47 / A Life With Cystic Fibrosis: New photography book explores the reality of living with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects more than 10,400 people in the UK, but the daily challenges faced by those with the condition remain relatively unknown. 47 / A Life With Cystic Fibrosis is a new photography book which aims to change that.

People with cystic fibrosis experience a build-up of thick sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs, causing a wide range of challenging symptoms affecting the entire body. It’s a life-limiting condition and the median predicted survival rate is just 47 years old. There’s currently no cure.

Photographer Simon Wiffen presents a series of stunning portraits exploring the realities of living with CF and each subject’s attitude to life and their condition up to and beyond the age of 47. People with CF struggle with a wide range of symptoms from persistent coughing, chronic lung infections and CF-related diabetes to isolation due to risk of cross infection and double lung transplants. An average day contains a complex mix of medications and physiotherapy and lengthy hospital stays are commonplace.

Wiffen says “With this book I've tried to capture these personalities and my hope is that as a collective body of work, it gives an insight into the reality of living with this condition. As a dad of a 2 year old who was diagnosed with CF at 3 weeks, this project is something I'm incredibly passionate about. What I've learned is that while CF is unforgiving, relentless and unbelievably cruel it also creates strength, resilience, defiance and an appreciation of life that many of us can only ever hope to find.”

Anne Shinkwin, Director of Fundraising at The Cystic Fibrosis Trust comments “Simon’s intimate portraits give a unique insight into the lives of some of the 10,400 people in the UK living with cystic fibrosis (CF). This book beautifully captures multiple voices and reveals the reality of living with a condition that shortens life. Although there is no cure for CF, advances in research are helping people to live longer. However, as these stories attest, CF remains a daily challenge.”

The book features portraits of 47 people from across the UK, ranging in age from 4 to 61 years old as well as an ‘In memory’ section which remembers a tiny fraction of the many people who die each year as a result of CF. One of the subjects in the book sadly died just weeks after having his picture taken and before the book was published.

The book is available to purchase for £20, with £5 of the sale price being donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to support the work they do every day to support those affected by CF and to help work towards a cure.

For more information visit: www.simonwiffenphotography.co.uk/47.