Hey there! Thank you for visiting my fund raising page for the CF Foundation. I must first say that the CF Foundation and their ongoing efforts are the reason that I am alive today. Seriously.

This past year has been an unbelievable year for me and my CF Life! Currently I'm in the Phase 3 clinical trial for Vertex VX-770, a drug that goes right to the CF protein and opens up the chloride channel to help things work better. Let me break this down; This goes to treat the Basic Defect, where CF starts..stopping the symptoms of CF BEFORE THEY START. Life changing stuff here. Only made possible from your support.

So how is this Vertex VX 770 affecting me? Well my lung function has climbed and is holding steady at the highest number it has been since I can even remember. Maybe since I was 12 or so? I can take a deep breathe, I don't cough much at all, when I laugh I don't cough, my voice is much less raspy and I feel absolutely incredible. The salt in my sweat seems greatly reduced..I only know this after licking myself during my workouts at the gym. Some people may think I am nuts but they don't even know...

The reality of CF though is that I still spend a few hours each day doing chest physical therapy and breathing treatments and I must swallow 40+ pills. Before my crazy running and bike training began three years ago, I would go into the hospital 2-3 times a year from IV antibiotics. All of this does not stop me though, instead it keeps me rocking.

I have completed three half marathons (13.1 miles) and a few 5 and 10k races. This year I am running my first full marathon, 26.2 miles! I'm happy to say that right now the bumps and bruises I'm getting while training are not from CF, they are typical runner's injuries...amazing! My annual City to City Bike Ride is going to be from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh this year, all on a 315 mile trail. Should be amazing!!

Cystic fibrosis is a devastating genetic disorder that affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States. I was diagnosed with CF when i was 18 months old...I recently turned 28. When I was diagnosed my parents were told I probably wouldn't live long enough to graduate from high school. Currently life expectancy is around 37 years old and that is not acceptable! Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. Please help rock cystic fibrosis so hard that one day it will stand for cure found.

Again thank you for visiting this page and donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They are the reason I am alive today and we will not stop rocking until we find a cure! Rock CF, Emily Schaller