Standards are Key to Success

From its inception, We at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [The Cffb] decided that we wanted to be different. We wanted to be the organization by which others would be bench-marked. We wanted to rewrite the standard for excellence among charitable organizations in Barbados first and then farther afield.

Cystic Fibrosis is an expensive illness requiring large sums of money for those suffering with it and their families, due to this accountability is a huge requirement for this organizations functionality.

Here's what we've found. The need for standards isn't understood nor appreciated by everyone. Some people want to have the benefits of being associated with the organization without making the necessary contributions. It doesn't happen on its own. When we engage in our activities, it is done for the benefit of all involved, so that all affected by CF can benefit. It is never in isolation and can never show favoritism. Systems that are implemented must therefore be able to be applied across the board.

We as an organization, cannot allow people to use our name to raise funds for the benefit of their isolated cases. We say this because it has been attempted, and if not nipped in the bud this would have been the result. Corporate citizens would have been bombarded by requests for the same condition from the Cffb and individuals seeking aid for their own situations.

Our commitment to training ensures that when we recruit volunteers they are trained and then released to function within the various programs within the foundation. There is constant monitoring as was seen in our recent awards to our high school volunteers.  

Some volunteers were able to advance within their chosen fields of work and they too will be certified on a project basis with consideration to their developed competency.

So far, we have always had successful events as lots of hard work goes into the planning process so that execution is near to flawless, complete with fail safes. This is necessary since even the best laid plans can have unforeseen circumstances. Over time, we have seen that there is a need to consider succession planning more vigorously, since interest and circumstances in the lives of those volunteering takes place.

We need volunteers for research, planning, training, social media, fundraising, and special programs. As more people are diagnosed with CF there is a need for:

• more volunteers, 
• an adaptation of standards as new situations are experienced
• a revised business / strategic plan 
• improved operational procedures 
• fundraising opportunities via grants, donors, sponsors
• territorial expansion as other branches of the organization are required to fulfill the needs within the Caribbean
• increased medical access 

Networking opportunities are paramount. We interact with various organization that can point us in the direction of realizing aid. This aid is used to further empower our volunteers to function so that the ultimate beneficiaries, those affected by CF can benefit. 

No one likes to hear that they have a life threatening illness. There are a variety of emotions that accompany such a pronouncement. When further compounded that it can be misdiagnosed due to similarities with other respiratory illnesses like asthma, it can put families and loved ones into a tail spin of doubt and uncertainty.  

There's one thing that's certain. We are the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados, and we are Aware to Care. 

Volunteers and Supporters can make a difference

If you missed July 4th, 2015 then you missed loads of fun. Our Fun Walk / Run was awesome. While we're still awaiting pictures to come in, we thought we'd share what we had so far right here. Check out these photos.

Fun seekers turned out in their droves. The shirts told the story with the walkers in yellow and the runners in blue; there were a lot of people. Corporate Barbados came out in full support of our cause. We even had some of our overseas supporters fly in for the event. Just saying that this event is growing by leaps and bounds.

Our local government ministers gave their support from a variety of angles. As an organization we sought to do things right, and therefore got approvals for everything from everyone that we needed to make contact with. To say it wasn't a lot of work would not do justice to the event.

Truth be told; we could not have done it if it weren't for our volunteers and supporters (including sponsors). When we get all of our lists rechecked we will put it up on our website. So keep on coming back, we should be able to do many more updates during the rest of the year as we get ready to gear up our planning for the next fund raiser - our now to be annual gala dinner and jazz evening.

Please keep on supporting us as we seek to help others with this illness. We are now getting overseas visitors who have Cystic Fibrosis (CF) making inquiries of us before planning their trip to the island.

Thank you one and all for your amazing support. We truly feel the blessings as we are sure to help those afflicted.

Why should you be Aware to Care?

...Because it could be you.

Here we are with 3 boys in little Bimshire, who are living with a condition nobody including medical doctors had a clue about before The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados was a thing. Can you imagine being sick and not a doctor in your country can tell you anything about what's wrong with you? Worse yet, your child?

Not to worry though, CFFB is here and we want you to be Aware to Care. Simply because even though you may not think it affects you, knowledge of the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis can help save a life, through correct diagnosis, appropriate and requisite care as well as support of those who are familiar with the condition and its effects.

The least we can do is support each other so bring your families and come to the Aware to Care 5K Walk on Saturday, 4th July, 2015. Registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for children. You can register here. Help us to raise funds to provide support for families living with Cystic Fibrosis, and move towards having our own Caribbean treatment centre, with our own Caribbean doctors.

Come down and have some fun. Let our boys know that you support them in their fight with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is we t'ing!

Volunteers - Youth and Finance

Barbados has hope! This statement is due to the caring nature of some of our youth and financial institutions. We at The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [Cffb] can say this is true, because we have experienced it.

The youth of The St. Michael School and the Frederick Smith Secondary School have joined the volunteer forces of the Cffb as they are preparing their major fundraising initiative for 2015 where proceeds go towards helping the growing numbers of families affected by Cystic Fibrosis [CF]. These youth will be participating in a variety of ways to realize this and will be given certificates for the initiatives within which they participate. This is because the Cffb believes in recognizing the efforts of their supporters, and volunteers are no exception. The volunteer efforts of these students go towards their high school certification on their curriculum.

