I will soon be honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at a special event recognizing outstanding young professionals in Jacksonville. In accepting this distinction, I have committed to raise money to help the Foundation realize its mission of controlling and curing cystic fibrosis (CF).

Throughout the summer and up until the Single Greatest Night event in November, I will be posting stories, updates, videos and pictures on my blog to share with you the experiences of being a Single Greatest Night honoree. Please follow along and leave your comments on my blog, http://ltbeyer.wordpress.com. I am part of "Team Zoe" this year. Zoe is a five year old who has had CF since she was less than one. Her family is chronicling their journey with CF at the Zoe for Life blog.

I am asking my family and friends to participate in the MY CFF 100 challenge, where 100 people will donate $15 towards CFF (although more or less is of course welcome). For all who donate, I am going to put their names* on a shirt to wear at my upcoming races for the rest of 2009.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. More than ten million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. Advances continue to be made in finding a cure, but your help is needed now-more than ever-to help keep up the momentum of this life-saving research.

When the Foundation began in 1955, most children with CF did not live to see their first day of elementary school. Today, the median life expectancy for people with CF is almost 37. This is remarkable progress, but not good enough. We continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

On behalf of Zoe and the thousands of children and adults with CF, thank you for supporting me as a 2009 honoree for Single Greatest Night. Please consider forwarding this to YOUR family and friends! TOGETHER, we can make "CF" stand for "CURE FOUND"!

*If you'd like to have another name other than your own on my shirt, please indicate that in the comments section. For donating, I'll put you on my back!