Why I Walk - Will You Please Support?
Denise Kappler
Fundraising for Hagerstown Great Strides 2026
Denise Kappler
I’m proud to be a part of Team BAM!! Since 2013, the team has raised about $135,500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! Our 2026 goal is to raise $10,000! Will you help us by making a donation?
Why I walk backstory and a 2026 update...
Bryce is my cousin. He was born in the summer of 2012 and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at only 5 weeks old. He is now a happy, intelligent, and energetic 13 ½ year old who is crushing it in middle school! When he first visited the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in 2012, his BMI (body mass index) wasn’t even on the growth chart! Now he typically falls between the 30th and 40th percentile, which is a little low for those with CF, but he is working hard to maintain and gain some weight! Bryce loves to run, watch and play sports (especially soccer), play with his younger brother (Paxton), and play video games!
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 40K children and adults in the US (105K worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, potentially leading to life-threatening lung infections, and obstructs the pancreas, stopping natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. There are many treatments available for those with CF as each case is slightly different. In addition, real progress has been made in the search for a cure, but the lives of people with CF are still cut far too short. There still is no cure for this devastating disease.
Currently, Bryce uses airway clearance, multiple breathing treatments, pancreatic enzymes, high calorie drinks and high fat meals, CF vitamins and multi-vitamins, a laxative, and a CFTR modulator to maintain his health and function.
There is another new medication similar to Trikafta that has been approved for use as of last January – Alyftrek. It appears that this medication may work better for some, especially those that have mutations that cannot take Trikafta. Having another new medication available shows that YOUR DONATIONS are hard at work!
And even though the CF Foundation and the pharmaceutical companies have done GREAT things, we can't stop now!! There is still a long way to go before those with ALL CF mutations are given a chance to breathe easy as the modulators cannot treat all patients with CF and they are NOT a cure!
By donating to Great Strides, you will help fund research to continue monitoring of those on the newer medications, development of additional medications and treatments, research toward finding a drug that will eliminate not only the root cause but also the need to do hours of daily treatments, and to finding a CURE for not only those with a few mutations but ALL CFers! The CF Foundation also helps patients and their families find the best insurance coverage and co-pay assistance programs, helps cover the cost of medications and treatments for those that qualify, as well as many other programs so that everyone with/affect by CF can live a full life! Without the CF Foundation and the co-pay assistance programs, Bryce’s family would not be able to afford his medications as his enzymes, inhaled treatments, and Trikafta alone would be more than $30,000 per month... and that’s with decent insurance!
By participating in and/or donating to the Great Strides walk, we are helping to add tomorrows for not only Bryce but for everyone living with CF by funding life-saving research and medical progress. CF research is not funded by the federal government; therefore, we need every single penny. The CF Foundation has been recognized by publications such as SmartMoney as one of the most efficient organizations of its kind. Nearly 90% of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care, and education. And don’t forget... your gift is 100% tax deductible!
Thank you!
Why I walk backstory and a 2026 update...
Bryce is my cousin. He was born in the summer of 2012 and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at only 5 weeks old. He is now a happy, intelligent, and energetic 13 ½ year old who is crushing it in middle school! When he first visited the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in 2012, his BMI (body mass index) wasn’t even on the growth chart! Now he typically falls between the 30th and 40th percentile, which is a little low for those with CF, but he is working hard to maintain and gain some weight! Bryce loves to run, watch and play sports (especially soccer), play with his younger brother (Paxton), and play video games!
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 40K children and adults in the US (105K worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, potentially leading to life-threatening lung infections, and obstructs the pancreas, stopping natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. There are many treatments available for those with CF as each case is slightly different. In addition, real progress has been made in the search for a cure, but the lives of people with CF are still cut far too short. There still is no cure for this devastating disease.
Currently, Bryce uses airway clearance, multiple breathing treatments, pancreatic enzymes, high calorie drinks and high fat meals, CF vitamins and multi-vitamins, a laxative, and a CFTR modulator to maintain his health and function.
There is another new medication similar to Trikafta that has been approved for use as of last January – Alyftrek. It appears that this medication may work better for some, especially those that have mutations that cannot take Trikafta. Having another new medication available shows that YOUR DONATIONS are hard at work!
And even though the CF Foundation and the pharmaceutical companies have done GREAT things, we can't stop now!! There is still a long way to go before those with ALL CF mutations are given a chance to breathe easy as the modulators cannot treat all patients with CF and they are NOT a cure!
By donating to Great Strides, you will help fund research to continue monitoring of those on the newer medications, development of additional medications and treatments, research toward finding a drug that will eliminate not only the root cause but also the need to do hours of daily treatments, and to finding a CURE for not only those with a few mutations but ALL CFers! The CF Foundation also helps patients and their families find the best insurance coverage and co-pay assistance programs, helps cover the cost of medications and treatments for those that qualify, as well as many other programs so that everyone with/affect by CF can live a full life! Without the CF Foundation and the co-pay assistance programs, Bryce’s family would not be able to afford his medications as his enzymes, inhaled treatments, and Trikafta alone would be more than $30,000 per month... and that’s with decent insurance!
By participating in and/or donating to the Great Strides walk, we are helping to add tomorrows for not only Bryce but for everyone living with CF by funding life-saving research and medical progress. CF research is not funded by the federal government; therefore, we need every single penny. The CF Foundation has been recognized by publications such as SmartMoney as one of the most efficient organizations of its kind. Nearly 90% of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care, and education. And don’t forget... your gift is 100% tax deductible!
Thank you!
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