Congratulations! We are so excited to share that you’ve been recognized for your ongoing dedication to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year, “Kelly’s Angels” was honored at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration. The ceremony was help in Richmond at The Country Club of Virginia Westhampton on February 21, 2025. You were honored with receiving the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Partner’s Award.” This award is given to a team that has made a significant impact in fundraising and awareness by participating in the Virginia Great Strides Program. Kenneth and I were honored to accept this award on behalf of each of you who have continued to support us in our fundraising efforts over the last 27 years. 

Thanks to you, Kelly’s Angels has raised over $450,000 since we began our efforts in 1998. What an impact we have made, thanks to your generosity. You continue to support our mission of finding a cure for this life shortening disease, and because of you Kelly’s future remains brighter than ever. 

The Keynote Speaker at the Ceremony was Dr. Alber Fare, the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He shared in detail all the foundation is working on including new medications in the drug development pipeline, as well as reviewed some of the more promising ongoing clinical trials being done in all faces of CF care delivery. One particular quote that stood out was the following: “Cystic Fibrsosis was initially discovered in 1938 because of the results of autopsies done on babies. Let that sink in for a moment. If that doesn’t say hopeless…what does?” Now, fast forward to 2023, a child born and diagnosed with CF has a life expectancy of age 61. What a profound improvement over the last 8 decades! 

Dr. Faro shared also that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation remains the global leader in the quest to find a cure. Since the year 2020, the foundation has funded more then $1 Billion in research and care awards with highlights of approximately 238 million for genetic therapy, 98 million for the next generation of CFTR modulator drug therapies (to give people with CF a choice in their treatments. Kelly has been on the CFTR modulator , Trikafta, for 5 years now, and has been able to maintain her lung function at levels above 100% which is phenomenal! Another 308 million has been set aside for research into CF complications including infection, inflammation, digestion, and CF related diabetes. Many of you are aware that Kelly developed CF related diabetes during her freshman year of college. She now is able to regulate her blood sugar with the use of an insulin pump directly synced with an app on her phone. Lastly, the CFF has given 195 million towards care and initiations to 130 CFF accredited care centers located around the country. Kelly has directly benefited from the phenomenal care at two of the three care centers located in Virginia, including UVA Health and CHKD in Norfolk. 

Today, many people with CF are achieving their dreams of attending college, pursuing careers, getting married, and even having children of their own. All of these milestones were simply “unthinkable” just a few decades ago. You have witnessed Kelly achieve many of these milestones over these last 27 years. To bring you up to date since last year’s letters, Kelly will turn 30 this coming September. She is now in her 7th year of teaching. She and Brandon just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary on March 11th, and the two of the are brand new homeowners. They purchased the cutest little home in Portsmouth, VA, very close to both her elementary school and Sentara Norfolk General where Brandon has almost completed his forest year of his Internal Medicine Residency. Wow…time sure flies when you are healthy and happy!