I joined Blue Cross 30 years ago. A week later, my son Will was born. Six months after that, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF).

CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections.  My wife and I knew we had to do everything we could for Will and everyone living with CF to help them live longer, healthier lives.

So we started with a walk.

Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest fundraiser, supporting the research that leads to treatments and cures. From the very beginning, Blue Cross coworkers walked beside us. When we later became chairs of the Walk, that support only grew—through walking, volunteering, bake sales, donations, and corporate sponsorship.

Fast forward 30 years.  Breakthrough therapies that treat the disease at the cellular level now exist—all made possible by CFF-funded research. People who qualify for these therapies are living longer with a better quality of life. Will still faces challenges, but he’s living life to the fullest.

Still, not everyone with CF benefits from current therapies. That’s why we keep walking. We don’t want to leave anyone behind.

Please join Team BCBSRI as we walk together for our 30th year.  Hope begins with us—let’s keep Team BCBSRI going strong.