Running Towards a Cure!

I am so very excited to be running the Boston Marathon this year to raise funds for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart.  On April 10, 2011, my brother, Chris, passed away due to complications from Cystic Fibrosis.  There are many adjectives I could use to describe Chris, from determined and brave to kind hearted and hilarious.  All in all though, he was simply an amazing human being.  Chris faced the adversity that living with a chronic disease handed him with such class.  He lived each day fully in a way that might make one wonder if he realized his life might not be as long as most.  In 23 short years, Chris forged many beautiful friendships, always kept his family close at heart, and came within one month of earning a degree in Biomedical Physics from Northeastern University.  It is my hope that those still living with CF will see a cure found soon but this won't be possible without continued support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

When The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was developed in 1955, children born with CF were not expected to live past the age of six.  Now, after nearly 60 years with The CF Foundation being the leader in the search for a cure, the median age of survival for a person with CF is in the early 40's.  Despite all of the progress that The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made to improve everyday life for those with CF and develop new treatments, lives continue to be cut short by this disease and the search for a cure continues.  It is my goal, by running the Boston Marathon, to raise $10,000 for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!  The link to my fundraising site is http://www.crowdrise.com/fundraise_and_volunteer/donations/cff2014bostonmarathon/laurawilliams1.  I am eternally grateful for your support in the pursuit of making CF stand for "Cure Found"!