Body builder competes with CF

Now to the incredible story of a Guelph man who has pushed his body to the absolute limit, against all odds. James Cameron has cystic fibrosis. You may visualize him in a hospital bed, but he spends most of his time at the gym. And he’s preparing to compete in Canada’s largest body building competition.

Competitive bodybuilding is stressful on a healthy body. Working your muscles beyond their physical limit. But imagine hitting the gym after downing a cocktail of medications you rely on to keep you living. That’s what James Cameron does every day — and he’s glad to be alive to do it.

James Cameron has always been an athletic guy. As a kid, he didn’t let his cystic fibrosis stop him from playing as hard as anyone else: “When I’m hanging out with my friends I’d pretend I never had CF. It’s just be like, I would just cough. Something would come up and I’d just spit it to the side and they’d say, what’s wrong with you? And I’d say, hey, just asthma, don’t worry about it, let’s go. Boom boom boom, play hockey, do whatever.”

The genetic disease can reduce lung capacity to almost nothing. Most patients don’t live past their mid-forties.

James says: “You’re trying to do every day things like walk up the stairs and then you’re out of breath.”

After years of suffering and countless hospital visits, a lung infection nearly killed him when he was 23: “I was just ready to go. And then all of a sudden, boom, lungs came.”

A double lung transplant saved his life and made him strong enough to chase a lifelong passion — body building.

On top of a regular athlete’s regime, Cameron takes nearly a dozen medications. A simple cold could derail him.

Scars proudly bared, he competed in his first provincial body building contest this spring. Placing fifth, he qualified for the nationals this fall.

But for him and his supporters, medals don’t matter.

Jackie Cooper is James’ girlfriend: “Because for him, and for me and everybody else, he’s already won. Cause he’s on stage. So it’s pretty impressive.”

James says: “Whatever happens, happens. And I enjoy it and I had fun getting there. And that’s it.”

Cameron knows his sport isn’t for everyone, especially not everyone with cystic fibrosis. But he’s become an incredible support for CF sufferers who still want to be physically active. He says the key is finding what you’re good at and just enjoying it.