Organizers have been busy preparing for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 5K Glow Run, which will be held Thursday at East Central Community College in Decatur.

    In addition to the 5K race, there will also be a kids quarter mile dash, a silent auction and jump houses donated by Downey Party Rentals, according to Dana Peavy, who is working to coordinate the event.

    The glow run is for ages 11 and up. The cost to participant is $25, and runners get a T-shirt.  Registration opens at 6 p.m. and the race begins at 6:30.

    The quarter mile dash is for kids 10 and younger and costs $5. All participants in the dash receive a goody bag. Registration opens at 7 p.m. and the dash starts at 7:30. Children are encouraged to wear a Halloween costume. There will be prizes for the best costumes.

    The silent auction is a way to get involved for those not athletically inclined. There will be a variety of goods, including an Electrolux vacuum cleaner, a La-Z-Boy chair and even earrings. The bidding begins at 6 p.m. and runs until the kids dash is over around 8.

    Last year, the run secured $18,650 in donations from businesses. This year, sponsors have donated $17,300.

    Much of the fundraising work and promotional efforts are done by Peavy and Team Maddie. The team was started in May 2010, shortly after Peavy’s granddaughter, Maddie Luke, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at two weeks old.

    Last year, the team raised $42,000 in donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through a 5K, softball tournament and by selling T-shirts. All funds raised go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

    Maddie Luke is not the only young cystic fibrosis patient in this area. Garrett Engell, an 11 year-old student at Lamar Christian School, also has the disease.

    His mother, Stephanie Engell, is grateful that her son has been relatively healthy for someone with cystic fibrosis.

    However, relatively healthy for cystic fibrosis is not the same as healthy for someone without the condition.

    Garrett has to take four pills that help digest food every time he eats or even drinks milk. He also needs someone to beat his chest to loosen up the mucus every night.

    Additionally, his biggest challenge is working to maintain a healthy body weight. In spite of the obstacles in his day-to-day life, he maintains a normal lifestyle and his mother considers him blessed compared to other cystic fibrosis patients.

    “You know, I don’t think I really said how hard it is,” Stephanie Engell said. “He has it easy compared to some kids and isn’t sick a lot, but it is still a struggle.”

    According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that causes lung infections and progressively limits the ability to breathe.

    The disease, which affects approximately 30,000 people in the U.S., presents in a variety of ways, and no two patients have the exact same case.

    Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective gene that causes mucus buildup in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. Because the mucus blocks the airways, many patients are more susceptible to infections which leads to lung damage and respiratory failure.

    Additionally, the mucus in the pancreas inhibits digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food. Some other symptoms include salty skin, poor growth and weight gain and shortness of breath.

    Fundraisers like the glow run help contribute to researching treatments and a possible cure for cystic fibrosis.

     Peavy said she was passionate about raising money, even though it does not directly benefit her granddaughter.

    Every advancement made helps to benefit each person with cystic fibrosis and helps patients down the road, she said.