“Serving Up Hope…One Pint at a Time”

Brewer’s Ball for Cystic Fibrosis

By Suzanne Redekopp
Contributing Writer

Beer and friends go hand-in-hand. Now try this: friends, hand-in-hand, uniting over a beer for a good cause. Sound intriguing?

This is exactly what the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation had in mind. The Brewer’s Ball, which will premiere this Fri., Oct. 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn, was created to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They will be “serving up hope for a cure…one pint at a time.”

Patrick Kirby, the Senior Director of Development for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the Dakotas Office, said that this is the first signature event for the CFF in North Dakota. Kirby has been working on this event since March, and he got the idea by simply having a few beers with families affected by Cystic Fibrosis. “What’s more personal and fun than having a beer with friends?” he said. He wanted to create an event with a fun, relaxing, and down-to-earth atmosphere to raise awareness for this disease.

So, what exactly is Cystic Fibrosis, and why create an event specifically for it? Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that “leads to chronic lung-destroying infections, impaired ability to digest and absorb nutrition from food, and numerous other problems,” according to Kirby’s “What is Cystic Fibrosis?” informational document. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States are affected by CF, and more than ten million people unknowingly carry the defective gene for CF. In 1955 when the CF Foundation was created, individuals with CF weren’t expected to survive past preschool. Now, thanks to new treatments, the age has increased to around 38-years-old.

Treatment for CF varies depending on the person, but some common treatments include taking daily vitamin supplements, eating a high-calorie diet, clearing mucus from the lungs, and using drugs to improve lung function, thinning lung mucus, etc. But even with all of the medical advances and new treatments available, there is still no cure for CF. This is why the CFF remains hard at work to hopefully one day find a cure through creating fundraising events like the Brewer’s Ball.

Kirby said that the CFF has main three goals in mind for the Brewer’s Ball. “One: we hope that the Brewer’s Ball will help people put a face and name to the disease. Two: that people will learn something. Three: Everyone will have a great time.”

The Brewer’s Ball will ensure a great time for everyone in attendance. The DK All Stars will give a live performance, Jay Thomas will be the emcee, a silent auction will take place, and there will be unlimited food catered by the Hilton and beer from local restaurants. Restaurants like JL Beers, Bar 9, Ruby Tuesday, Granite City and Carino’s have jumped on board with the project to donate their time and beer to the cause. Owners or representatives from these restaurants will serve their beer, explain why they brought their choices, and will describe
what foods will go well with each beer. People attending this event will also receive their own tasting glass and a journal to record the beers they’ve sampled. So not only will you expect to learn about CF, but you can also learn a lot about beer and meet new friends while doing it.

There will be a variety of beers available to satisfy any beer-lover. Some IPA’s that you’ll expect to see will be the new Woodchipper IPA from the Fargo Brewing Company, Lucky U IPA, Sweetgrass IPA, and Duke of Wellington IPA. Darker ales will also be available, like Darkside Vanilla Porter, Sierra Nevada Brown Ale, and Sam Adams Octoberfest, just to name a few.

Tickets are $75 with $.90 of every dollar going directly to CFF research. Kirby said that the CFF hopes to raise $40,000 through the Brewer’s Ball, which is especially beneficial because the CFF does not receive government funding. So if you’re looking to find value in your time and money, grab a few friends, some beer, and help support the CFF at the Brewer’s Ball.

Questions and comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Brewer’s Ball
WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn
WHEN: Fri., Oct. 21
TIME: 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
COST: $75 per ticket, with all proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
CONTACT: Patrick Kirby, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 952-237-0836