National Events

From a relationship that began on a barstool in 1963, a 45-year friendship between Kin Canada and Cystic Fibrosis Canada has grown into a committed partnership. Over the years, Kinsmen and Kinettes have devoted their efforts to an incredible assortment of events ranging from Daisy Days to road tolls to barbecues – all to help fight cystic fibrosis.

The friendship between Kinsmen and Kinettes and Canadians with CF began with a conversation between Dr. Douglas Crozier, then director of the CF Clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Kinsmen Bill Skelly. During a chance meeting at a Scarborough pub, Dr. Crozier spoke to Bill about his young CF patients. This conversation left Bill interested in joining the fight against cystic fibrosis and he invited Dr. Crozier to speak at the North York Kinsmen Club. Almost immediately, the North York Kinsmen enthusiastically backed the CF cause.

By 1964, District 8 had formally adopted CF as its District Service Project. District 8's commitment sparked the interest of other Districts throughout the Kin organization and, before long, involvement spread Canada-wide. In 1987, the Association of Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs adopted CF as a National Service Project.

Today, Kinsmen and Kinettes remain loyal friends, continually fundraising for CF research and promoting CF awareness. In 1997, Kin reached a great milestone when total funds raised for CF amounted to $25 million. These funds have helped Canadian researchers make major strides in the fight against cystic fibrosis.

The hard work and support of Kinsmen and Kinettes is deeply appreciated by Canadians with CF. Since 1964, Kin and Cystic Fibrosis Canada have shared in many exciting accomplishments, including the discovery of the gene responsible for CF in 1989. The discovery would not have been possible without the tremendous help of Kin.

When Kinsmen and Kinettes first joined the fight against CF, children with the disease were not expected to live past the age of four. But today, children and young adults with cystic fibrosis are often living into their 30s and beyond. For almost every year of Kin support, we have earned an extra year of life for a CF child. Cystic Fibrosis Cananda could never have come so far, so fast, without the continued support of Kin.

In the past 45 years, Kinsmen and Kinettes across the country have worked tirelessly to help beat CF, contributing almost $40 million towards cystic fibrosis research and treatment.

To learn more about how you can help Cystic Fibrosis Canada through Kin Canada contact us.