Great Strides 2022
For the past three years, I have had the honor of working for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In June 2019, I attended my first Great Strides walk. Little did I know at the time that it would be the only Great Strides that I have attended in person since becoming Executive Director of the San Diego Chapter. I have met some incredible families and in the short time I’ve been with CFF, watched lives change because of drugs and therapies that have been brought to the market. Groundbreaking therapies, that were a direct result of fundraising dollars that had been so generously given years ago. The end of 2019 was wonderfully optimistic with the approval of Trikafta (a therapy that works to fix the underlying cause of CF), which would come to benefit more than 90% of the CF population. The CF Foundation also announced “Path to a Cure” which is an ambitious research agenda that will focus on ways to help those in the last 10% and ultimately, find a CURE for cystic fibrosis.
While all of this is immensely positive, COVID came and struck at a time when the work to continue fundraising was the most vital. It also granted me the opportunity to experience some of what people with CF deal with every day. All of the infection control protocols that were put in place for us at the start of the pandemic, are ones that have always been a part of the lives of those with CF. The hand washing, social distancing, mask wearing, having to stay home if someone is sick, the anxiety of getting sick… none of this was new to the CF families that I know. This past year has taught me a lot about health, family and what it means to experience life. I hate the thought that once this pandemic is “over,” life will go back to normal for most of us but there are still people living with CF who will not be able to escape the reality of disease and uncertainty. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has proven that research works, and results are driven by continued funding and science. This is why I contine my fundraising efforts and I hope you can join me. Thank you so much!
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IMPORTANT NOTE ON ATTENDANCE AT FOUNDATION EVENTS:
Updated June 15, 2022. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 the Foundation is taking steps to host safe events for our community. Please be advised that events may be subject to change at any time based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials.
To minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection, we ask that attendees at CF Foundation events follow these steps:
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