Volunteers are the breath of hope at CPFF
Debbie Homik finds purpose helping those with PF
“Whether helping out at an event, serving on the Board of Directors, giving an expert presentation, or leading a support group, our volunteers are the beating heart of everything we do, and we are incredibly grateful,” says Sharon Lee, Executive Director, Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
We are honoured to present just two of such committed people in this article: Debbie Homik in Winnipeg and Bruce Lonergan in Ottawa. Their passion, generosity, and unwavering commitment make a profound difference. As support group leaders they walk alongside patients and families every step of the way.
From early clinical trials of anti-fibrotic drugs to the Winnipeg Walk for PF, respiratory therapist and dedicated volunteer Debbie Homik is connected, in so many ways, to people living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
Married to respirologist Dr. Lawrence Homik, Debbie began working with people with PF, while doing clinical trials. The clinical trials could last from one to three years and clinic visits for participants up to four hours.
That’s when I really got to know these patients and their needs and became passionate about working with them. I just came to love them.
” People need a purpose, and volunteering to help those facing a PF journey, gives me purpose. Many of them have become friends. We are like a family, and I hear from them all the time about how much our support group means to them.”, she says.
Read Debbie’s Story
Watch Dr. Lawrence Homik’s video Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis—The Basics.
Bruce Lonergan stepped up to help others cope
Although Bruce Lonergan, 64, has lived with IPF for more than seven years now, he has been fortunate that his disease has progressed quite slowly. The side-effects from anti-fibrotic medications have had the greatest impact on his life, rather than symptoms of the disease itself.
When I listened to others during CPFF’s national support group meetings on Zoom, I could see and hear the fear and trepidation that people were experiencing and I needed to help.
Bruce heard that other communities had in-person support groups, and learned that Ottawa had one before the pandemic. He contacted CPFF about re-starting the group and was willing to be its volunteer leader.
“Living with PF can be challenging,” says Bruce. “It changes patients’ lives and their families’ lives. I spent a lot of my professional life helping employees and departments be their best. I now find satisfaction in helping others who are more impacted by PF than I am so far.”
Read Bruce’s Story
Inspired to volunteer? Click here to learn more.
Events
Happening Soon
Aug
9
10 AM to 2 PM CDT
Saskatoon Walk for PF
Aug
16
9:30 am to 2 pm EDT
Avonmore Berry Farm – Run the Farm for PF
Aug
18
7 PM to 8 PM EDT
Caregiver Support Group
Aug
19
3 PM to 4 PM EDT
National Patient Support Group
Aug
23
9 AM to 2 pm CDT
Winnipeg Walk for PF
Sep
1
Anytime, All month
Virtual Walk, Roll, Run
Sep
2
3 PM to 4 PM EDT
National Patient Support Group
Sep
2
7 PM to 8 PM EDT
National Patient Support Group
Want to know what it’s like to take part in a CPFF Walk?
Step into the heart of CPFF Hope Breathes Here Walks for Pulmonary Fibrosis by watching our uplifting, new video. Share it with your friends and family, and anyone else you’d like to walk with you.
Feel the energy, see the smiles, and see the hope and connection. We walk for breath, we walk for change, and we walk together, so no one faces PF alone. Everyone walks for their own special reason, but together, our shared journey reminds us we’re stronger side by side.
Join us at a CPFF Hope Breathes Here Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis in your community.
August Walks
There are three Community Walks taking place in August.
- In Saskatoon on Saturday, August 9, at Kiwanis Memorial Park.
- At Avonmore Berry Farm (Avonmore, Ontario), on Saturday, August 16. (You must register by August 15.)
- In Winnipeg on Saturday, August 23, at Assiniboine Park.
Find out more and register for an upcoming Walk in your community in August, September or October.
Rain doesn’t stop Edmonton from showing up!
On June 28, under grey skies and umbrellas, the Edmonton PF Community came together with heart, grit and unstoppable energy to the city’s first CPFF Hope Breathes Here Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
More than 100 participants braved the weather, walked with purpose and together raised almost $12,000 to support Canadians living with PF. Thank you Edmonton!
