizations, hospices, counselling centres, youth programs and more.

Every fundraising campaign is meaningful and rewarding for those involved – especially when there’s a personal connection to the cause. That’s true for the team at Bayshore Therapy & Rehab in Windsor, Ontario. Each year, they raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada in support of one of their colleagues, Chris Beausoleil, Lead Client Service Coordinator.

Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis  (CF) at age 5, Chris has never let his illness control his life. He has played numerous sports,  has coached youth soccer and hockey and is a very active volunteer in this community. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Windsor with an honours bachelor degree in human kinetics.

CF affects the lungs and digestive system, as well as many other organ systems. Additional complications include malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, cystic fibrosis–related diabetes and sinus infections. Currently, there is no cure, but according to CF Canada, the story is changing – “In the 1960s, most children with CF weren’t expected to live long enough to graduate high school. Today, more adults live with this disease than children.

“For the first time in our history, we can report that the estimated median age of survival for a Canadian with cystic fibrosis is 60 years of age – this means that half of the children born with CF today would be expected to live to be older than 60! Twenty years ago, that number was less than 37 years of age. This steady growth in the median age of survival is an indicator of the quality of CF care, research and treatments in Canada as well as the efforts that patients put into maintaining their health.“

Fifteen years ago, Chris and his family created a team – named Mission: Possible – to participate in the annual Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History. Friends and relatives take part in the event each year. After Chris became a Bayshore employee, his co-workers – fellow coordinators, managers and field therapists – also joined the mission. The walk in May 2024 marked BTR’s eleventh year of participation, and its sixth with the added support of the Bayshore Foundation.

Funds raised and donated by Mission: Possible and the Bayshore Foundation (More than $130,000 since 2019) help support a number of programs at Cystic Fibrosis Canada including:

• The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Registry which helps track trends in the Canadian CF community to understand the progress and impacts that have been made to advance health outcomes. Used by CF clinicians and researchers, the registry is instrumental in research and care and is a valuable tool for advocacy efforts. Since the majority of CF patients attend one of the 41 accredited CF clinics, the registry includes data on virtually all Canadians with CF, allowing for a comprehensive picture of the CF population.
• A virtual education program for patients and caregivers. The program offers 6 educational webinars covering topics such as:
  • Tips for parenting a child with CF
  • New international guidelines on mental health in CF
  • Collaborating with your clinic to improve your healthcare
  • Transitioning from pediatric to adult CF care
• Online digital resources for caregivers with information on parenting, managing stress, maintaining mental health and province specific support groups and caregiver helplines.

The Bayshore Foundation is proud to continue to support the CF community in Canada.

__________________________________________

The Bayshore Foundation for Empowered Living, the charitable arm of Bayshore HealthCare, funds charitable organizations that support individuals who are facing the challenges of illness, injury or aging. Please visit our website bayshorefoundation.ca to make a positive difference where you live by donating to one of our current campaigns. And, thanks to a gift from Bayshore HealthCare, the Foundation is able to match your donation at 50% – for every dollar you give, your chosen charity receives $1.50.