MOULTRIE, Ga. — Bonnie Griner’s cystic fibrosis was pretty much diagnosed by her mother.

Griner was 5 and she couldn’t gain weight. Her mother took her to the doctor, who believed she had celiac disease. Since her mother didn’t know what that was — and the internet hadn’t been invented yet — she bought a medical book to learn about celiac disease.

The book was organized alphabetically, and right next to “Celiac Disease” was “Cystic Fibrosis,” so her mom read that entry as well.

One aspect of CF is the person sweats more salt than normal, so the book described a quick CF test.

“The child will taste salty,” Griner said. “She licked me in my sleep and I tasted salty.”

Griner’s mom told the doctor what she’d found, and medical tests confirmed the diagnosis.

That anecdote inspired one of several fund-raisers planned to assist Griner as she seeks a double lung transplant that she hopes will save her life. It’s a cookbook, due out later this year, called “A Taste of Salt.”

Several of Griner’s friends have joined forces with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to raise money to help Griner and others like her. COTA is a non-profit agency, so donations are tax-deductible.

The title of the group includes the word “children” because that’s COTA’s focus, but they also help adults with genetic diseases like CF because those diseases are usually diagnosed in children.

Fund-raising started about a week ago with a Girls Night Out that attracted 200 participants and raised $9,000, according to Karen Thompson, public relations coordinator for the campaign.

“It helps her to be able to go and do this and get well without worry,” Thompson said.

Lacey Herndon, president of the Breathe for Bonnie Campaign, said if the campaign raises $50,000 in the first six months, COTA will add $5,000 to it.

“We already have our calendar jam-packed,” she said.

The money will be used by COTA for transplant-related expenses.

For more information about Griner or to donate to Breathe for Bonnie, visit www.cotaforteambonnieg.com.