Recalling CF campaigner and young scientist

Re your Where Are They Now piece on the Young Scientists — I just wish to note that Jean Byrne, 1992 Young Scientist, sadly passed away in 2007 from the complications of cystic fibrosis. She was just 31 years old and had been heavily involved in CF campaigning and education.

Mention of her in your article is particularly poignant at this time as Jean was one of the first people in the cystic fibrosis community that we had contact with when our own son was diagnosed with 10 years ago. She was a huge source of inspiration to us at the time and we remember her fondly.

My two daughters visited the Young Scientist Exhibition in Dublin recently. Many of the former winners attended to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary. Jean made the 40th anniversary, but sadly not the 50th.

And of course this latest reminder comes at a time when Build4Life, a charity run solely by CF families, has fundraised voraciously in recent years to provide clean, safe CF facilities in Cork University Hospital, only to see our latest efforts stymied by the hospital’s management and the HSE.

Carol-Anne O’Reilly

Belgooly

Co Cork