Goblin Gram Sales Raise $2,430 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Elementary school students in Flower Mound offered a helping hand to a fellow classmate, and all of their North Texas neighbors suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). A holiday fundraiser at Wellington Elementary in LISD brought in a hefty $2,430 contribution toward a cure.
“We are always amazed by the generosity of this community,” said Andrea Grubbs, CF special events coordinator and Flower Mound mother of three. “Our schools, clubs, PTAs, neighborhoods, churches and other community groups have made a tremendous difference in the fight to find a cure for this awful, life-threatening genetic disease.”
The Wellington Student Council sold Goblin Grams this October, with printed cards decorated with a piece of candy and a fun message. Students and faculty could buy a card for $1 and have it delivered to a friend during the school week. The response was incredible. Julie Johnson, a 5th grade teacher at Wellington, said that they didn’t realize how big the fundraiser would be, and the faculty and staff chipped in to help meet demand for the Goblin Grams.
“We didn’t want to miss a single opportunity to help kids with CF,” Johnson said.
When the Student Council presented a check to volunteers with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Northeast Texas chapter, the kids learned that 100 percent of proceeds benefit the foundation’s efforts to further research.
The students were reminded that CF is a genetic disease that makes it hard to breathe. They asked questions about what it is like to live with CF.
“You know when you have a cold and need to clear your throat, but can’t?” asked Jill Welke, long-time volunteer and co-chair of the North Texas Wine Opener benefiting the CFF. “That’s what it feels like all the time when you have CF.”
Welke told the students that their contribution is so important because CF is an orphan disease. That means that because it only affects 30,000 people in this country, it doesn’t qualify for government funding or attract big pharmaceutical dollars.
Sophie Wickersham, a 5th grader and Student Council member, wants the families with CF to know how much she and her friends care about their struggle, and hopes that their gift makes a difference. “We know it is going to be hard for your family, and we want you to live a happy and healthy life.”
As recently as the 1950s, babies diagnosed with CF did not even live to start elementary school, and today there is hope for a cure in our lifetime. The average life expectancy for a baby born with CF has now risen to age 41.
For information on donations or holding a fundraiser for CF (school change drive, garage sale, lemonade stand, pizza party, birthday party, etc.), contact Andrea Grubbs at andrea.grubbs@me.com.
About Cystic Fibrosis
CF affects more than 30,000 children and adults in our country and 70,000 worldwide. The inherited defective gene causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus which clogs the lungs and causes life-threatening infections. CF can also degrade the digestive system by obstructing the pancreas and preventing the body from producing natural enzymes that break down food for absorption. Many patients suffering from CF endure hours of physical therapy and dozens of medications every day just to fight infections and help their bodies absorb the nutrients they need to stay healthy. As of now, there is no cure for the disease.