ELLSWORTH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- One little girl in Ellsworth is making it her mission to help fight Cystic Fibrosis.
Six-year old Jocelyn Boudreau is hitting the streets and knocking on doors to help twenty-month old Brock Blanchard, who is suffering from the disease.
Each year 1,000 children and young adults are diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
It's a genetic, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, and treating the illness can be very expensive.
Brock needs a special vest to help him break up mucus in his lungs. That vest is $20,000.
According to Brock's mother, Rebecca Blanchard, the stress of the disease is both financial and emotional.
"I just hope everyday that he's going to be there," she said. "And I don't have to look at him and say, 'I don't know if you're going to be okay.' I know he's going to ask one day, 'Mom, am I going to die?' That's something that I don't ever want to have to say. I want to say, 'No honey, there's a cure.'"
Blanchard said it's the help of people like Jocelyn who make life easier for Brock and their family.
So far Jocelyn has raised more than $400 for Brock's medical needs.
Local events benefitting Brock and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are listed below:
-Tuesday, August 10, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. a Benefit ZUMBA class at the Ellsworth Downeast Family YMCA
-Saturday, August 14, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to a "Make Your Own Sundae," Sweet Feast Bake Sale and Chinese Auction at the Ellsworth VFW Hall Post #109
-Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. is the annual Great Strides benefit walk at the Connor-Emerson School in Bar Harbor
For more information on Cystic Fibrosis, click here.