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My Great Strides Story

Sandra Gaffey
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Sandra Gaffey

I raise money in memory of my daughter, Audrey Clark, who passed away 8/8/19 at the age of 25. No family should have to go through what we have. Please honor Audrey's wishes in helping to raise money and awareness so that someday, a cure for CF can be found.

From Audrey's obituary:

     On August 8, 2019, a bright light went out as Audrey Clark, age 25, of Shelburne, passed away, a month and half shy of her 10th anniversary of her second double-lung transplant. She was best known for her bad sense of humor and sarcasm, her “literalness” and her compassion for others. She persevered through all the struggles that came her way from Cystic Fibrosis (CF). She surpassed all the expectations from her various medical teams, always forging forward.
     After her first double-lung transplant in 2007, the month before her 13th birthday, Audrey built a snowman, learned how to ride a bike and enjoyed swimming (things she couldn’t do with her failing lungs). When she rejected the transplanted lungs two years later, she declined quickly and had a trache placed to help her breathe. When the call for the second double-lung transplant came in 2009, she had just walked many laps around the hospital unit, after getting her trache downsized to a mobile unit.
     After her second transplant, Audrey was able to graduate from Franklin County Technical’s Carpentry program and go on to Greenfield Community College to earn her Business Certificate of Management. Audrey’s dream was to own her own woodworking business. While at the Tech school, she did lots of projects in the Carpentry department – some bigger ones were helping install the gym floor, making picnic tables for a senior housing project and a futon, tv stand, and coffee table for home use. She loved building with her hands. Along with woodworking, she also created jewelry that was sold to raise money to find a cure for CF, which started as a church project.
     Her variety of handiwork earned her prize ribbons, including state rosettes from both the local Shelburne Grange Fair and the larger Franklin County Fair. Another project was starting an Etsy business – Ladies_of_the_Ring with two friends with partial proceeds benefitting Canine Companions for Independence. Up until her passing, you would see her with some project in hand while doing her treatments, attending church, military band concerts, plays, etc.
     Audrey was a go-getter despite her genetic disorder. She chose to live life despite what it threw her way. Many remember her as a good friend willing to lend an ear.
     Always wanting to help others and help find a cure, Audrey donated her body to medical research and hopes one day a cure for CF will be found.

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m walking to help change that reality.

CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.  

Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.

Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?

By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.

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