My Xtreme Hike Story

This year marks the 13th year of the annual Gateway Xtreme Hike for Cystic Fibrosis. Since the beginning, anywhere from 35-65 hikers have taken on the grueling task of training in Missouri’s heat and humidity and then coming together to hike 30.1 miles in one day in September. We have raised close to $2 million through grass-roots fundraising in 13 years! Here’s the best part: your support and generosity have tangible results. In 2019, Trikafta was released and has truly given people with CF a new lease on life and is allowing them to reach milestones once thought not possible - getting married, starting careers, and having families of their own. This miracle drug improves lung function and many CF symptoms have diminished or disappeared. How incredible is that? In my “ask” letter in 2017, the median life expectancy was 44. Today, it is 56. In six years over a decade has been added to the lifespan of a person with CF. This is partly because of YOUR love and support; for that, I am so abundantly grateful.

My “why”. Well, my daughter married him this January – David Stolz. We love David and want to do everything in our power to make sure David and others with CF live long full lives. With your help, we can invest our resources in research today, while raising funds for tomorrow, to ensure we have what it takes to reach the finish line. Your continued support brings us one step closer to making CF stand for Cure Found. Until then, we will keep hiking.
Thank you!