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Each month through the end of the year, we’ll feature a special person or team who played an integral role in the 2010 Great Strides walks. We hope you’ll find this story, the tenth in the series, to be inspiring as we continue to make Great Strides in our efforts to find a cure for CF!
Joe Manzi
Joe Manzi, CEO and president of J.E. Manzi & Associates construction consulting firm, is proud to lead the top fundraising team for the Greater Illinois Chapter. He says the success of Team Manzi lies with the generous support of his family, friends and clients, who come together each year to support his family and the Foundation’s search for a cure. |
Walk: Chicago, Ill., Great Strides at Soldier Field’s Great Lawn held May 16
Team: Team Manzi, led by Joe and Faye Manzi and their daughters, Jennifer, 32, and Lisa, 27, who have CF
Impact: Raised $78,000 in 2010 to support the CF Foundation’s vital programs
Why I Walk
My wife Faye and I walk for our three children. Our daughters Jennifer and Lisa have CF, and our son Eric lost his battle with the disease in 2005 at age 30.
Jennifer is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Illinois - Chicago, and a nurse practitioner. Lisa is also a graduate of Marquette and is now a mom.
When Eric was born and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in 1974, there was very little awareness of CF. We were told Eric would live only for about five years.
But we never gave up hope, and we committed to having the best moments we could for as long as we had him. Eric graduated from Bradley University and worked as an engineer.
What Makes Me Proud
All three of our children have understood the seriousness of their ailment, but they never let CF get in the way of trying to move ahead with a normal life.
Their viewpoint is: I’m going to do something with my life, and I’m not going to be controlled by this disease. They approach life from a proactive and positive viewpoint.
My Biggest Challenge
Faye and I know that the clock is ticking and we need to find a cure for CF, but we don’t want to focus on the doom and gloom. It’s a challenge to put on the best face we can and remain upbeat and positive. We have always encouraged our children to have fun and to live their lives.
My Thanks
I’m thankful that over the years we’ve seen a focus on this serious ailment. I’m also grateful for all the parents and families who are helping to find a cure and develop therapies to extend life.
I like to use this horse-and-cart analogy: The CF Foundation is the cart, and the parents of children with CF are the horse. Without the hundreds of thousands of CF parents and Great Strides walkers working together to raise money, the Foundation wouldn’t be able to make progress toward a cure. If it’s not us, then who’s going to do it?
My Dream
I have two girls who I would like to see live for a very long time. I didn’t get that chance with my son. But I feel hopeful as I see an emerging awareness of the disease, and I’m encouraged that so many parents are getting involved.
When I speak at the walk, I always tell the crowd the same thing: “I don’t want to see you here again, because if I don’t see you anymore, I know we’ve won. We’ve found a cure.” And that’s what it’s all about.
Additional Resources
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