For over a decade now, I've been raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. I first learned of this disease when my youngest brother was born, and the doctors thought he had CF. In high school, many of my friends had CF, and every year our school had a fundraising dance to raise money. Beyond that, our swim team would hold a 5k swim-a-thon every year on New Year's Eve, and we would raise money by the lap to help find a cure. Now, I serve on the Finest Committee in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and I'm honored to continue this lifesaving work.

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. Working alongside the CF community, the CF Foundation has fostered the development of more than a dozen CF treatments and helped add decades of life for people with CF. Yet, many people with CF do not benefit from existing therapies. Our vision is a cure for every person with cystic fibrosis – a life free from the burden of this disease – and we will not leave anyone behind.

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 for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation!