Audrey's Angels

Audrey's Angels Team was started in 1999 when a small group of us walked at the Southwick Zoo in Mendon Mass in honor of my daughter Audrey Clark, age 5. We started our own walk site in Shelburne Falls in 2000.

This year, we walk to raise money in memory of Audrey, who passed away 8/8/19 at the age of 25. No family should have to go through what we have. Please honor Audrey's wishes in helping to raise money and awareness by joining our team so that someday, a cure for CF can be found.

From Audrey's obituary:

     On August 8, 2019, a bright light went out as Audrey Clark, age 25, of Shelburne, passed away, a month and half shy of her 10th anniversary of her second double-lung transplant. She was best known for her bad sense of humor and sarcasm, her “literalness” and her compassion for others. She persevered through all the struggles that came her way from Cystic Fibrosis (CF). She surpassed all the expectations from her various medical teams, always forging forward.
     After her first double-lung transplant in 2007, the month before her 13th birthday, Audrey built a snowman, learned how to ride a bike and enjoyed swimming (things she couldn’t do with her failing lungs). When she rejected the transplanted lungs two years later, she declined quickly and had a trache placed to help her breathe. When the call for the second double-lung transplant came in 2009, she had just walked many laps around the hospital unit, after getting her trache downsized to a mobile unit.
     After her second transplant, Audrey was able to graduate from Franklin County Technical’s Carpentry program and go on to Greenfield Community College to earn her Business Certificate of Management. Audrey’s dream was to own her own woodworking business. While at the Tech school, she did lots of projects in the Carpentry department – some bigger ones were helping install the gym floor, making picnic tables for a senior housing project and a futon, tv stand, and coffee table for home use. She loved building with her hands. Along with woodworking, she also created jewelry that was sold to raise money to find a cure for CF, which started as a church project.
     Her variety of handiwork earned her prize ribbons, including state rosettes from both the local Shelburne Grange Fair and the larger Franklin County Fair. Another project was starting an Etsy business – Ladies_of_the_Ring with two friends with partial proceeds benefitting Canine Companions for Independence. Up until her passing, you would see her with some project in hand while doing her treatments, attending church, military band concerts, plays, etc.
     Audrey was a go-getter despite her genetic disorder. She chose to live life despite what it threw her way. Many remember her as a good friend willing to lend an ear.
     Always wanting to help others and help find a cure, Audrey donated her body to medical research and hopes one day a cure for CF will be found.

There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. They are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends and co-workers who struggle every day just to breathe. I walk for them and hope you will support me in my efforts.

Real progress has been made in the search for a cure, but the lives of people with CF are still cut far too short. There still is no cure for this devastating disease. By walking today, we are helping add tomorrows to the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis. Will you join us? Join our team and help raise funds to find a cure!

Great Strides is a fun, family-friendly event that raises awareness and support for people with CF and their families.

Please join us!

Sincerely,

Sandra Gaffey, Chair