Northborough – When Jeff Congdon died of Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2001, many people in town lost a good friend and neighbor. Congdon grew up here and owned the Exxon station at the corner of Main and Hudson streets for many years. Those who knew him remember a family man who loved to fish in Ogunquit, Maine, and eat breakfast at Chet's Diner.
Little is known about Pulmonary Fibrosis. Researchers have not determined the cause of the disease, and there is no cure. Yet Pulmonary Fibrosis kills as many people each year as breast cancer.

   Congdon's daughter, Heather Lippert, will honor her father's memory with a Pulmonary Fibrosis fund-raiser at the Applefest Street Fair Saturday, Sept. 18. Her booth will feature donated items to be raffled, free face-painting for children, and, most importantly, information about Pulmonary Fibrosis. Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease characterized by scarring of the lungs. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, particularly with exertion; a chronic dry, hacking cough; fatigue and weakness; discomfort in the chest; loss of appetite; and rapid weight loss. Average life expectancy following diagnosis is five years, and the disease is always fatal. Most patients are in their 40s or 50s when diagnosed.
   Because so little is understood about Pulmonary Fibrosis, the disease is often misdiagnosed. Delays in diagnosis can keep patients from treatments that might prolong their lives. For example, some patients might benefit from lung transplants; early diagnosis increases their chances of this being possible.

   Lippert wants people to know about Pulmonary Fibrosis because, when her father was diagnosed, little information was available. Even his doctors did not seem familiar with the disease and had difficulty making a definitive diagnosis.  Lippert hopes to save other families the frustration her family experienced when her father was diagnosed and they had difficulty even obtaining information about the disease. She also hopes that some patients might prolong their lives with early diagnosis and that someday a cure will be found.

   The money raised will benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, which is working to fund research and to support patients.  Raffle tickets will be sold at the Applefest for $1. Raffle items include a baseball signed by Red Sox great Luis Tiante; five, three-month memberships with uniforms from U.S. Tae Kwon Do Center; a Longaberger basket from Christine Giamei; a gift basket from Wicked Good Cookies; an 18-inch pedestal fan from O'Brien's 5 & 10; a bracelet from Sarah Frederick of Bead Combers; a child's scooter and helmet, donated by the Lippert family; and gift certificates from Bella Salon, Trombetta's Flower Shop, Lowe's Variety and Meat Shop, Moonstones, the Royal Academy for Music, Julio's Liquors, and East Main Automotive Service.

   Lippert also is accepting donations. She has received $500 donations from ReMax of Northborough and from Dolan, Maloney, and Melfa Insurance and Financial Service of Westborough. Checks payable to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation can be sent to Heather Lippert, 7 Bummet Brook Circle, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Lippert can be reached at (774) 249-1690 for further information or to purchase raffle tickets in advance of Applefest.

   The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's web site (www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org) provides information about symptoms, treatments, patient support and research.