Hi! Welcome to my fundraising page.
 

I am honored to be an honoree for Chicago’s Magnificent Event 2024, a special event recognizing outstanding professionals in my community. As an honoree, I am participating in a 10-week fundraising competition to see who can raise the most money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The funds raised will help the Foundation achieve its mission of curing cystic fibrosis (CF) and providing all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives.
 

A little bit about my involvement with the foundation: I started working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2016, thanks to a colleague and now close friend who has two beautiful daughters with CF. He convinced me to join what I thought was a short hike to raise money for a good cause. Little did I know it was a 34-mile ‘xtreme’ hike across a section of the Appalachian Trail! Despite swearing I'd never hike that much in one day again, I went on to do another extreme fundraising hike in 2017 and then the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike in 2019. After that first hike and meeting the incredible CF community, I couldn't stop getting involved. If you think hiking 34 miles in one day or the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim is tough, it's nothing compared to what those with CF go through every day.
 

When I moved to Chicago, I got involved with the local CF chapter and ended up co-chairing the inaugural Chicago's Magnificent Gala in 2019 at the Adler Planetarium. Since then, I've been part of the planning committee every year, including our virtual events in 2020 and 2021. Each year, I said I'd one day be on the other side as an honoree competing in the event - and finally, I'm doing it!
 

The efforts of this foundation and its volunteers have been incredible. Since I joined in 2016, I've witnessed the tremendous impact of our fundraising on the science needed to develop new therapies and, ultimately, a cure. The creation of Trikafta has been a game-changer for many living with CF, but there are still so many who can't benefit from it.
 

Nearly 40,000 people in the United States have cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Sixty years ago, children with CF usually did not live long enough to attend elementary school. Today, because of Foundation-supported research and care, the median survival age of people with CF is over 50.
 

We will continue to fight and fundraise until CF stands for Cure Found, for everyone.
 

Please help me meet my fundraising goal by making a donation. Your contribution will help us in our journey to kick CF’s butt!
 

To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with cystic fibrosis. Thank you so much in advance for your support!


-Katarina