

My Great Strides Story
Fundraising for Putnam Great Strides
Michelle Couture
Join our Great Strides team at Putnam Rotary park on Saturday 5/31/25 or make a donation to help support Gabrielle's Gang!
Gabby was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 2006. She is an active healthy 19-year-old who doesn’t let CF hold her back. Since her diagnosis we have made it a priority to do everything in our power to raise funds to find a cure for this disease, so she can live a long and healthy life. Though we don’t often talk about life expectancy it’s important to realize that a shortened life expectancy comes along with a CF diagnosis. Prior to 1950, kids born with CF rarely saw their 5th birthday but with research & treatment development kids born in 1960 had a life expectancy of 15. When Gabby was born the average life expectancy was 33 and today it’s 61. Though the life expectancy is improving through the development of new treatments, we need to keep fundraising until there is a CURE!
Cystic Fibrosis is considered an ‘orphan’ disease and receives no federal funding for research and treatment development. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation relies on donations to support its research and treatment centers. Gabby receives frequent medical monitoring and is on a daily medication, Pulmozyme which is taken by nebulizer and will help to keep her lungs healthy. This medication was developed thanks to donations to CFF which supports research and development of CF treatments and eventually a cure. Thank you for being part of our team through your donation & help with fundraising.
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