Our smart, beautiful, bubbly niece Lacy Bonner was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was just 8 months old, weighing only 10 pounds and struggling to survive. In 2010 when my husband and I learned that we would soon give birth to our first child, we also found out that we are both carriers of CF genetic mutations, such that each of our children will have a 25% chance of being born with CF as well. Praise the Lord, our son Eli was born free from CF, but all of our future children will face that same risk.
CF is a genetic disease that affects the mucus membranes of the body, most notably the lungs and pancreas. In the lungs, thick sticky mucus builds up, traps bacteria and causes infection and the accumulation of lung damage over time. In the pancreas, the same stubborn mucus clogs the ducts that deliver necessary enzymes to the digestive tract, hindering proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit my Cystic Fibrosis Page or www.cff.org.
As a result of the incredible strides that have been made in CF research and therapies, Lacy is now an active 12 year old girl, excelling in school, enjoying friends and family, and staying healthy. The CF Foundation is a generous funding source for much of the research that has contributed to Lacy's success story. Thanks to the Foundation, ground-breaking new drugs and therapies are emerging that give my husband and I renewed hope for the future of our children. It is through the generous support of CF families and their friends that the Foundation is able to so actively support research and the search for a cure!
Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fundraising event. This year, I'm walking in the Great Strides walk at the Hunt Valley walk on May 6th. Please help me meet my fundraising goal of $500 by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.
Making a donation is easy and secure! Just visit my Great Strides Fundraising page to make a donation that will be credited to my team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with CF! Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and Great Strides!
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