Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m walking in the 2026 Great Strides Walk because this fight is personal.

I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just six months old, on February 21, 2001. CF is a rare genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and other organs, making it hard to breathe and digest food. It affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, sinuses, and more — and it never takes a day off.

I take about 36 pills every day, not including the two I take each time I eat. I’ve had around 28 PICC lines for two-week hospital stays, 24 sinus surgeries, and more X-rays, CT scans, and hospitalizations than I can count. CF has also brought on CF-related diabetes, liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, and several other complications — but I still live my life to the fullest.

Despite everything, I’ve lived a completely normal life. I’ve worked, driven, gone to school, played softball for over 14 years, and built an amazing life surrounded by love and support. I’m 25 now, and I fight every day — not just for myself, but for every person with CF, and for the friends I’ve lost along the way.

Every step we take and every dollar we raise through Great Strides helps fund vital research and support programs — and brings us closer to a cure. 💜

Please consider donating or joining my team to help make CF stand for “Cure Found.”

With love,
Hannah Donoghue