On May 24th, I’ll be running the Cape Town, South Africa marathon for a reason much bigger than a finish time.

A couple of summers ago, I did a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Extreme Hike... 24 miles rim to rim through the Grand Canyon. I thought it would just be a tough physical challenge. It ended up being a lot more than that.

I met families living with cystic fibrosis. I heard what daily life actually looks like...  the treatments, the small wins, the constant fight. But I also heard hope. Real progress is happening because of the research the CF Foundation funds.

Not long after that hike, the person I was walking in honor of lost her battle with CF.

That’s when it shifted for me. This isn’t just inspiring, it’s urgent. Progress is real, but it’s not fast enough for everyone.

So this marathon is for them.

The early mornings, sore legs, etc. are all temporary. Families facing CF don’t get a break. If running 26.2 miles can help move research forward, it’s worth it.

I’m running for better treatments. For faster progress. For a future where no family has to go through this.

If you’re able to support, I’d be incredibly grateful, not for me, but for the people living this every day.

Let’s keep pushing toward a cure.