Sixteen years ago, I lost one of my best friends, Nina, to cystic fibrosis. She was full of life, and despite constant daily therapies, hospital stays, and eventually a lung transplant, she never let any of it slow her down or stop her from hanging out. 

Last year, I became a mom. We named our daughter Nina—not just because we love the name, but to honor a friend who left us too soon. We hope our daughter grows up to be just as strong, witty, and tenacious as her.

There have been incredible breakthroughs in CF research over the last decade, and my hope is that with continued support, a true cure will finally be found. I'm climbing for Nina—my friend and my daughter—to show her how even little steps can make a difference.