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Elaine Wolffer ‘grinds for cystic fibrosis.’

By: Brendan McDonough

Reporter for North Tonawanda

Though music, a family in North Tonawanda is hoping to raise money and awareness about Cystic Fibrosis.

Every week the Wolffers are at the Farmers Market with their grinding machine.

Their grand daughter was diagnosed with the terminal illness at age 3. She is now almost 20.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive system and is often fatal.

About 70,000 people in the world are currently living with Cystic Fibrosis. It can cause buildup of mucus in the body that can block the ducts of the pancreas.

For this North Tonawanda family, trying to raise money for research is something they do every weekend. “

We do this every Saturday that the weather allows, for about 2 hours a time and we usually raise about one hundred dollars. It all goes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and they use it for research,” said Elaine Wolffer, North Tonawanda Resident.

In addition to raising money, they are also hoping to educate people about the disease.

“I think people are getting to know more and more about it because we sponsor walks. I think the more people that realize that it is an incurable disease and it is a small disease. We do not have funding we have to raise all our own money, people have to realize that if you give one year, that you but it is ongoing,” said Wolffer.

The life expectancy is now up to 42 years and while they say advances are being made, much more still needs to be done.

“When our granddaughter was originally diagnosed I said this may not be cured in my life time but maybe you can manage it like diabetes and I think that could be happening and for that we are thankful, so that is why we do this,” said Wolffer.

Until there is a cure, this North Tonawanda family says they will continue to be here sharing their energy and determination to help their much-loved granddaughter.

If you would life to help the family, they are at the Farmers Market each weekend.