Wine lovers of all grades - beginner to connoisseur - will find something they’ll like at the third annual Northwest Arkansas Wine Opener, according to Allison Brock, Wine Opener committee co-chairwoman. The fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation combines Brock’s expertise as sales catering coordinator for the Doubletree Guest Suites - Bentonville with a cause close to her heart.
Brock’s brother, Colin Hill, is eight years her junior and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 3 years old. Brock attributes the fact that her brother is now 37 to the work of the foundation.
Brock remembers her parents doing what she calls “clappings” on him, which meant laying him on an incline, cupping their hands and palpitating his chest and back to loosen the abnormally thick mucus caused by cystic fibrosis.
Now a specially designed vest does that for patients.
She’s been impressed with and grateful for advancements in research and care brought about by the foundation.
The extra time afforded her brother by those advancements allowed him the opportunity to be the lead singer of the Dallas band Stereofuse, which toured with and opened for Creed for about three months in 1992.
Hill has had to give up music, however. “Singing was actually really good for his lungs, but the smoky bars and travel on the road were not,” she said.
She said he still sings occasionally, but it’s getting increasingly diff cult for him to catch his breath after any exertion.
Brock pointed out a stark reality of the disease. “Part of Colin’s problem with having CF was the fact that he never thought he would ever live long enough to have to fi gure out what he wanted to be when he grew up,” she said.
By The Numbers
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Web site, approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have the inherited chronic disease for which there is no cure. A defective gene and its protein produce thick, sticky mucus that interferes with the lungs and digestive system. The mucus clogs the lungs and prevents the pancreas from producingthe enzymes necessary for digestion. The mucus also provides a willing medium for infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
It is estimated that there are 10 million carriers of the defective gene in America, but most don’t know it. When two carriers have children, the chance of having a child with cystic fibrosis is 1 in 4. Genetic testing is available to find out if one is a carrier.
Jennifer Maune, executive director of the Arkansas chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, said the national organization was started in 1955 by a group of parents whose children had cystic f ibrosis and wanted to raise money for research. At the time, children with the disease did not live to attend elementary school. In the ensuing 55 years, the median survival age has risen to 37 years old.
The organization sends 90 percent of the money it raises directly to drug research and to cystic fibrosis care and education centers.
There are more than 115 cystic fibrosis care and education centers, established and accredited by the foundation, in the United States. Three of those are in Arkansas - in Little Rock at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and in Lowell at a recently opened care site at the Center for Children.
Care centers bring together all eight to 10 doctors that the average cystic fibrosis patient sees for treatment because the disease aftects several parts of the body. There are about 250 patients in the state; approximately 50 of those are in Northwest Arkansas.
Most cystic fibrosis patients now take a mixture of four drugs that help control the manifestations of the disease. Maune said that a drug is in the works that could counteract thepatient’s defective gene, making it “a cure in a bottle. … That’s why we hold fundraisers.” Growing Event
The wine and food tasting has grown each year, and organizers are expecting about 400 guests at the fundraiser Friday at the Doubletree. A VIP reception will be from 6 to 7 p.m. that will include a wine and food tasting provided by Ruth’s Chris Steak House and an auction preview. VIP tickets are $100. General admission tickets are $60 and include wine and food tasting from area restaurants beginning at 7 p.m. and a keepsake tasting glass.
Auction items will include a top champion blood line female black Labrador retriever and two American Airline tickets to anywhere in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Maune said she fully expects the event to make its $60,000 goal because, “the people involved are so passionate about fi nding a cure. Many of them know kids we’re raising money for.”PROFILE ALLISON BROCK Born: Oct. 15, 1964 Husband: Randy, wed April 14, 1990 Children: Connor, 15, and Caroline, 10GO & DO THIRD ANNUAL NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WINE OPENER
Benefits: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Doubletree Guest Suites in
Bentonville
Tickets: General admission, $60;
VIP, $100SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Our Town, Pages 11 on 02/21/2010