Suzanna Farr
Nicky's Whisper
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Story
Nicky West’s dream is being kept alive by her family, friends and those she inspired in her life. Through Nicky’s Whisper, her voice is still heard.
Nicky worked hard to tell people about cystic fibrosis (CF) and to raise money to fund gene therapy. Nicky knew gene therapy would be too late for her, but wanted to help younger people with cystic fibrosis and save them the pain and troubles she had to endure.
Through Nicky’s determination and the wonderful support people have shown to Nicky’s Whisper, over £200,000 has been raised in her name.
Gene therapy research is at a stage that Nicky longed to see. The UK Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC) was funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to develop a gene therapy product to correct the ‘faulty’ CF gene in the lungs. This product is currently in Phase 2B clinical trials, with results eagerly expected in 2014. In March 2013 the Trust awarded a grant of £308,000 for its work to develop a viral vector as a delivery mechanism for gene therapy (Wave 2).
This work is complex and expensive, and Nicky was passionate about raising funds for it, right up to the day she died. Nicky would have been very excited to know that she can still inspire so many people to raise money for a cause that meant so much to her.
The money Nicky’s Whisper has raised and Nicky’s amazing efforts in the last few months of her life have made a huge difference. Please continue to support Nicky's Whisper.
Nicky’s Whisper
Remember me as someone who laughed
Who lived in the present and not in the past
When you think of illness, don’t feel sad
Just remember the good that came from the bad
Remember my voice and songs that I sang
And speeches I gave to help people understand
I lived life to the full and had no regrets
All I ask now is one last request
Follow my dream and spread the word
And through Nicky’s whisper I’ll still be heard
Nicky West 1974-2004
CF Trust
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disease, affecting almost 10,000 people in the UK, slowly destroying the lungs and digestive system. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is here to beat it and make a daily difference to the lives of those with CF, and the people who care for them.