Every year, I lace up my hiking boots and take on a 26-mile trek (sometimes 30 if you take a wrong turn!😉) through the beautiful Berkshires, but this journey is about so much more than the miles. It’s about my cousin Leah, and thousands of other CF Warriors, who have battled cystic fibrosis (CF) their entire life. It’s about the progress we’ve made in the fight against this disease-- and the work still left to do.

When Leah was born in the early 1990s, the life expectancy for someone with CF was heartbreakingly short. Today, thanks to the incredible work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the support of donors like you, the life expectancy has climbed into the mid-50s. Leah, who is now in her early 30s, is living proof of the progress we’ve made. She’s thriving and defying the odds every single day. But we’re not done yet.
 

CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs, making it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections. While breakthrough medications like Trikafta have transformed the lives of many, not everyone with CF has access to these treatments, and there is still no cure.
 

That’s why I hike. The Xtreme Hike is more than a physical challenge; it’s a symbolic journey that mirrors the resilience and determination of the CF community. With every step, I think about Leah and the thousands of others who fight this disease every single day. I think about the parents who dream of watching their children grow up, graduate, and maybe even start families of their own-- dreams that were unimaginable just a couple of decades ago.
 

The funds we raise go directly toward advancing research, developing new therapies, and improving the lives of those with CF. Last year, our Massachusetts hiking team alone raised over $600,000!👏 These dollars bring hope to the CF community and tangible change to the lives of those living with this disease.
 

Your support means everything-- to me, to Leah, and to the entire CF community. Together, we can keep pushing forward until CF stands for Cure Found. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.
 

Thank you for hiking this journey with us. Let’s make CF a thing of the past.