b'OrlaTinsleyCrusader for Cystic Fibrosis AwarenessOrla Tinsley is a multi-talented advocate and writer who was selected for a highly- selective writing scholarship at Columbia University in New York. Orla also suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is Irelands most common genetically inherited illness. It affects over 1,100 people in Ireland, 30,000 in the United States and 70,000 worldwide. The illness affects the lungs and digestive system causing a build-up of mucus that makes it easy to catch bacteria and can make it difficult to breathe. ColumbiaUniversity is not only known for its prestigious writing program but also for its state-of-the-art medical center dedicated to Cystic Fibrosis treatment and care and so Orlas attendance there is ideal. Here in Orlas own words, she shares with Connect readers her determination to create change and the power of philanthropic support. The Ireland Funds are proud to support Orla in the journey that has brought her from Dublin to New York. connect2015 | 44'