Corporate entities are more focused on giving back to society, and they are not doing so because they have to, but they genuinely enjoy helping. For this we are thankful at the Cffb, since Royal Bank of Canada [RBC] has graciously offered and tangibly supported our efforts of building awareness and building funds to help those afflicted with CF. We have had a phenomenal time sharing with their team mates who participated in our outreach efforts, and thank them for putting their shoulders alongside ours and really serving. RBC we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with you and we want to publicly thank you for your support, especially when we recognize that you had choices of organizations that you could have chosen to serve. We have found RBC to be an organization that cares. The actions of these groups cements it in our minds that Barbados has hope!

What did you just say?!?!

The words in this title echo around the world from people who have never met and yet have something in common; they just received bad news from their doctor. In our peculiar instance, it relates to Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic illness that throws the families of those diagnosed into a tail spin. 

Many have never heard about it, and not knowing what to expect are faced with a slew of emotions. There's no prior warning that their family member who was experience respiratory challenges could have CF, they thought it might have been just asthma.

We are Aware to Care! This is the motto of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados (Cffb). We do so via a number of awareness building programs, including fundraisers.

Though we have been around for some time as an organization, we've only truly emerged to the public during the last year when we had our first fundraising walk which was followed up by our gala dinner earlier this year, while interspersed with awareness campaigns in the malls, health fairs, and even the university.

Have we really made a difference? Not in the way that we would like to since we believe that there are a number of people who are unaware of the condition since it is quite close to asthma.

Last year's symposiums was an eye opener for the public and the medical fraternity, where health care providers from the USA who are specialists in providing treatment came and shared their experiences with us in Barbados.

In Barbados, there is no one really certified to provide the quality care needed for this illness. We're hoping to make a difference by enabling those interested to become certified.

CF is quite expensive to care for, especially for local families. The medication is not readily available on island and has to be imported. No two people who have it and are not of the same family should be in close proximity as they can contaminate each other and it can prove fatal to them. Special care is needed in all instances including medical emergencies like hurricanes.

Our volunteer base is growing but there's still a need for more people since there's quite a bit to do. We would welcome your help in any way you can. Please visit our website for more details at www.cfbarbados.org.

Balancing Time, Effort, and Results

It is usually said, if you want something done ask a busy person. This got me thinking about what does a busy person do that the rest of us don't. How does a busy person get to effectively balance time and effort while achieving results?

Externally, we all look the same; at least generally. It isn't race, sex, education, social status, nor any other superficial characteristic. What is key about those who achieve what they put their minds towards seems to stem from the following:

• purpose
• character
• will and strength of resolve
• goals that are well defined 
• objectives that are clear
• respect for others and by others 
• their ability to control time 

How involved are you? What contributions are you making to the existence of someone other than your own?  If a few words can make a difference to you today what would they be?

1. Get involved
2. Make a positive difference 
3. Help someone today
4. Get on purpose
5. Commit to something bigger than you
6. These are just a few

What would be your action phrase? Open opportunities that you didn't know were available.

You have what it takes to be a volunteer. Yes, it requires commitment and dedication, and functioning in a team environment can help make it feel easier so that you're not overwhelmed. You will learn skills. develop good attributes, and just maybe get recognition certificates in the areas of competence that you demonstrate.

Let us know if you're interested, as we try to make our programs for volunteers quite meaningful. Remember - balance your time, put in your efforts, and see the results.

Special thanks to the 100 Voice Project in 2014. Looking forward to your program in 2015. 

When a plan comes together

For weeks there has been planning, organizing, meetings, and a myriad of activities that surrounded the planning of the gala dinner for the Cffb's - Wine, Diamonds and Jazz event which was held recently. From the glowing reports that we have received, we would conclude that everyone had a great time.

As you can imagine, it took the effort of many teams to pull this all together. Our volunteers, supporters, well wishers, parents of children with CF, and donors to mention a few made significant contributions to make this event a reality.

However we want to make mention of those who contributed to make the silent auction actually happen. They know who they are and will be featured on our website shortly. We're also excited about the partnerships we're developing with entities that though they required plenty paperwork for authenticity, we were able to deliver and be accepted for some aid; hopefully on a continual basis.

If you only can imagine it, there were many elements that had to work in synergy to make this event happen. Something went right as patrons want the even to be held next year and for years to come.

The event was developed to accomplish a particular purpose; to help those affected by the devastating Cystic Fibrosis [CF]. Out of this event, we will be able to help three of the families by way of small contributions in their quests for treatment of their loved ones. This is a first for the organization of The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [The Cffb] and we are feeling a short lived sense of accomplishment as there is still quite some ways to go.

During the awareness building for the gala dinner, we met another local who is an adult and has advised us that they too have the condition CF. We are now providing follow up so that they too can obtain the needed care. There is an urgency as the illness seems to have taken quite a toll on them and their body is showing its effects. So the race for awareness / fundraising is not over; the baton has just been passed for the next leg to continue.

We are thankful for our God-given vision to establish this foundation properly. so that when asked for the requisite compliance information by the various agencies it was forthcoming.

Those who attended the event were key. If they had not done so, it would not have been able to make the difference to those with CF. We thank you. To our sponsors and donors, we extend heartfelt thanks and will continue to do so on our website, which we are rethinking currently to make it more interactive for those who visit; so they can receive current information.

We are now preparing for the Aware to Care Walk scheduled for July 4, 2015. This was our initial major event for the year now in its second year. Why do we keep going? CF is not going to stop until there's a cure. It seems to mutate and we must keep adapting to be victorious.