ROSES AT GARDEN SHOW SUPPORT FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

It�s a beautiful symbol of love and hope for people close to the cause, and now this symbol will grace the landscape of the UH Campus Community Garden. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) holds their annual Great Strides walk-a-thon on the UH campus. This year as the walkers traveled through Cougar Woods, they saw a visual tribute to their cause thanks to a donation by the River Oaks Garden Club on behalf of CFF. The rose is used as a symbol of the foundation�s mission to find a cure for a disease affecting many children.

Back in 1965, a foundation volunteer was making phone calls at her home for donations to the organization as her 4-year-old son listened nearby. As she talked about the foundation and cystic fibrosis, her son listened on. When she got off the phone, he surprised his mother when he said he knew what she was working on. �You are working for 65 roses,� he said. �65 Roses� is now commonly used by young children to describe their disease because it is easier for them to pronounce. By proudly displaying the roses in the garden, UH has made a visual show of support for the foundation�s mission.

�The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is very excited to be so beautifully represented in Cougar Woods with the roses at the garden, and we are thrilled to be a part of this important initiative,� said Sissy Boyd, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the CFF. �We love being on campus for our walk. This year our walkers will enjoy the roses as a lovely reminder of support from both UH and The River Oaks Garden Club.�

The River Oaks Garden Club is an organization that makes contributions to the Houston community for conservation, horticulture and civic beautification. They donated the scarlet rose bushes to the University on behalf of CFF that were planted between the flower beds and the sidewalk through Cougar Woods. The rows of roses will encourage beneficial insects into the garden and also draw more attention from passers-by who may not have noticed the garden before.

The Great Strides walk, taking steps to cure Cystic Fibrosis, was held on May 21. For more information on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, visit www.cff.org. To volunteer at the Campus Community Garden, visit their Facebook fan page.