MAXimum Effort

As many of you know, our family started fundraising when Max was about four, doing the Great Strides walk in Colorado Springs for several years. When he was five, he wrote his first “appeal,” a hand-printed postcard.

As the years went on, we did other events, including several years of Cycle for Life (formerly Ride for 65 Roses) and the Stair Climb at Mile High Stadium.

Even with the responsibilities of work, marriage and family, and the constant work to maintain his health, Max continued to support the CF Foundation with his annual update letters. Many of you have commented over the years how much those letters have meant. Bob and I hope we can continue the tradition, although we will never be able to match Max’s eloquence as he wrote about his CF journey.

The event we have chosen to do this year is the Denver Great Strides walk on May 11. Max, Kristen, Theo, (who will turn four on May 28), Bob, and Jan will represent Team MAXimum Effort that day. It’s so amazing to us (miraculous even), that what we started with Max when he was four we are continuing with the new generation

No doubt you would like to know how Max’s health is! Here is what he says:

The past year has been good! Steady. Our family finally got COVID for the first time last August and we were all extremely grateful that all three of us had relatively mild cases after years of worry and lots of vaccines. While we still all navigate the rollercoaster of a budding preschool immune system (thanks, Theo!) I have fortunately been very quick to avoid or recover from the toddler gunk that consumes our living space.

The impact of the newest CF drug, Trikafta, which I started in November of 2019, cannot be understated. It has provided us with a new peace of mind that we didn’t know was possible just 5 years ago. That momentum and excitement is what fuels the importance of continuing the research done by the CF foundation that is largely funded by fundraising like this and your generosity.

All of this makes me think of wise words from James Clear, the author of one of my favorite books, Atomic Habits: “Live with a bias towards action. Ironically, this will teach you patience. When you take action each day, you learn the value of accumulating small improvements over time. You understand how daily habits compound. Be impatient with your actions. Be patient with your results."

Patience is paying off.


We invite you to join us in continuing the fight. Just click any of the “donate” buttons on this page, or send a check payable to CFF Rocky Mtn Great Strides to 

Winkler, 123 Inca St, Denver CO 80223.

Thank you for sharing this journey with us.


With loving gratitude,
The Winkler Family