Check out the Edmonton Walk photo gallery. If you were there, load your photos to share with us all.
Tributes
Honour someone you know in our upcoming Tribute video
The Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF) is planning to wrap up it’s 2025 Awareness Campaign with a special Tribute video. This is your opportunity to recognize someone you know who has been affected by pulmonary fibrosis. They could be a family member who has passed away or is living with PF; a caregiver or friend who has supported you, or a healthcare professional who has made a difference in your life.
Send us a photo of the individual you’d like to honour with a short caption including their name and one sentence about them or why you are grateful for their support.
Investigating the relationship between abnormal blood vessels and lung scarring
‘It’s a bit like the question of the chicken and the egg; which comes first – changes in the blood vessels in the lung, or the formation of scarring in the lung?” says CPFF Fellow Dr. Albina Tyker, now at the mid-point in her research project at McMaster University’s Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH).
It was previously thought that scarring in areas of the lung caused abnormalities in nearby blood vessels. Recent studies, however, have shown that the relationship is more complex.
Dr. Tyker’s research is looking at where and how abnormal blood vessels form. Depending on her research results, she hopes it may be possible in the future to determine the rate at which a patient can expect their disease to progress at diagnosis with a CT scan.
I cannot overstate how important the CPFF fellowships are to us. There is no other source of support specifically to train ILD clinician researchers in Canada. The work I’m doing now just would not be possible. I’m very grateful.
There are two “phases” to her study: one that involves lab work, delving into the molecular biology of the lungs and another that analyzes CT scan results.
Dr. Tyker plans to present her findings at the American Thoracic Society’s conference in May 2026.
Webinar
Nerandomilast in IPF and PPF: A New Option On the Horizon
There is a new pulmonary fibrosis medication called nerandomilast that will be submitted for approval by Health Canada, later this year or early in 2026, as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).
On September 4 at 2 p.m. EDT, Dr. Shane Shapera, Director of the Interstitial Lung Diseases Program at the Toronto General Hospital; and always an engaging presenter, will discuss:
- The current state of diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF)
- The benefits and challenges with currently available therapies to treat fibrotic lung diseases
- Could nerandomilast represent a paradigm shift in patient care?
If you are unable to attend the live broadcast, a video recording of the webinar will be available in our video library about a week later.
Patient and Caregiver Stories
Patricia shares her PF journey
Patricia Meadows from Calgary, Alberta, lives with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF) with an underlying undetermined auto-immune disease. Prior to her diagnosis, Patricia was an active adventurer. She loved to hike and can lay claim to having summited Mount Kilimanjaro. With PF, she now has difficulty climbing up many flights of stairs and can no longer hike like she used to with a backpack.
Patricia shares her experience with diagnosis and the joy, support, and friendship she has found with the CPFF Calgary support group.
“I tend not to do things in groups,” says Patricia, “but this really caught me. The people were so wonderful and so supportive. I’m not sure I would be here if it weren’t for them because it was a huge amount of emotional support but also a lot of information that I didn’t know about because I’d never even heard of pulmonary fibrosis until I was diagnosed.”
Angie talks about her father’s PF journey
Angie Ortlieb’s dad Bruce was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2011. Like many, they had never heard about this disease before. Bruce wanted to live life and didn’t stop doing the things he loved. “Treat me like I’m living,” said Bruce to his family. This is Bruce’s courageous PF journey as told by his daughter Angie.
Naomi’s unique PF journey
Naomi Matsushita of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has interstitial pneumonia, one of the 200 types of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), as well as anti-synthetase syndrome, an auto-immune condition. In this video Naomi shares her PF journey and how her husband has been a great support to her.
Featured Videos
Hope Breathes Here Walks for Pulmonary Fibrosis
The Connection between Connective Tissue Diseases and PF
Respirologists Weigh in on the Vital Role of Oxygen