Our Great Strides Story
Kati M Pannecouck
Fundraising for Metro Detroit Great Strides
Kati M Pannecouck
Dear Family and Friends,
First off, thank you all for your continued love and support of Ben and our family's mission to cure cystic fibrosis (CF). This year the CF Great Strides walk is Sunday May 4, 2025 at the Detroit Zoo. Life has been so busy for our family and the walk is quickly approaching. We need your help to meet our fundraising goal. Your generous gift will be used to help support the Foundation’s mission of finding a cure and improving the lives of those with CF. And, your gift is 100% tax deductible.
This year has been super busy for our family. We just celebrated Ben's 17th Birthday on March 10th! He is currently a Junior in high school and he continues to swim on the Royal Oak High School Swim Team. Unfortunately, his swim season was cut short after he contracted the flu in January. Most people who contract the flu are able to fight it on their own, but with Ben he had a fever for 5 straight days and during that time he lost 10lbs. He wasn't able to kick the cough and we had to get his weight back, so he was admitted to the U of M hospital for a two week tune-up.
We feel so fortunate to have such incredible care so close to home, with their help we were able to get Ben feeling better and we've started planning for his final year in High School.
This summer, Ben will be traveling to Germany and Paris for three weeks with his German class. He will be staying with a host family in Germany and learning about a different culture and having experiences we always dreamed of for Ben. When Ben returns, he will be starting his Senior year of High School, and it's so bittersweet for us. We are excited to be present for this time in his life and because of people like you, Ben is able to live his life to fullest.
Your support fuels our dream of finding a cure for CF. The CF Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. They are constantly making strides in the health and well-being for people like Ben. 90% of the CF population takes a modulator like Ben but there around 10% of people living with CF who cannot and even more who have side-effects with treatment and have to come off. While the CF Foundation is constantly making progress to prolong the lives of those living with CF, our dream is to have Ben never have to take another pill, be in the hospital, do another breathing treatment and eventually be able to say, "I used to have CF."
With Gratitude,
Kati, Chris and Ben Pannecouck
Walk Details
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Detroit Zoo
Check In: 7:30 AM
Start Time: 8:30 AM
About CF and the CF Foundation
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.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
First off, thank you all for your continued love and support of Ben and our family's mission to cure cystic fibrosis (CF). This year the CF Great Strides walk is Sunday May 4, 2025 at the Detroit Zoo. Life has been so busy for our family and the walk is quickly approaching. We need your help to meet our fundraising goal. Your generous gift will be used to help support the Foundation’s mission of finding a cure and improving the lives of those with CF. And, your gift is 100% tax deductible.
This year has been super busy for our family. We just celebrated Ben's 17th Birthday on March 10th! He is currently a Junior in high school and he continues to swim on the Royal Oak High School Swim Team. Unfortunately, his swim season was cut short after he contracted the flu in January. Most people who contract the flu are able to fight it on their own, but with Ben he had a fever for 5 straight days and during that time he lost 10lbs. He wasn't able to kick the cough and we had to get his weight back, so he was admitted to the U of M hospital for a two week tune-up.
We feel so fortunate to have such incredible care so close to home, with their help we were able to get Ben feeling better and we've started planning for his final year in High School.
This summer, Ben will be traveling to Germany and Paris for three weeks with his German class. He will be staying with a host family in Germany and learning about a different culture and having experiences we always dreamed of for Ben. When Ben returns, he will be starting his Senior year of High School, and it's so bittersweet for us. We are excited to be present for this time in his life and because of people like you, Ben is able to live his life to fullest.
Your support fuels our dream of finding a cure for CF. The CF Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. They are constantly making strides in the health and well-being for people like Ben. 90% of the CF population takes a modulator like Ben but there around 10% of people living with CF who cannot and even more who have side-effects with treatment and have to come off. While the CF Foundation is constantly making progress to prolong the lives of those living with CF, our dream is to have Ben never have to take another pill, be in the hospital, do another breathing treatment and eventually be able to say, "I used to have CF."
With Gratitude,
Kati, Chris and Ben Pannecouck
Walk Details
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Detroit Zoo
Check In: 7:30 AM
Start Time: 8:30 AM
About CF and the CF Foundation
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.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
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