PROJECT TITLE: 65 Roses
by Lisa Lynch

"65 Roses" is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce. - www.cff.org

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening inherited disease, affecting over 10,000 people in the UK. (www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk)

The median predicted survival for someone with cystic fibrosis currently stands at 41 years old. (www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk)


As someone with a family member who has cystic fibrosis, I have been moved to help make the condition a bit more visible to people who donít know much about it. My 7-year-old nephew Jake lives with cystic fibrosis and his experience is the focus of my work. I began photographing Jake because I feel a lot of people donít understand what cystic fibrosis is or that it can be life shortening. To be honest I didnít either at first. But Jakeís experience has had an impact on me, his auntie, and has helped me learn about the disease and, more than that, not to take life for granted. Photographing Jake has made me see him in a different way, one that I donít think I would have if I hadnít photographed him. My aim was always to see and photograph Jake as a normal little boy, not someone with a life-shortening condition. My photographs consist of his ëin between momentsí including time with family and friends and also moments by himself.

65 RosesÆ is a registered trademark of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Jake Lynch (Right) sits with his mum Jacqueline Lynch (left) his dad, Scott THompson, and a nurse during a hospital visit in Belfast. Jake gets very agitated when sitting for a long period of time.