THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. HERE'S WHY WE NEED YOUR DONATION (JUST HIT "CLICK TO DONATE", ABOVE):

We're getting closer. Ali is doing great. IN FACT, SHE GRADUATES FROM USM ON MAY 15, 2010, THE SAME DAY AS THIS YEAR'S GREAT STRIDES WALK!

Unfortunately, some of our dear CF friends, who at 21 were as healthy as Ali, are now (in their 30's) headed for lung transplants or are enduring frequent hospitalizations due to CF-related lung decline. When your lungs are functioning at a half or third of normal capacity, you can feel like you're drowning. Or, if you survive with CF past childhood (many don't!), you can be really healthy for a long time and then wonder what hit you when you find yourself wearing a respirator just to get through your workday or school day. You can also dream - of the cure. Let's make it reality!

TOGETHER, WE CAN ACHIEVE BETTER TREATMENTS AND A CURE! WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE MEDIAN AGE OF SURVIVAL INCREASE FROM 18 TO 37 IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES! FUNDS RAISED FROM GREAT STRIDES AND OTHER CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION EFFORTS HELP GET THE JOB DONE - YOU ARE HELPING US IN OUR GOAL OF SEEING CF GO AWAY - NEW TREATMENTS ARE THAT PROMISING!

IMAGINE : * No more worries about a "MEDIAN AGE OF SURVIVAL" (currently 37) * BYE-BYE HOSPITAL * HELLO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, HELLO COLLEGE, HELLO STARTING A CAREER & FAMILY, EVEN "HELLO GRANDCHILDREN!" * No more fights with health insurance plan (just to get needed meds to survive)

IMAGINE: * Focusing on school, sports, drama, work, play, friendships, family * LIVING - LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, join Ali Donahue ("Ali Katz" Team leader) and Patty Morris (Ali's Mom) in the 2010 GREAT STRIDES WALK:

Where: Portland - Walk thru Payson Park & along Back Cove Boulevard When: SATURDAY May 15, 2010. REGISTRATION 9 AM at ST.PIUS CHURCH PARKING LOT 492 Ocean Av, Portland, Maine Why: Please help us meet our team fund-raising goal of $7,000! Your generous gift will help find new treatments and, ultimately, a CURE! More than $.90 out of every dollar you contribute will be used to fund the vital programs of the CF Foundation, which is why Smart Money and Fortune Magazines give top marks to CFF as a charity you can trust with your tax-deductible dollars!

HOW: MAKING A DONATION IS EASY AND SECURE! Just click the 'CLICK TO DONATE" button on this page to make a donation that will be credited to Team Ali Katz. ANY amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!

LOVE GREAT MUSIC? Buy our CD, recently featured in an article in Portland Magazine - Ali and her fam perform with their talented Berklee College educated jazz friends - these guys have chops - the guitarist has even been on late night with Leno and Conan! Oh, and the drummer has been accepted into the prestigious Thelonius Monk School in New Orleans! Original lyrics and music by CF family members, on themes of turning finite life's energy to positive use, and including a tribute to Ali and others struggling with CF in the song "65 Roses". Visit www.dukkhasnemesis.com or contact Patty at dukkhasnemesis@gmail.com to check out or order the CD.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP: JOIN TEAM ALI KATZ. We need NEW teams too - CREATE A TEAM AT YOUR WORKPLACE OR NEIGHBORHOOD. Contact Patty at dukkhasnemesis@gmail.com for more info. COME TO THE WALK ON MAY 15!

To learn more about CF and research efforts, please visit: www.cff.org.

Together, we can IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE & SAVE LIVES of those with CF! THANKS for your help!!! LOVE, Ali, Patty, and TEAM ALI KATZ