BK's Bunch
“BK’s Bunch” is excited to be back for the Great Strides walk in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, May 17th, 2025! Thanks to my niece Shelly who reached out recently letting me know her employer/company Evergreene Management Group, aka EMG Management was eager to participate in a charitable event for the local community in Utah they serve. We are very honored they are kindly supporting our cause for this family themed day to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). Their mission is to provide every person with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) the opportunity to live a long, healthy life and ultimately find a cure to end CF! We’re looking forward to meeting those who can come as well as any family & friends able to make it for this year’s walk.
We are the 'BKB' Maxwell Family - Brent & Kris and Brandie
Our little family of three first became involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides walk event when our daughter Brandie (nicknamed Gidget) was living her preteen years in the mid 1990’s while we resided in Gig Harbor, WA. Through the Seattle Chapter our Team 'Gidget's Group' took root and we looked forward to this annual event. Here was an avenue to find some positive ways of not just coping in life with CF but helped us all focus more on the many advances by the CFF that provided real hope while we actively raised funds for this reputable organization. We could see firsthand the direct impact for our CF community, CF patients and the promise of changes leading to a better future, along with that, many special friendships were made. Meanwhile as an active duty US Air Force serving family, the years brought us a wonderful life of “Home is where you make it”. Our commitment to Great Strides Walks and supporting the CFF grew far and wide on this path with us.
A decade later as our family moved to California, our daughter had entered her 20’s. It was then ‘Miss Brandie K’ truly proclaimed her greater purpose in this new era living as a CF young adult. She egarly threw herself into volunteering at the Sacramento/Northern California Chapter. A reinvented new Great Strides team reshaped by her more mature self, Team 'Brandie's Believers' was put into motion. It was a time that brought much satisfaction for our growing up Cali girl yet sadly proved to be shortlived. AKA “BK” also began to face her toughest health decline. Deparately needing new lungs, just months after her 24th birthday our strong willed girl gained her angel wings instead.
In the years followed by our incredible loss with beloved 'BK', our dedication to Great Strides pressed on. We have been so grateful to special friends who are family to us from Brandie's cherished life lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest that had Great Strides Teams in her honor (long time team) 'Brandie's Buddies' and 'X's & O's for Brandie'. Through these earliest times of missing her physical presence, the spirit of determination she brought about was still 'striding on' and evident at the Gig Harbor Great Strides because of this. Words of thanks fall short of how much that meant to us and the sincere love for Brandie that continues from that period of her life.
Last but no least, in full circle fashion here is where Team BK's Bunch came to be. This Great Strides team was formed in 2010 by one of Brandie's many dear cousins in Utah, 'In Memoriam' and to which encompasses her beginning of life roots, born in Salt Lake City. What makes this extra special is that our girl, BK had always hoped she could one day make this happen. By creating a team in Utah, Brandie thought her home town relatives & friends could actually join with her in an event instead of just hearing the fun stories from afar. We can imagine that sweet smile of hers having achieved her wish from this.
On her behalf we are forever indebted with our appreciation (to include the many years past mentioned) to ALL who give various kinds of support. Remembering, honoring and STILL believing for our One and Only Brandie K Maxwell.
As her BELIEVERS, parents and a proud legacy to her, we forge on being her team co-captians with the motto, "Won't Stop Believing"! We stay engaged in this near and dear cause to us through various events in the CFF. More than ever we echo their mission "Until It's Done".
As we walk once again in this year's Great Strides, we continue to do her enthusiastic work for sweet Brandie K knowing this would make her so proud! We invite you gather with us for this upcoming event. All you need to do to become a member and walk with BK's BUNCH is click on the "join our team" button and follow the prompts. We hope to see you there in May at Sugar House Park! Thank you for any and all support!
We are the 'BKB' Maxwell Family - Brent & Kris and Brandie
Our little family of three first became involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides walk event when our daughter Brandie (nicknamed Gidget) was living her preteen years in the mid 1990’s while we resided in Gig Harbor, WA. Through the Seattle Chapter our Team 'Gidget's Group' took root and we looked forward to this annual event. Here was an avenue to find some positive ways of not just coping in life with CF but helped us all focus more on the many advances by the CFF that provided real hope while we actively raised funds for this reputable organization. We could see firsthand the direct impact for our CF community, CF patients and the promise of changes leading to a better future, along with that, many special friendships were made. Meanwhile as an active duty US Air Force serving family, the years brought us a wonderful life of “Home is where you make it”. Our commitment to Great Strides Walks and supporting the CFF grew far and wide on this path with us.
A decade later as our family moved to California, our daughter had entered her 20’s. It was then ‘Miss Brandie K’ truly proclaimed her greater purpose in this new era living as a CF young adult. She egarly threw herself into volunteering at the Sacramento/Northern California Chapter. A reinvented new Great Strides team reshaped by her more mature self, Team 'Brandie's Believers' was put into motion. It was a time that brought much satisfaction for our growing up Cali girl yet sadly proved to be shortlived. AKA “BK” also began to face her toughest health decline. Deparately needing new lungs, just months after her 24th birthday our strong willed girl gained her angel wings instead.
In the years followed by our incredible loss with beloved 'BK', our dedication to Great Strides pressed on. We have been so grateful to special friends who are family to us from Brandie's cherished life lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest that had Great Strides Teams in her honor (long time team) 'Brandie's Buddies' and 'X's & O's for Brandie'. Through these earliest times of missing her physical presence, the spirit of determination she brought about was still 'striding on' and evident at the Gig Harbor Great Strides because of this. Words of thanks fall short of how much that meant to us and the sincere love for Brandie that continues from that period of her life.
Last but no least, in full circle fashion here is where Team BK's Bunch came to be. This Great Strides team was formed in 2010 by one of Brandie's many dear cousins in Utah, 'In Memoriam' and to which encompasses her beginning of life roots, born in Salt Lake City. What makes this extra special is that our girl, BK had always hoped she could one day make this happen. By creating a team in Utah, Brandie thought her home town relatives & friends could actually join with her in an event instead of just hearing the fun stories from afar. We can imagine that sweet smile of hers having achieved her wish from this.
On her behalf we are forever indebted with our appreciation (to include the many years past mentioned) to ALL who give various kinds of support. Remembering, honoring and STILL believing for our One and Only Brandie K Maxwell.
As her BELIEVERS, parents and a proud legacy to her, we forge on being her team co-captians with the motto, "Won't Stop Believing"! We stay engaged in this near and dear cause to us through various events in the CFF. More than ever we echo their mission "Until It's Done".
As we walk once again in this year's Great Strides, we continue to do her enthusiastic work for sweet Brandie K knowing this would make her so proud! We invite you gather with us for this upcoming event. All you need to do to become a member and walk with BK's BUNCH is click on the "join our team" button and follow the prompts. We hope to see you there in May at Sugar House Park! Thank you for any and all support!
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