Thank you for visiting our Great Strides page. If you’re here, you’re already part of our fight.

Our daughter Emily was born with cystic fibrosis — a diagnosis that changed our world overnight. CF isn’t just a medical term for us; it’s daily meds, airway treatments, hospital visits, worry, and grit. It’s watching a child you love fight battles most people never have to think about. But it’s also resilience, joy, and a determination stronger than anything we’ve ever known.

Great Strides plays a real role in her future. The progress the CF Foundation has made is the reason children and adults with CF are living longer, fuller lives. But we’re not done. Not everyone with CF can access current therapies, and no therapy today is a cure. We need continued research, better treatments, and ultimately — a world where CF is behind us.

If you’re reading this, what we truly need from you is your support. Most people who visit this page won’t walk with us in person, and that’s okay. What makes the biggest impact is your donation. Every dollar goes directly toward research, innovation, and the breakthroughs that can change the trajectory for kids like Emily.

Your support helps buy her time, health, hope, and a future that looks as bright as she deserves.

If you’re able, please donate. It matters more than you know. And from our family to yours — thank you. You’re part of our fight, and part of her story.

With our love and gratitude,

-- John, Rebecca, Alex and Emily Thome