She looks the picture of perfect health.

But every day is a battle for 17-year-old Cara White from Novar Gardens, pictured here with Nathan van Berlo and David Mackay in the Crows' new gym.

In fact Cara has just spent 19 days in isolation in the Women's and Children's Hospital.

The Brighton High student was born with Cystic Fibrosis which is a genetic disease that affects a number of organs in the body (especially the lungs and pancreas) by clogging them with thick, sticky mucus.

Around 300 children in South Australia currently live with the condition and need daily medication to survive.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children.

Twenty years ago the average life expectancy for a child with Cystic Fibrosis was 18 years - today due to the improvements in treatment that age has doubled to 36.

The problem with Cystic Fibrosis is that to the naked eye people living with the condition look okay, so it is a difficult illness for many to understand.

The Crows Foundation recently pledged $10,000 to Cystic Fibrosis SA which has allowed the organisation to provide children living with the condition in SA, a grant to help them afford a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise.

This is critical to the survival of children with cystic fibrosis because it exercises their lungs.

Cara has chosen to take out a membership at the GoodLife gym on Anzac Highway and works out regularly.

Other children with the condition have purchased sporting equipment such as footballs, tennis racquets or even a back yard trampoline or exercise bike.

The Crows Foundation raises funds for children in need and since May 2005 has raised more than $400k for more than 25 children's charities through out SA.

The Foundation, the charity arm of the AFC, raises funds throughout the year by way of can rattles at games, functions and this year through the hugely successful sales of the "Bunji" panda bears.

Last week was yet another milestone in Cara's life.

Last year she saw David Mackay on television and quite taken with his looks, she urned to her friends and said one day I will meet that man.

Last week she did! And didn't it put a huge smile on this amazingly courageous young girl's face!