Walk with our team to Cure Cystic Fibrosis
Luke's Force
Fundraising for Charlottesville Great Strides 2026
Luke's Force
Happy 2026!
When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was founded, kids with CF weren't expected to make it to kindergarten. Last year Luke graduated from Christopher Newport University with a degree in Information Science.
Luke's health has been quite good this year. He switched from Trikafta to the newly approved Alyftrek: the blurb for that medicine from the cff.org web site:
Vanzacaftor + tezacaftor + deutivacaftor (Alyftrek) is a once-a-day combination therapy combining three CFTR modulators. Vanzacaftor and tezacaftor are CFTR correctors, a type of modulator designed to fix the defective CFTR protein so that it can move to the proper place on the cell surface. Deutivacaftor is a modified form of ivacaftor that allows Alyftrek to be taken once a day. Ivacaftor is a potentiator that facilitates the opening of the chloride channel on the cell surface to allow chloride and sodium (salt) to move in and out of the cell.
Although Luke's health has been good thanks to the medications and therapies developed with the help of the CFF, he still has to work so much harder than normal young men to stay healthy, doing two half-hour treatments a day, and keeping up with all his medications. Overnight trips have always been difficult; imagine having to lug your 40lb pneumatic vest, refrigerated medicines, nebulizer, nebulizer cups and tubing, dish soap and paper towels for cleaning whenever you want to leave home for more than 12 hours.
While the CF Community has made incredible process in Luke's lifetime, there is further to go. Not all people with CF can benefit with the current life-changing medications (it depends on your specific mutation). Even when they can, their life still revolves around managing the disease. It sure would be something to have a cure, which is what the CFF is fighting for, with the help of donations like yours.
Local folks please join us for the Charlottesville Great Strides walk May 2, 9am at Darden Towe park, shelter 1445. It's a good time, nice walk, and a free lunch!
Please join Luke's Force towards this goal! Thank you so much!
Debbie, Mark, and Luke Elliott
When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was founded, kids with CF weren't expected to make it to kindergarten. Last year Luke graduated from Christopher Newport University with a degree in Information Science.
Luke's health has been quite good this year. He switched from Trikafta to the newly approved Alyftrek: the blurb for that medicine from the cff.org web site:
Vanzacaftor + tezacaftor + deutivacaftor (Alyftrek) is a once-a-day combination therapy combining three CFTR modulators. Vanzacaftor and tezacaftor are CFTR correctors, a type of modulator designed to fix the defective CFTR protein so that it can move to the proper place on the cell surface. Deutivacaftor is a modified form of ivacaftor that allows Alyftrek to be taken once a day. Ivacaftor is a potentiator that facilitates the opening of the chloride channel on the cell surface to allow chloride and sodium (salt) to move in and out of the cell.
Although Luke's health has been good thanks to the medications and therapies developed with the help of the CFF, he still has to work so much harder than normal young men to stay healthy, doing two half-hour treatments a day, and keeping up with all his medications. Overnight trips have always been difficult; imagine having to lug your 40lb pneumatic vest, refrigerated medicines, nebulizer, nebulizer cups and tubing, dish soap and paper towels for cleaning whenever you want to leave home for more than 12 hours.
While the CF Community has made incredible process in Luke's lifetime, there is further to go. Not all people with CF can benefit with the current life-changing medications (it depends on your specific mutation). Even when they can, their life still revolves around managing the disease. It sure would be something to have a cure, which is what the CFF is fighting for, with the help of donations like yours.
Local folks please join us for the Charlottesville Great Strides walk May 2, 9am at Darden Towe park, shelter 1445. It's a good time, nice walk, and a free lunch!
Please join Luke's Force towards this goal! Thank you so much!
Debbie, Mark, and Luke Elliott
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