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History of Involvement

        In 1980, after several years of denial, Karen and Jerry Walters, parents of Dana Walters, decided that it was necessary to promote the cause of Cystic Fibrosis if a cure was going to be found. They began to get involved with various fund raising projects so that the dollars needed for research could be achieved. This involvement grew to include public speaking in the metro Atlanta area and the State of Georgia.

       Having a child with CF made the commitment to educate the public a priority and every opportunity was taken advantage of . While all of this was occurring, Dana was going to school and trying to live a normal life. By having desires and goals, the quality of her life was greatly increased. She was determined to go to school and be a contributor to society. At the time of her death at 20 years of age, she was five weeks away from attaining her goal of a graphic arts degree. Because her parents knew that to have a goal gave her the desire to
continue living, they want to offer the same opportunity to others with CF.

Cystic Fibrosis Facts

Cystic Fibrosis is the number one killer of children and young adults in the United States. The symptoms are many, vary in severity and are often confused with pneumonia, asthma or other respiratory problems.

Approximately 30,000 people in the US have CF. A child with CF must inherit two CF genes, one from each parent. One in 20 Americans are symptomless carriers of the CF gene.

Cystic Fibrosis causes a thick, sticky mucous to clog the lungs. This leads to multiple lung infections and lung damage. It also interferes with other major organs in the body and can cause malnutrition and stunted growth.

In 1955, when CF was a newly identified disease, few children lived to go to school. As late as 1974, children were lucky to live 11 years. Today, most people live into their thirties. While we work for a cure, new goals for daily living must be set and attained so that the quality of life will meet and exceed the quantity of life.

Purpose of the Scholarship Fund

       The purpose of the Dana Walters Scholarship is to honor the dedication and commitment that Dana felt toward the educational process. Not all young adults with CF have the financial ability to attend college because of the burden that the illness places on the family finances. Our desire is that along with the HOPE scholarship, a higher education will be attainable and students can go on to be productive citizens in our society.

Benefits of the Program

       This program is designed to help students purchase books, pay mandatory fees and other necessary dues to be able to follow their chosen course of study. By removing the financial burden from the family, students should be able to concentrate on their studies and be successful.