Cleveland/Bradley County Great Strides 2026
Welcome,
We are so glad you are here! Ready to lace up and join us for our annual walk to cure cystic fibrosis? By participating, you have the power to change thousands of lives. Your support helps the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fund the research and care needed to help advance a cure for this disease. While we’ve made significant progress, we still have a long way to go. We still lose precious lives to CF every year. You can help us accelerate progress. Now is the time to act.
To help make this year the biggest and best finale of Great Strides at Lee University, CF grandparents Jo Beth and Milton Boyer have offered a $50,000 match!
From December 1, 2025 through April 1, 2026:
• All Cleveland Great Strides team fundraising will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000, or when the match is completed, whichever comes first.
• New or increased corporate sponsorships in support of Cleveland Great Strides and the 65 Roses 5k at Lee University will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000, or when the match is completed, whichever comes first.
Donations received in excess of the matching goal of $50,000 will be used to support the CF Foundation's mission.
A message from Jo Beth and Milton Boyer:
We are so excited and grateful to be able to create this gift challenge for the 2026 Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides campaign at Lee University. As scientists in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, we understand the complex ecosystem of funding that may eventually lead to commercial drugs and cures. We know that money funds science and science finds cures.
Cystic fibrosis is also intensely personal to us. We are the proud grandparents of Holly, 12, and Jimmy, 8. Like all grandparents, we want them to live their best life despite the challenges of having CF. With the approval of Trikafta in 2019, we have seen first-hand the promise these new drugs can provide. Since they have been on Trikafta, their lung function and lives are as normal as any other 12 and 8 year old. Holly and Jimmy’s world was transformed with this drug, allowing them to have the same hopes and dreams as any other children.
While these new drugs are not a cure, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their partners have provided a revolutionary leap from just managing symptoms to addressing the underlying genetic abnormality. This paradigm shift offers profound hope and a transformational prognosis for many living with cystic fibrosis. Our family is filled with gratitude to the researchers, fundraisers and families who have walked this path before us. We hope that through continued research we will find new ways to assist those living with CF and, ultimately, a cure.
Get Ready to Walk
Register: Join us for a day of celebration, community and fun! Let's unite to bring hope and joy to those affected by CF and work towards a future where everyone can breathe easier. Click the “Register” button.
Recruit: Invite friends, family, and colleagues to join you. Together, we can make a bigger impact.
Fundraise: Fundraising is easy. Use the participant center, the CFF mobile app, or fundraise on Facebook to reach your goal. You can also host a passion fundraising event and check if your employer offers a matching gift program to increase the impact of your efforts.
Share your story: Your story matters! Share why you’re participating in Great Strides and inspire others to join. Use the tools in the participant center and on the mobile app to easily tell your story!
Thank you for your efforts to raise awareness and funds so that we can get one step closer to curing cystic fibrosis. Your participation is critical to advance our mission, and now is the time to act. Sign up today to take steps towards a cure for cystic fibrosis!
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