My Breathe Team Story
Maureen Perlette
Fundraising for 2027 Walt Disney World Marathon
Maureen Perlette
There is a cause that is near and dear to my heart; it is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. While Jill did not realize a pot of gold at the end of her rainbow, CF patients were given new hope when the new drug Trikafta received FDA approval in October 2019. My good friend Cindy Pericak has a daughter Ashley who will turn 42 this November and Trikafta has changed her life. Cindy and I met at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo when Ashley was a new born, and we have been close with the Pericak Family for over 41 years.
CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
We participated for years in CF Great Strides, a 5K walk, to raise money for the CF Foundation. COVID put a damper on that by going to virtual walks which just weren’t the same as walking with family and friends. This year I will once again lace up my sneakers and head to Disney World to do an 5K for the CF foundation and cheer on longtime family friend Brooke Pericak who is Ashley’s sister and will be running the Dopey Challenge — 48.6 miles over four days (5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon) in memory of Jill and in celebration of Ashley.
I am fundraising in memory of Jill and to celebrate Ashley but also to have CF stand for Cure Found. Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. CF devastates the lungs, pancreas and other vital organs making it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure. Trikafta has given new life to a CF patient but it is NOT a cure.
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.
Comments