Gretchen Nichting

GREAT STRIDES, a Walk supporting the CF Foundation, will take place at Brier Creek Park, Morrisville, Saturday, May 20th 2023 . We, along with Allison, other families, care providers, friends and spirited supporters will be "making strides" on May 20th, we ask that you support our effort, and the 2023 GREAT STRIDES Walk.

Allison is in her 4th year at University of South Carolina where she is majoring in Nursing. This past year, she has successfully managed clinicals 2-3 days a week as well as her health and CF regimen of daily vest  treatments, breathing treatments and oral medications throughout the day. In May, Allison will begin a 10 week summer internship at Duke University Medical Center working in the Pediatric unit.

Since starting Trikafta( (elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor), a triple combination therapy available to treat patients who have at least one F508del mutation, which is estimated to represent 90% of the CF population)in September 2019, Allison has been very healthy.  No hospitalizations since July 2019 and a few viruses requiring oral antibiotics. In December 2022, her lung function test were the highest they have been in years...FEV1 of 102%!  Trikafta really has been a game changer for Allison and so many others fighting Cystic Fibrosis. 

It has been a challenging and incredible journey since diagnosis March 1, 2001, learning and seeing very encouraging advances over the last 22years. With continued support, we are confident research will progress at a similar pace and the rarest CF gene mutations will be addressed, including Allison's.

2023 Goals-help us build on the successes of previous years, raise awareness, continuing our efforts to fund the research for therapies providing a higher quality of life and treat the root cause of CF; let's advance research to address rare and specific mutations. We need your support in helping those with CF reach the milestones that many take for granted, and increase the median age of those with CF. Let's help CF kids and adults breathe easy.

Please support me!

Help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to my Great Strides fundraising campaign. Your gift will help add tomorrows to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis by supporting life-saving research and medical progress. Your gift is 100-percent tax deductible.