GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, we are walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the Summit Cove walk on July 11th. We are walking for Megan Andersen, the daughter of my dear friend Kim.

I would like to tell you a little about Megan…she loves to ski, she loves to ride her mountain bike, and she likes things organized and keeps the neatest room you will ever see. She tells it like it is, and is as ornery as anyone. She is a normal 10 year old. Normal, except she has Cystic Fibrosis and might not live to see adulthood. She is normal, except she takes over 18 different medications a day which include 5 antibiotics, three inhaled medicines, steriods, and many other pills, too many to name, totaling over “60 pills PER DAY”. She is normal, except EVERYTIME she eats a meal or a snack she has to take 7 enzyme capsules. She is normal, except she has to do what is called “treatments” twice a day, every day, which is where she wears a vest that is plugged in so it shakes her, loosening up her lungs, for 20 minutes at a time. She is normal, except she has to sleep at night with Oxygen. She is normal, except she has to go into the hospital 2 times a year minimum for “tune ups” of I.V. drips and two weeks in the hospital, this is if she is doing well, or it is for much longer. She is normal, except she has had 3 nose surgeries to clean out polyps, two lung surgeries and too many hospital visits to mention…they know her much too well at Children’s Hospital.

OK, so now you know Megan a little better. Now you know the dark side of her life. But you still cannot even imagine her life, its restrictions and what her mother and father deal with on a regular basis. You know when one of your kids gets sick with a bad cold? How you worry, how your heart aches looking at them not feeling good, how you have to take such close care of them….Well, times that times 100 and that is what Megan and her parents deal with on a DAILY basis.

We need to stop this disease; we need more money for more research. We need Megan to grow up and grow old. We need “Normal” for Megan. And I believe they are making great strides toward curing CF every day. I believe Megan can grow old. I believe your donations can make a difference. So please, click below, make a donation of any size, help Team Radical Radeks make a difference. Because together, we can make a difference for Megan. But we need your help.

Making a donation is easy and secure! Just click the "Click to Donate" button on this page to go to make a donation that will be credited to my team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!