A MEMORABLE service marking the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Pembrokeshire branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust took place recently at St David's Cathedral, a service which was enhanced by the inspirational support of the Cathedral choir.

The service, which was introduced by the newly appointed Dean of St Davids, the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, gave thanks for the great achievements in the treatment of CF patients in the past 40 years but at the same time remembered the precious young lives that had been cut short by CF.

In a short address, Sarah Howarth, CF Trust Senior Funding and Development Manager, outlined the vital and important work carried out by the CF Trust, working towards the day when everyone with CF can receive the treatments that will transform their daily lives.

She said “Some of the amazing milestones in the treatment of CF only occurred due to people like you raising money and raising awareness about CF.

"The last decade alone has seen previously incredible progress with new treatments arising - pioneering breakthroughs from the minds of some of the world’s greatest scientists. This is a unique moment for CF with a one in a generation opportunity to beat CF for good.

You may never meet those people whose lives you have helped to transform or the future generation whose lives with CF will be unimaginable from that of the babies who were born 40 years ago, but without that foresight, hard work, enthusiasm and commitment none of what has been achieved would have happened or what is planned will happen.’

The readers of the lessons were Jane James and branch secretary (CF parent) Caroline Willis.

For the CF families present the very moving service was also a time for remembrance.With the lighting of a candle branch chairperson and founder member, Sybil Edwards, recalled with love the names of the young people whose lives had been cut short by CF.

–Kay Bendall and her sister Sarah Morgan, Toby Chapman, Katrina Field Thomas (nee Lewis), David Lloyd, Mark Lloyd, Marlene Page, Betty Pearce(nee Miles), Andrew Phillips and his brother Stuart, Ben Phillips, Chloe and Emily Piper, Lynne Shipp (nee Webber), Kathryn Thomas, Paul Michael Wakefield.

May they rest in peace.

There are more than 10,800 people with CF in the UK and one in every people carry the CF gene

Each week, five babies are born with the condition.

To donate see justgiving.com/fundraising/Elaine-Brown20 or send cheques payable to Pembs CF Trust to Elaine Brown, 4,The Close, Spittal, SA62 5QH.

Alternatively, text CFPB65 to 70070 followed by the amount of money you would like to donate.