My Xtreme Hike Story

My Hike Story:

I will never forget the day back in 2021 when my barn bestie Kristen told me that her newborn baby girl Jasmine was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth through newborn screening.  We were sitting in the bed of my barn truck enjoying our usual Saturday post-barn Dunkin’ brunch when Kristen said she had something to tell me and hoped she could say it without crying.  I watched as my incredibly strong friend took a deep breath and said that Jasmine had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis through her newborn screening.  I quietly listened as she explained the intimate details of her daughter’s diagnosis.  This was the second time I had heard about CF.  I have an acquaintance who is an adult living with CF, and I remembered being told that the person beat the odds by living into their 30s due to all of the recent medical advancements available for CF patients.  Naively, I immediately told Kristen that Jasmine was going to be okay.  I told her about the adult acquaintance of mine who is living with CF and got them connected so that she could ask questions to someone living with this disease.

As Jasmine turned one years old, Kristen decided she wanted to fundraise in Jasmine’s name for the CF Foundation and create a team for their 15-mile Xtreme Hike in Sedona.  Though raising money was unchartered territory for Kristen, she wanted to give back to the foundation that was there for her from the moment Jasmine was diagnosed.  When she told me her plan, I offered to be part of her team.  CF will always be a part of her life, and I plan to always be a part of Kristen and Jasmine’s life, so I was in!

Fast forward to 2024, this June will be our third Xtreme hike and our first time taking on the Grand Canyon 25-mile rim-to-rim hike.  Being a part of the CF Foundation hikes and fundraising has been a humbling and fulfilling experience with lifelong connections made each step of the way.  We have met so many others with family members/friends affected by this disease.  The best part is watching my barn bestie be surrounded by a supportive community that understands what she and Jasmine go through each day.

When I first started this journey, I was hiking for Jasmine.  Now, I hike for each person in the past/present/future who are diagnosed with CF, as well as their friends and family too!  I am proud to support a foundation that has made such huge strides in medical advancements so that children like Jasmine born today with CF can live a longer, healthier life.  I am hopeful that there will be a cure in Jasmine’s lifetime.

Jasmine turns three this spring, and she is doing great thanks to the help of recent CF medications approved by the FDA for infants (ORKAMBI and TRIKAFTA) in the past year.

Thank you to everyone who has donated and will donate to our fundraiser.  I am touched by those who have personally reached out to me to share their connection to CF.  While your donations mean a lot to me, I know how much more it means to Kristen, Jasmine, and all the families affected by this disease.

Thank you for supporting team Breathe Easy Jaz!  We will keep hiking Until It’s Done!

Words from the Foundation:

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. By participating in Xtreme Hike, I am helping to end this disease for thousands of people impacted by CF.

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.