

Ellie’s Empire Takes Chicago
Fundraising for 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Tim Fanara
When our daughter Ellie was just six days old, our world changed forever. We learned she had Cystic Fibrosis, and from that moment on, my wife and I knew we would do everything possible to give her the best life we could.
Ellie is pancreatic insufficient and takes 25 enzyme pills every single day, along with her Trikafta treatments morning and night. She also does daily percussion vest therapy and nebulizer treatments to help keep her lungs as healthy as possible. Despite the daily challenges she faces, Ellie is a spunky, strong-willed, and fiercely independent 3-year-old who fills our lives with joy, laughter, and love.
Thanks to advances in cystic fibrosis research, children like Ellie have more hope today than ever before, and we are incredibly grateful for how far treatments have come. But there is still no cure.
We are raising money to support continued cystic fibrosis research and help move us closer to a future where Ellie — and every child living with CF — can live a longer, healthier life. Some days her body works against her, but Ellie continues to fight with incredible strength, and we will never stop fighting alongside her.
Thank you for supporting our family, spreading awareness, and helping us work toward a cure for Ellie and so many others living with cystic fibrosis.
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