Tonia Everritt

My Great Strides Story

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. One of those people is my granddaughter 

Madelyn Jae Sherman

She is 5 years old. When she was born just 3 days old she had to have surgery and the doctors found out she had Cystic Fibrosis. Her father (my son) and mother did not know there were carriers. They had a little girl who was just a year old. So it was a shock to us all. My daughter in law was given all kinds of information and so started the long journey learning to understand what was happening to our beautiful baby girl. 

Madelyn is doing very well these days. She is a very vibrant little girl. She likes bold colors, and loves to sit and talk. She loves to dance, and is very sociable. I don't think she has ever met a stranger.

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.