If you look at any list of the attractions that make Grand Rapids a great place to be, no doubt that list will include Grand Rapids’s top-notch breweries, consistently rated among the city’s best consumer attractions. Grand Rapids even snagged the title of Beer City, USA in 2014. One of its breweries, Founders Brewing Co., was named as the third best brewery in the world, and several others have also put Grand Rapids on the map for beer enthusiasts.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 15 local breweries, wineries and cider mills, including Michigan’s first combined coffee shop and brewery, Essential Bean Coffee and Pub, and the renowned Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids will be combining their fall tastes with a good cause. On Saturday, September 26 at the Deltaplex Arena, Grand Rapids is launching a “Cheers to Michigan Brew Fest” hosted by Friends and Families of Cystic Fibrosis (FFCF), a West Michigan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money in support of those in West Michigan who suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (often shortened to CF) is a genetic and life-threatening disorder that clogs the lungs and can cause serious lung infections, affecting other organs, like the intestines, along the way. Most cases of CF are diagnosed before the age of two years, and the predicted age of survival averages around 30 years. Though modern medicine and therapies have improved the lifespan and living conditions of individuals with CF, there is still a long way to go. On top of all the health complications, breathing treatment equipment, medicine and frequent hospital visits are expensive, and many CF patients also take the route of undergoing single or double lung transplants. While this is undoubtedly beneficial to their health, the transplants themselves and post-operation hospital stays cost a great sum of money, which can be difficult on families that are already dealing with the difficult emotions that come with having a chronically sick friend or family member.

The “Cheers to Michigan Brew Fest” exists to spread awareness and support families experiencing the pain of CF. This is FFCF’s first year sponsoring the event, but they hope that this will continue, said FFCF volunteer Dayna Watson during an interview on local news segment Take 5. All the proceeds will stay local and will help young adults and children in Michigan who suffer from CF. Not only will this be a chance for many of West Michigan’s breweries, wineries and cider mills to show off their fall tastes, but the event will also include games and live music to keep the atmosphere fun and upbeat. Currently, the band line-up includes such names as Fast Hands Blues Band, Jesse Cline and Michael Carnavo, Forrester, Pop Cult and Fled Five. All bands will have 40-minute sets, and the entertainment will be DJed by Grand Rapids DJ Jason Veeder.

Advance tickets are $35 through the FFCF website, or $45 at the door. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, and, in the case of inclement weather, will move inside the Deltaplex Area.