Tag Archives: Walk for a cure

# Why I Stride 4 CF

9 Jun

It’s been nearly two months since my last post.  I owe you an update on Jody, and I plan to do that soon, but I’d like to use this post to tell you about the CF walk we participated in last month.  Each year the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation holds nearly 600 walks nationwide to raise funds for research and drug development for CF.  They term these walks “Great Strides” events.  One of the things I enjoy the most about this event is being in the presence of so many people who know and understand Cystic Fibrosis.  It seems like almost every day of my life I need to explain CF to someone, and while I’m happy to do so, and consider it a calling of sorts, it’s a relief to be in an environment where I don’t need to do that (even if for just one day).  It was fun to meet other CFer’s and CF caregivers, and to encourage them to press on in their fight against Cystic Fibrosis.

2015 Great StridesB

We walk for a cure for Cystic Fibrosis!

Jody and I would like to thank those of you who joined us for this walk; your support meant more than you know.  Likewise, we are appreciative to all the people who made a donation to our team and ultimately helped those living with CF.  Would you believe this one-day Lancaster Great Strides event raised over $172,600?!  Can you imagine how much is raised nationwide?  This is exciting for those of us that have been touched personally by the work of the CF Foundation and hope for a cure for the disease.

IMG_0220[1]

Team Journey with Jody

 At the walk Jody and I were privileged to say a few brief words and share a portion of Jody’s journey with those in attendance. I am continuously amazed at the reach of Jody’s story and although it has not always been an easy road, I hope that we are able to use it to encourage others. At the walk I was also able to meet a few readers of this blog and it was fun to hear your stories (thank you for introducing yourselves to me). Overall it was a fun morning of hanging out with friends and family, raffles, photos, exercise, lunch, and most of all… supporting a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Below are a few snapshots of the event (click photos to enlarge and read/add comments):

FYI: Per the guidelines of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for outdoor events, people living with Cystic Fibrosis need to maintain a six-foot distance from one another to prevent the spread of bacteria and cross infections. In order to make those with CF easily identifiable at the walk, anyone who has the disease is given a green shirt like the one Jody is wearing and is asked to keep a healthy distance from anyone else with the same green shirt.

We love our CFer
Speaking at the event.
Jody encouraging his fellow CFer’s.
WGAL News 8’s Lori Burkholder was the event emcee.
Our team lead the walk
Walking with friends
Enjoying lunch together after the walk.
She walked (rode the stroller) for her Daddy
#IStride4Jody
Adrienne (left), Executive Director of the Central PA Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Thank you for all your hard work.

 # WeStride4Jody

(and others living with Cystic Fibrosis)

Tags: , ,

We Need A Cure

9 Apr

Cystic Fibrosis.  Do those words have meaning to you?  Is it something you’ve heard of but know little about?  Maybe you’re all too familiar with those two short words?  Or perhaps you’re like most people and have no idea what they mean and the impact they have on one’s life.

Obviously the term, Cystic Fibrosis, carries much meaning for Jody and I.  Actually, I have a love/hate relationship with CF.  I have met so many great people because of this disease and our shared understanding of it.  It’s been neat to see how this blog has connected some of us, something I never would have imagined when I started it.  This disease has allowed me to be a part of a group of fellow CF Wives online and they are a great resource and support when I need it.  I’m also thankful for all the healthcare workers (especially ours) who have made treating people with CF their life’s work.

There are many things I don’t like about this disease, clearly it’s taken us down some difficult paths we would not have chosen for ourselves.  My heart breaks for those I know, or have learned of, who have had lives cut short because of Cystic Fibrosis, and I thank you for sharing those stories with me.  What it boils down to is… WE NEED A CURE!

Jody and I have been asked to participate in the Lancaster area Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Great Strides Walk for CF.  Actually, Jody has been chosen as the Honorary Chairman of the walk and we will be saying a few brief words at the event.  In addition, our team will be leading the walk.  Will you join us?  Great Strides is the foundations largest fundraising event with more than 125,000 people participating, nationwide.  Funds raised support Cystic Fibrosis research and drug development, moving us closer to the cure we so desperately need.  We believe in the work of this foundation because we have been touched by it directly.

We would love to have you join us, team Journey with Jody, for some fun and exercise while supporting a cause that is near and dear to our hearts.  And since Jody is the star of our team, and the honorary chairman of the walk, you’ll be supporting him too.

Click this link to join our team or to make a tax-deductible donation to team Journey with Jody.

DSC_1484A

I’m ready to walk for a cure… are you?

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Sat., May 16th, 2015
Check-in: 9:00 AM
Walk: 10:00 AM
Distance: 5K (approx. 3 miles)
Event Location: Garden Spot High School, New Holland, PA

FYI we will be using the Journey with Jody shirts we sold at our auction as our team shirts.  We have a few left if you are interested in purchasing one.  If you do not have one just wear a black shirt (and only if you’re feeling really crafty, decorate it with your own Journey with Jody lettering).

This is a family friendly event that includes activities for kids.

Here’s a two-minute video of what Great Strides is all about:

 

Tags: , ,

%d bloggers like this: