My Xtreme Hike Story

This year marks the 11th 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 over $1.64 million through grass-roots fundraising in 11 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 – not just young children but teens and adults with CF. 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.

So now my “why”. Well, my daughter is marrying him – 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. We are at a pivotal moment in the history of cystic fibrosis and your support matters. 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!

Did you know there are approximately 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis? They are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and friends who struggle every day just to breathe. 

Real progress has been made for those who have CF, but there is still no cure for this devastating disease and many lives are cut far too short. We’ve come so far, but there’s still so much work to do. We will not leave anyone behind.