As of 2016, there were 6,500 people living with pulmonary fibrosis in Saskatchewan. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressing, scarring lung disease that causes shortness of breath, a cough and lack of oxygen.

Prior to 2017, there were no clinics that specialized in this interstitial lung disease in the province, and residents either had to seek treatment in neighboring provinces or see a basic respirologist in Saskatchewan.

That was until Dr. Veronica Marcoux and Dr. Stacey Lok, both from Saskatchewan, decided to move home and start the province’s first ILD clinic, based out of the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Marcoux says she found funding for the new clinic and was able to hire one part-time nurse.

After demonstration that the clinic was providing positive results, the pair secured enough funding to hire two chest radiologists and a rheumatologist.

When the nurse retired, Dr. Lok and Dr. Shane van Demille joined the practice. On Monday, a part-time nurse will join the team, and Marcoux says that shows how well the clinic is progressing.

“The clinic has been growing really well, and we also provide support to Regina…it’s been a bit of a growth.”

To celebrate the progress that’s been made on fighting the disease, and mark Pulmonary Fibrosis Month, the first ever Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis is taking place in Saskatoon today.

Dr. Marcoux and Dr. Lok decided to host the walk, which took place in Gabriel Dumont Park.

Over 90 people registered for the inaugural walk, and over $6,000 were raised to support the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.