Hi, I’m Kristen—and thank you for being here.
 

I’m walking for two of the most important people in my life: my niece, Navy, and my daughter, Cecelia. Both are living with cystic fibrosis, and both have shaped our family’s lives in ways we never expected but will forever be grateful for.
 

Our journey with CF began when Navy, my sister’s daughter, was flagged on her newborn screening. What followed were months of uncertainty, medical tests, and unanswered questions until we finally received her diagnosis. It was overwhelming and scary—but it was also the beginning of learning just how strong this little girl is. With daily treatments and the life-changing medication Trikafta, Navy has done remarkably well. The road hasn’t been easy—she was hospitalized last year, a moment that shook our entire family—but she fought her way through it with more strength than most adults I know. Today, at four years old, Navy is joyful, energetic, and constantly making us laugh.
 

When my husband Brent and I found out we were expecting, genetic testing revealed something we never imagined—we were both carriers of the CF gene. That meant our baby had a 25% chance of being born with cystic fibrosis. Two weeks before Cecelia was born, we received confirmation that she would have CF. It was devastating. But in that moment, I looked at Navy. I looked at everything she had already overcome. And I knew that with the right care, love, and hope, Cecelia could thrive too.
 

From the very beginning, Cecelia started daily treatments—salt to prevent dehydration, Albuterol, chest physiotherapy, and nebulizer treatments. At one year old, she began Pulmozyme and was fitted for a vest. When she turned two, she started Trikafta. Today, she continues to respond well. While CF means constant care and daily challenges, I’m incredibly proud to say that Cecelia is thriving.
 

Right now, both girls are doing well—and I don’t take that for granted for a single second. Their health is a direct result of decades of research, advocacy, and support from people who believed families like ours were worth fighting for.
 

That’s why we’re here.
 

We are walking not only for Navy and Cecelia, but for the 40,000 people in the United States living with cystic fibrosis, and for the families who wake up every day navigating this disease. Every dollar raised supports life-saving research, better treatments, genetic therapies, nutrition support, and the hope of one day finding a cure.
 

Whether you’re walking alongside us or donating in support, you are part of this fight. You are part of our story.
 

If you’re able, please consider donating. And if you’d like to join us in person, we would love to walk beside you at the Cleveland Great Strides Walk for a Cure on May 16, 2026, at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
 

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for standing with our family, for believing in a better future, and for helping bring hope and healing to children like Navy and Cecelia.
 

Together, we walk. Together, we fight. Together, we move closer to a cure. 

💜