Jenny Adams

                    Walk Check-In 10:00AM

        Opening Ceremonies Start at 11:00AM

56 years ago, I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 9 months of age. My parents were told by doctors not to get “to attached” as I would not live to see my second birthday. (1 in 30,000 births results in a child being born with CF) My failure to thrive and mucus plugged body was a breeding ground for infection. I spent most of my childhood at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, WA. My pediatrician (Dr. Paul Gerstmann) had a very long graying beard; I always referred to him as Dr. Whiskers. While in the hospital I missed my brothers especially my twin brother Scott, (who does not have CF). The only time I got to see my brothers was when Scott and I had our birthday parties in the cafeteria. I managed to attend enough school at Purdy Elementary to keep up and move onto middle school at Goodman. I was always told by my parents that I could do anything I put my mind to, so that’s what I did. It started with track and basketball in middle school, then onto track, basketball, and weight lifting and powderpuff football in high school, at Peninsula High School, all things not possible without the CF Foundation and the continued new medications constantly coming out of the pipeline. The foundation stood by me through high school graduation and down the aisle when I married the love of my life for 37 years, Jeff.

I participated in my first Great Strides 29 years ago. The walk was in Seattle, and it was a long way from the area I grew up in and got my care in. I decided to start a walk closer to home and it is still going to this day. I have always benefited from the work the foundation doe, because of money raised at Great Strides it provided me with hope for a future, something I never thought I would have as a child. Much of my adult years were spent in and out of the hospital (Tacoma General & UofW Medical Center).In 2011 my doctors delivered the devastating news that I needed a double lung transplant. During the 5 years that I was on the waiting list for my transplant, more new medications came that kept me alive. Finally on April 22, 2016, I received a double lung transplant, the effects were immediate. The early years were tough but I’m now almost 8 years post-transplant and life is good.

For more than 30 years, Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations largest national fundraising event has supported the Foundations mission to cure cystic fibrosis, raise awareness for this rare, genetic, life-shortening disease that makes it difficult to breathe and shortens lives.  Great Strides provides a fantastic opportunity for family, friends, students, and colleagues to come together and make a difference in the lives of people with CF (like me). The event harnesses the power of people with a shared vision and encourages collaboration, team building, and leadership, as we collectively take steps to find a cure.

Registration is free. Nearly every CF drug has been made possible because of funds raised from events like Great Strides. CF'ers (what we call ourselves) are living longer, healthier lives and pursuing our dreams, like me, at 56 years young. I'm living and fulfilling my lifetime of dreams, pretty darn exciting!

We are working every day to build on this incredible momentum, and we won't stop until there is a cure for all people living with CF.

Then CF will stand for CUREFOUND!

Get your family together and join TEAM JENNY on Saturday May 4th as we take steps towards a cure, while having a great time walking 3 miles on the paved Cushman Trail. Enjoy lunch after the walk (by BJ's Restaurant) a fun raffle, live music and much more.
The time is now. Together, we can cross the finish line.

I AM SO GRATEFUL, for 28 years that The Rush Companies has been standing (walking) right along beside me as the presenting sponsor of Great Strides.