Grand Rapids (WZZM) - Ten years ago the life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis was just 18 years.
Thanks to more research, that life expectancy has nearly doubled.
In West Michigan, the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center inside the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital helps patients with the hereditary lung disease.
An annual event also raises money to help families of CF patients. Bid for Bachelors & Bachelorettes is February 4 at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.
Joylynn Kelly with the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center and Michelle Ripley, creator of the Bid for Bachelors & Bachelorettes event talk about the disease and how you can get involved in helping patients in west Michigan.
Click on the video link to watch the segment. To learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center, click here. For more information about cystic fibrosis, click here. To find out the details of the Bid for Bachelors & Bachelorettes event, click here.