Our Great Strides Story - Derek & Paige's Boosters
Michael Dekoning
Fundraising for Jacksonville Great Strides
Michael DeKoning
Hi Friends,
For almost 25 years, we have been raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. This disease is very personal for us as two of our three kids were born with this genetic disease. We are very fortunate; they are both very healthy and living full lives. That is not true for all people with CF and could change at any time for our kids, so we keep up the fight for a cure.
Your dollars are making a huge difference. Just in our kids' lifetime, the median age of survival has gone from about 35 to more than 60. Amazing drugs and treatments funded by the CF Foundation have, for a large portion of the CF population, changed the disease from a terminal diagnosis, to a chronic condition that gives people a chance at a relatively normal life. Derek, 29 (our oldest), is married and he and his wife, Rachel, are expecting their first baby (OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD!!!!) very shortly. This amazing life event, pretty normal for most of us, was something we didn't dare to dream when he was diagnosed. Paige, 25 (our youngest), continues her successful career and no longer needs to worry that every cold might land her in the hospital.
But the fight is not over. Many people do not benefit from some of the amazing modulator drugs due to their genetic mutation. Also, while life is so much better for those with CF, the long term nature of the disease leaves a future of uncertainty. So we keep fighting until CF stands for Cure Found.
Over the years, our amazing friends from our community and from colleagues in the Insurance industry have generously supported our cause, to the tune of more than $400,000 for CF research. We are humbled, honored and amazed at your generosity. We realize you have choices for your philanthropic efforts and thank you for considering supporting us again this year.
With much love,
Allison, Mike, Derek, Rachel, Baby 😀, Kyra and Paige
For almost 25 years, we have been raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. This disease is very personal for us as two of our three kids were born with this genetic disease. We are very fortunate; they are both very healthy and living full lives. That is not true for all people with CF and could change at any time for our kids, so we keep up the fight for a cure.
Your dollars are making a huge difference. Just in our kids' lifetime, the median age of survival has gone from about 35 to more than 60. Amazing drugs and treatments funded by the CF Foundation have, for a large portion of the CF population, changed the disease from a terminal diagnosis, to a chronic condition that gives people a chance at a relatively normal life. Derek, 29 (our oldest), is married and he and his wife, Rachel, are expecting their first baby (OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD!!!!) very shortly. This amazing life event, pretty normal for most of us, was something we didn't dare to dream when he was diagnosed. Paige, 25 (our youngest), continues her successful career and no longer needs to worry that every cold might land her in the hospital.
But the fight is not over. Many people do not benefit from some of the amazing modulator drugs due to their genetic mutation. Also, while life is so much better for those with CF, the long term nature of the disease leaves a future of uncertainty. So we keep fighting until CF stands for Cure Found.
Over the years, our amazing friends from our community and from colleagues in the Insurance industry have generously supported our cause, to the tune of more than $400,000 for CF research. We are humbled, honored and amazed at your generosity. We realize you have choices for your philanthropic efforts and thank you for considering supporting us again this year.
With much love,
Allison, Mike, Derek, Rachel, Baby 😀, Kyra and Paige
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