Beach music fans got treated to a concert for a good cause at the first Salt Air Jam held at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex, to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and that is something close to the organizers hearts

“Cystic fibrosis is sometimes called the silent disease, it’s hard to tell by looking at a patient that they have CF,” said Jeff Gilder, one of the founders of Salt Air Jam and the grandfather of 5 year old Eli.

“We didn’t really know a lot about cystic fibrosis until Eli was born and he was diagnosed at birth with CF,” said Gilder.

He takes upwards of 25 pills a day, eats a special high fat – high protein diet and has two daily breathing treatments.

When asked about his treatment Eli said, “I have to do all kinds of medicine and stuff.”

“You just have to put it on and you have to breathe all the medicine in and then breathe it out,” said Eli.

He is aware of his ailment and very comfortable around people talking about his treatments.

According to Gilder, “those breathing treatments that Eli takes are the basic type of air that’s right above the ocean,” and that’s how the concert got it’s name.

“A lot of families bring their children to the Myrtle Beach area and the coast because the salt air is easier to breath,” said Jim Quick, the lead singer of the Coastline Band and another Salt Air Jam founder who was touched by Eli’s story.

“And it’s close to my heart, it runs in my family, the genes do,” said Quick.

He says he couldn’t be more pleased seeing hundreds of fans listening to live music and enjoying the atmosphere

“I’ve been a part, with Coastline Band, of a bunch of first time beach music festivals; and I’ve never seen so many people out for the first one. This is unbelievable,” said Quick.

Tiffany Boyd is one of those fans who traveled to the Grand Strand specifically to see the show.

“Me and my friends like to travel across the Carolinas to see beach music a little bit of everywhere and this is for a good cause,” said Boyd.

It’s something Gilder hopes will continue to grow, “our concept with this event was to raise enough money to establish a foundation that would run similar events from now on to benefit cystic fibrosis.”

Organizers say the concert was a success and they have already secured the second weekend in June next year for the second annual Salt Air Jam.For more on Cystic Fibrosis, visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation