Tulsa Great Strides

Bella Jordan, 8th Grader

My name is Bella Jordan and I am honored to be named the 2025 Great Strides Ambassador for the Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. So why was I selected as an Ambassador when I'm just a girl that loves to swim, take pictures, play with my cats and friends and cousins, and run around and have fun!! Well... I am also a girl that has Cystic Fibrosis (CF for short). CF is a rare, genetic disease that affects my lungs, digestive system and other organs. I was diagnosed when I was 10 days old. My daily routines changed that day. I take a lot of medications, and do breathing treatments and physical therapy (chest percussion therapy to break up mucus in my lungs) twice a day. It's my normal routine now. On school days I have to get up early to get my treatments in before school. I am in 8th grade now! Each year my school has a "Bella's Brigade Day" and everyone wears my Great Strides walk shirts!! Currently there isn't a cure for CF, and that is where Great Strides comes into play!! Great Strides is a national walk and fun-run campaign that helps to raise awareness and funds for CF research. My family has participated in this annual walk every year since I was born. "Bella's Brigade" has raised over $320,000.00 since we started walking in 2012! I actually have two teams, one here in Tulsa, Oklahoma and one in Los Angeles, California (thank you Uncle Danny!). Great Strides is a great family and friends event! It is a day of activities, games, food and fun. Of course, all CF patients have to remain 6 feet apart and some will be wearing a mask, but that doesn't stop us from having fun!! (Hmmmmm... 6 feet apart...masks... sort of sounds like what everyone else now has to do because of Covid!! CF patients, including me, have been doing social distancing and masks our whole life!) The funds raised from Great Strides have helped make a huge difference in the lives of CF patients. New medications have been a direct result of research that is funded with the help of Great Strides. One of my medications, Kalydeco, has made a big difference in my life. I NOW HAVE A BIG REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MEDICATIONS THAT I HAVE TAKEN MY ENTIRE LIFE BECAUSE OF KALYDECO...BECAUSE OF YOUR DONATIONS!! Trikafta, another major new medication, has been a life changer for many CF patients. But these aren't cures. Some CF patients can't take these medications. We need a cure! I hope you will join us and help us raise money for research. The walk will be at Tulsa Centennial Park on Saturday, May 3rd. BELLA'S BRIGADE will walk until CF stands for Cure Found!!