Perth Comedian shines spotlight on CF research

One of Perth’s funniest comedians, Famous Sharron, is taking centre stage to champion a cause close to her heart – supporting cystic fibrosis (CF) research.

Renowned for her wit and humour, she will serve as the Master of Ceremonies at an annual fundraising event that has played a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of Western Australians battling CF through groundbreaking research.

The Institute for Respiratory Health’s Glenn Brown Memorial event, held annually on Melbourne Cup Day, is celebrating two decades of raising vital funds to support Western Australian researchers in their mission to undertake lifesaving cystic fibrosis research.

“I was called in eight years ago to host. It was such an incredible event, and I couldn’t resist coming back again, and again, and… well here we are,” Famous Sharron said.

“When I heard the story of Glenn Brown, a young boy from Kalgoorlie who tragically lost his life to CF at the age of 15, it really impacted me.

“He didn’t want to be forgotten and thanks to mums Janeine Thomas and Alison Guest, who started this inspiring event two decades ago, his memory lives on.”

More than half a million dollars has been raised since the event’s inception in 2003, with every dollar dedicated to funding research projects right here in Western Australia (WA).

“It’s an uplifting event, the atmosphere in the room, and the way it honours such a beautiful boy and gives hope to those with CF,” Famous Sharron added.

The Glenn Brown Memorial Fund has been instrumental in supporting ten vital WA CF research projects and 46 doctors and students.

Research initiatives range from wearable technology and AI to stem-cell research aimed at repairing the lung cells of people with CF to evaluating the effectiveness of telehealth CF clinics in regional WA.

“This year, the event sold out two months in advance, thanks to the generosity of our local community, ” Famous Sharron said.

“It has an incredible vibe because everyone is there to make a difference and raise funds for CF. Almost everything on the day is kindly donated, borrowed, or gifted, even me! We have countless volunteers who freely give their time to help run the event and then there are our charitable guests.”

The 2023 event will be held on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 7 November 2023. An online silent auction is currently underway, allowing the community to participate and bid for some amazing prizes. For more information, please visit https://app.galabid.com/melbournecup

CF causes a wide range of symptoms, but patients usually develop thick sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs. In the lungs, in particular, this increases the risk of infections, and patients can become severely unwell from a simple cold.

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