Hello! 
 

I am honored to announce my selection to the STANDOUT Class of 2024. STANDOUT is a professional development and leadership program of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that each year recognizes young professionals throughout Charlotte for their contributions to the community. In accepting the honor of participating as a STANDOUT, I am raising funds and awareness in the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF). 
 

Here is my WHY... I have a particularly personal connection to CF as I lost my Uncle Rob in 1998 to the disease. Additionally, a number of my family members (myself included) are carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene. For those of you who do not know, in people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria, leading to infections, extensive lung damage, and respiratory failure.  My memories of my uncle consist primarily of him coughing incessantly during every family get together. If certain drugs and therapies that exist today were around when my uncle was suffering, he may still be alive today. 

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has led the way in the fight against CF, fueling extraordinary medical and scientific progress. Working alongside the CF community, the CF Foundation has fostered the development of more than a dozen CF treatments — an unprecedented number in a short span of time — and helped add decades of life for people with CF. Thanks to this work, the life expectancy of someone born with CF has doubled in the last 30 years. 

What I have learned over the years is that CF is a disease that is completely underrepresented. It is my passion to bring more awareness to the foundation so that we can continue to use the necessary resources towards the fight against CF. I am asking for your support in the quest to help find a cure for this devastating disease. Your generous contributions go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world's leader in the search for a cure for CF. The Foundation’s most challenging and important work is still ahead. It will take sustained investment to develop therapies and ultimately a cure for all people living with CF.

Please consider supporting my efforts. There are three ways to help:

Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you for being a vital part of this endeavor and helping me meet my goals!
 

To learn more about cystic fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, visit www.cff.org.