Kris Maxwell
I'll start off by mentioning we've been long time supporters, eager volunteers and active entrants throughout various events of this incredible nonprofit organization, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It’s still not easy for us to fundraise though we wholeheartedly believe in this foundation and their ultimate mission to cure CF. It was in the mid 90’s when we began fundraising with the Seattle WA Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a way to find hope through positive action while raising a child with this difficult chronic illness. That hope dramatically extinguished when we lost our only child, dearest daughter Brandie K in Sept 2008. She was only 24yrs old when the unrelenting ravishes of this disease took her from us. As her parents, our world collapsed. For literally years following, I lost myself in the deepest sadness, grief and struggled while facing what a future without her means. It took considerable time to find purpose again and set goals I can keep looking forward to. Grief, I’ve learned for me is a life long journey, it remains very much one day at a time, being intentional and living purposefully as I'm navigating this way of life as a bereaved mother. We miss her every day beyond adequate description.
Our family motto remains strong through the years and we have always felt we can bring important awareness most of all through sharing how cystic fibrosis has both bitterly and sweetly impacted our family. It can be uncomfortable as well to disclose such vulnerability that we have now experienced in personal heartache. Yet it is in the process to success we've come to realize, all this is what carries us forward. Staying involved with this cause remains near and dear in spite of our challenges and because of it.
After losing our girl “BK”, we did our best to keep showing up at the various CFF events. We’ve had the clarity that she would want us to. In 2016 this event called Xtreme Hike brought us into a new direction of interest, promise of hope and commitment that has carried us along for the last decade.
It is incredible to realize after this hike on the 18th of October 2025, we will have completed 12 Xtreme Hikes with the CFF (10 in Yosemite NP and 2 in Zion NP). Year over year, it has become a weekend we look forward to for so many reason. Looking back to 2016 at our very first XH in Yosemite, we had no idea this would be something that would grab such a special hold on us in the various ways it has all these years later. The Northern California Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation staff and the involved community that keep it going strong has become a lifeline of goodness in our personal lives.
Yosemite is now quite familiar for us as a serene destination to feel all the gratitude during this empowering event. This experience includes amazing hike guides to help us navigate the trails and keep us safe all provided by Y’Explore Adventures. They too have becomes special friends as we see them each year now and spend time over the many miles of all day long hike getting familiar as relationship evolve. Each year has also brought about my personal renewed inspiration from meeting many wonderful people who also participate coming from both California and across the states. To hear the individual stories why they too hike and how CF affects them personally is powerful. All of this encourages me to overcome my own insecurities while keeping myself motivated and moving forward in a positive direction.
It is difficult to wrap this whole experience up in few words. Another takeaway all these years is that this event has been uniquely transforming each time. It has been a fundraising event unlike any other I have done for THE cause that means the most to our family. Challenging, emotional, exhilarating, life reaffirming and yet also very different than the last. Lastly, yes this is an event that takes a great deal of training and planning to do. Some of my best days of serenity now are being out trekking a trail, whether in the mountains or near the coastal areas looking out at ocean views just above the marine layer of clouds, I find my new peace. I am aware of my body, mind and spirit that afford me a gift like this. What repetitively helps motivate me most of all, "BK" would be so happy to see me doing this for all the reasons mentioned. She continually worried about my health because I took tender care of her and she thought I didn't take care of me "good enough". She was always thoughtful of me as her caregiver and what she felt I was giving up in doing so. Now she can be proud at last, I KNOW this is the deepest part of my heart.
As I get on through life, I strive to find some good in everything. As I take each step over the varying terrain, breathe deeply that fresh mountain air, I think about the many children and adults with cf who may not have the opportunity to take on a mountain or experience the wilderness like this without real progress toward a cure. I will do this to keep raising awareness for cf and as honor to those like my daughter who fought to live and left too soon. Can you help me reach my fundraising goal by donating today?
Together we can make a difference! Thank you kindly for sending me whatever support you can. I will gratefully accept cheers and shout outs. Of course as always the green dollas' are humbly appreciated and what truly make things happen as revenue raised by the Foundation is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education. Nothing is too small or too large. :-) Much gratitude, Kris (forever and always Brandie's Mom)
*There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m hiking to help change that reality.
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, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.*
Our family motto remains strong through the years and we have always felt we can bring important awareness most of all through sharing how cystic fibrosis has both bitterly and sweetly impacted our family. It can be uncomfortable as well to disclose such vulnerability that we have now experienced in personal heartache. Yet it is in the process to success we've come to realize, all this is what carries us forward. Staying involved with this cause remains near and dear in spite of our challenges and because of it.
After losing our girl “BK”, we did our best to keep showing up at the various CFF events. We’ve had the clarity that she would want us to. In 2016 this event called Xtreme Hike brought us into a new direction of interest, promise of hope and commitment that has carried us along for the last decade.
It is incredible to realize after this hike on the 18th of October 2025, we will have completed 12 Xtreme Hikes with the CFF (10 in Yosemite NP and 2 in Zion NP). Year over year, it has become a weekend we look forward to for so many reason. Looking back to 2016 at our very first XH in Yosemite, we had no idea this would be something that would grab such a special hold on us in the various ways it has all these years later. The Northern California Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation staff and the involved community that keep it going strong has become a lifeline of goodness in our personal lives.
Yosemite is now quite familiar for us as a serene destination to feel all the gratitude during this empowering event. This experience includes amazing hike guides to help us navigate the trails and keep us safe all provided by Y’Explore Adventures. They too have becomes special friends as we see them each year now and spend time over the many miles of all day long hike getting familiar as relationship evolve. Each year has also brought about my personal renewed inspiration from meeting many wonderful people who also participate coming from both California and across the states. To hear the individual stories why they too hike and how CF affects them personally is powerful. All of this encourages me to overcome my own insecurities while keeping myself motivated and moving forward in a positive direction.
It is difficult to wrap this whole experience up in few words. Another takeaway all these years is that this event has been uniquely transforming each time. It has been a fundraising event unlike any other I have done for THE cause that means the most to our family. Challenging, emotional, exhilarating, life reaffirming and yet also very different than the last. Lastly, yes this is an event that takes a great deal of training and planning to do. Some of my best days of serenity now are being out trekking a trail, whether in the mountains or near the coastal areas looking out at ocean views just above the marine layer of clouds, I find my new peace. I am aware of my body, mind and spirit that afford me a gift like this. What repetitively helps motivate me most of all, "BK" would be so happy to see me doing this for all the reasons mentioned. She continually worried about my health because I took tender care of her and she thought I didn't take care of me "good enough". She was always thoughtful of me as her caregiver and what she felt I was giving up in doing so. Now she can be proud at last, I KNOW this is the deepest part of my heart.
As I get on through life, I strive to find some good in everything. As I take each step over the varying terrain, breathe deeply that fresh mountain air, I think about the many children and adults with cf who may not have the opportunity to take on a mountain or experience the wilderness like this without real progress toward a cure. I will do this to keep raising awareness for cf and as honor to those like my daughter who fought to live and left too soon. Can you help me reach my fundraising goal by donating today?
Together we can make a difference! Thank you kindly for sending me whatever support you can. I will gratefully accept cheers and shout outs. Of course as always the green dollas' are humbly appreciated and what truly make things happen as revenue raised by the Foundation is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education. Nothing is too small or too large. :-) Much gratitude, Kris (forever and always Brandie's Mom)
*There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m hiking to help change that reality.
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, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.*
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