French in Acton students, along with their instructors, Cynthia Edelman and Lisa Locklin, gathered recently to mark the successful completion of their fourth annual holiday fundraiser. Benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, this fundraiser collected more than $1,500, including matching funds from French in Acton, from students and their families.

Pictured with Pamela Spitzer, executive director of the MA/RI Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (center back), are French in Acton instructors Cynthia Edelman (left) and Lisa Locklin (right) and their students (left to right): Vivian Shen, Benjamin Simpson, Caroline Caruso, Emma Mangeolle, Noah Ali, Gabby Luciani, Claire Ali, and Natasha Steiner.

Pamela Spitzer, Executive Director of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, visited two French classes to thank students and their families for their participation, as well as explain the basics of this disease. When discussing the vital role of the lungs in this illness, French student Gabby Luciani, age 5 of Acton, gave a concise explanation. "When you breathe in your whole stomach goes out," she said. This led to a discussion of how difficult it is for someone with Cystic Fibrosis to breathe.

The choice of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the beneficiary for this annual fundraiser was an easy one. Cynthia Edelman, Director of French in Acton, has a 13-year-old niece and a 20-year-old nephew with the disease. Edelman noted, "It is interesting to see just how compassionate children can be when they hear about another child who is not able to breathe without constant therapy and daily medication."

To learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to make a contribution, please visit www.cff.org.

French in Acton, located at 42 Davis Road, is a French language school that offers group and individual lessons to students of all ages and abilities. Please visit www.frenchinacton.com for additional information.