To the Editor:

We would like to thank Mistral Restaurant for opening their kitchen and hearts for the annual dinner of the Mercer County Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Tuesday, October 29.

Forty people celebrated the medical advances for the care of our children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and feasted on the fine food prepared and served by the superb staff. The food at Mistral was delicious and creative: salads, vegetables, beef, and fish were excellent and the flourless chocolate cake was amazing. The wines were purchased from Cool Vines.

Ten thousand dollars was raised to treat and cure cystic fibrosis. In March 2012 an effective treatment for 4 percent of the children was approved by the FDA. Testing is in the final phase for a treatment that will apply to 65 percent of the children. The research that went into this innovative treatment is now being used to address other genetic diseases. In 1996, children with cystic fibrosis had a potential life time of 20 years, if they were among the healthy patients. Today 4 percent of the children have to think about a career and it is the objective of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to have a treatment for every CF patient.

The Mercer County Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raises more than $100,000 annually. Ninety five percent of this goes to research to treat and cure Cystic Fibrosis. We thank Mistral and we celebrate the generosity of Mercer County!

Co-chairs Mary Furey Gerard

Natalie Caricato

Talbot Lane