IVF Opportunity - Cystic Fibrosis

Hello, my name is Ryan Sparkes. I have a genetic chronic illness called Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which affects several of my organs, including my reproductive system. Living with CF I face daily challenges, but I always aim to stay positive and accomplish my goals. I have continued to maintain active, I play the trumpet, and recently I graduated from university with a 1st in photography.  In 2018, I met my fiancée Rebecca and I proposed to her in June 2019. We would love to have a child of our own but living with CF presents us with another hurdle. My fiancée and I could only become pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and this is only possible by raising money.
 
When I was younger, I was told there was a chance I was infertile. However, 97-98% of CF men are infertile because of a blockage or absence of the sperm canal, unfortunately I am one of these individuals. In total we will need approximately £18,200 for a chance of having a family together. Since I have CF, I will need a specific surgical sperm retrieval (MICRO-TESE) before we can start our IVF journey. This operation alone costs around £4,000.
 
Some counties have an NHS fund to give couples between 1-3 free rounds of IVF. However, our county of Cambridgeshire, the birthplace of IVF no longer offers funding. We find ourselves in a postcode lottery where we are not so lucky. We have appealed twice to the NHS to fund our IVF, contacted our local MP, and received support letters from my CF specialist team. Despite this, our appeals were declined both times. I am disappointed by the lack of support for IVF from our country, and now I must personally fight for the opportunity to start my own family.

We would like to start our IVF journey as soon as possible while I am young and healthy. We appreciate any and every donation, however big or small!