My CF Climb Story

Several years ago, my niece Anna got a "gently used" pair of replacement lungs. They changed her life dramatically.  From someone who rarely participated in activities, she became the person who always said "sure, I'll go", or "yeah, let's do that".  We got to spend a week with her around this time, and she was gloriously active in a way we hadn't seen since she was five.

Anna suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that strikes approximately 30,000 Americans - moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends and co-workers who struggle every day just to breathe. Like Anna always did.  Until research, generous donations, and an unknown organ donor made her new life possible.

Despite everything positive, Anna's body reacted to her anti-rejection regimen with a form of cancer that occurs only in organ recipients.  Then she got diabetes.  And so on...

One day, just sitting watching TV, Anna's sister Grace said to her, "Anna, if you were a car, you'd be a lemon".  And the nickname "Anna the Lemon" was born.  Hence the team name, Anna's Lemon Aides.

I'll be climbing in my purple "Anna the Lemon" T-shirt.  Look for me at Coors Field trying to pretend I'm 40, not 60.

Real progress has been made, for Anna and others with CF.  But the lives of all people with CF are difficult starting from birth, and are cut far too short... because there still is no cure. We can help make their lives better, and by participating in CF Climb, we are helping add tomorrows to the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis.

Will you join us?

Support those coping with CF by making a donation to our CF Climb fundraising campaign today!  Your gift will help "add tomorrows" for Anna, Piper, and many more.