For those that don't know me or my story, my name is Jacob Ruchotzke and I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when I was 2 months old. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease where the body produces increased amounts of mucus that builds up in the lungs, pancreas and other organs leading to recurrent lung infections and often extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.

When I was diagnosed, the doctors told my parents that I would probably not live long enough to go to college. Up till high school I battled lung infection after lung infection bouncing in and out of the hospital, but everything changed for me in 2015 when I went to my regular CF clinic appointment and was told I was a candidate to be in a drug trial for a new medicine that would potentially reverse the effects of CF. I was very lucky to be a candidate for this drug trial years before it came to the market. Since being on this medication, not only has my lung function and overall health stabilized, but it has also improved! Without this medication, I wouldn't even be thinking about let alone actually attempting to complete a 30 mile hike in 1 day.

With the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the fundraising they do, the advancement in treatment like the medication I am fortunate to be on, and the care those with CF receive wouldn't be possible. However, to this day there are still people being born with Cystic Fibrosis and no cure has been found. I am asking you to help by donating any amount, big or small, to make CF stand for cure found!