CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Living with Cystic Fibrosis means a near-constant regiment of care. For the past 11 years, supporting people impacted by the disease has been the mission of the Charlottesville’s Finest and Brewer’s Ball, an annual fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“People with CF do very rigorous daily routines to stay healthy,” Beth Saladino, Executive Director of the Virginia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation told Cville Right Now. “They will spend hours in the morning doing therapy, hours in the afternoon and of course if they have an exacerbation or are sick, they increase those therapies.”

In the U.S., about 40,000 people live with cystic fibrosis, Saladino said. It is a recessive genetic disease, meaning both parents must be a carrier, that causes thick mucus in the lungs. The University of Virginia has one of four cystic fibrosis care centers in the Commonwealth. There is one in Richmond and two in the Tidewater region, Saladino said. UVA has both pediatric and adult accredited cystic fibrosis care programs.

“We support them with funding for certain positions in their care team,” Saladino said.

The event started in 2015, at IX Art Park and raised about $72,000, Saladino said. Last year’s iteration brought in about $240,000 and the group hopes to approach or even eclipse that number this year. It has already raised $160,000 for this year.

This year’s event is Thursday from 7-11 p.m. at Ting Pavilion. It will include live music by The Long Way, food and beverage from about 35 vendors and a live and silent auction.

Tickets are $125 a person. Online sales close Wednesday at 9 p.m. but tickets can be purchased the door Thursday, as well.

Each year, the organization selects young professionals out of a group of nominees – Charlottesville’s Finest – to represent the event and raise money for the cause. The Ball serves as a celebration of their efforts.

Josi Williams, who works in commercial real estate and is a local artist, has been this year’s leading fundraiser, bringing in over $23,000 as of Wednesday morning.

“The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation does such incredible work for those affected by cystic fibrosis and their families, and you can see that in the advancements that have been made over the past two decades or so,” Williams told Cville Right Now. “I think it’s really cool to get able to be a part of that. It’s obviously a really great event to be contributing directly to bettering the lives of those people who have CF.”

The Brewer’s Ball itself, Williams said, is a special event for all of Charlottesville.

“This is one of the most fun parties that’s thrown in Charlottesville,” said Williams, who has attended in past years to support other honorees and the cause. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve got lots of family and friends coming in from out of town to celebrate with us. So, I think it’ll be a really good event and I recommend going for anyone who hasn’t bought a ticket yet.”