Welcome to My Great Strides

Our Family got involved with the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation in 2004 after my sister, Susan and her husband, John's son, Jack was diagnosed with CF.  With neither our family or my brother-law's family having any history of this disease, Susan and John sought information from the CF Foundation.

After suffering from CF-related complications, Jack passed away peacefully with his Mom and Dad by his side at the young age of 6.    Jack was a hero to our entire family and brought us days of laughter,   joy and memories that will last a lifetime.

To honor Jack our family works hard to raise funds to find a cure for CF.  We do this in a variety of fun-filled exciting events, from Celebrity Happy Hours, to the Great Strides Walk and Pizzapalooza, there is something for everyone.  So join us, have a great time and know that you are doing something wonderful at the same time. 

On behalf of our entire family, we thank you and hope to see you soon at an upcoming event.

      In Honor of Jack

9/8/2002-10/24/2008 

ABOUT CF:

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

• very salty-tasting skin;
• persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
• frequent lung infections;
• wheezing or shortness of breath;
• poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
• frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics

• About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
• More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
• More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
• The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years

For more information about Cystics Fibrosis, please visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org