Madison Rhea

My Great Strides Story

Madison was born Sept 3, 2010 and just 18 days later she was diagnosed with CF.  I could sit and tell you about that day and everything that has happened since but you can read that on my page.  I want to tell you about the person who has launched this team into the fight to find a cure for CF.

Madison is 13, which is hard to believe, and in 8th grade which is her last year of middle school.  If you know Madison, you know she is such a sweet girl with a personality like no other.  She has made a huge impact on this family, in so many ways, from the day she was born.  She has such a kind heart and to know her is to love her.  

Madison is my girly girl.  She is all about skin care, makeup, hair styles, and nails.  At almost any given time, you will find her sitting at her vanity trying out a new look or just giving her face some special care.  She is a huge Taylor Swift fan, and I mean HUGE!!  Just walk into her room and you will see the proof.  She also adores her pets, Shadow, Ginger, and Roscoe, and any other animal she meets.  If it was up to her our house would be over run with all kinds of pets.  

I can't tell you about Madison without talking about the very close circle of friends she has made over the years.  Some have been with her since elementary school and others came into her life in middle school.  Every evening you can hear Madison laughing for hours on the phone with these girls, and it makes this mom's heart very happy.  

You might read this and think "she sounds like a typical 13 year old" and she is.  However, what you don't see is what makes her special to us.  She meets CF head on every day and it rarely stops her.  Seeing what she endures is what makes her special and unique.  We celebrate the little things that makes her (and I hate this word) normal.  As you can see Cystic Fibrosis doesn't define who she is, rather she defines how it effects her.  

In the past 13 years, so many advances have been made to better the quality of life for CF patients.  This could not have been possible without fundraising, donations, research, and the dedicated work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  In closing we ask you join in the fight to help us one day cure Cystic Fibrosis so that Madison, and so many more like her, doesn't have to worry about the behind the scene footage of their life.  

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. By participating in Great Strides, I am helping to end this disease for thousands of people impacted by CF.

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and as people with CF live longer than ever before, their disease can become more complicated, leading to serious health issues.  

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made extraordinary progress — including fostering the development of more than a dozen CF treatments — but these treatments are not a cure and not everyone can benefit from them. We must keep going.

Your support makes a difference.

By donating to my fundraising goal, you will help advance our mission for a cure for all. Please consider joining us and helping make CF stand for Cure Found.