Our son, Scott, has had some recent health challenges, and as a result Joan and I are being especially maniacal about our fund-raising for cystic fibrosis research this year! Scott's been coughing up blood intermittently since Thanksgiving. He's been admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital three times and had two bronchial embolizations where they rout a catheter through the big artery in his groin, through his heart, into his lungs, and then cauterize the bleeding vessels. He's had some modest, occasional bleeding since, but is now back at Catholic seminary, praying for all of us sinners! Coughing up blood is not uncommon for CF patients, but what they worry about is that a minor leak becomes a gusher, and then he can bleed out and die. That got our attention, and, frankly, has freaked out Scott some, not to mention his freaking parents!

But despite the challenges, we remain incredibly hopeful about our battle against this disease. You may have seen news reports in February of the FDA's approval of a new medicine from Vertex that is the equivalent of a cure for about 4% of CF patients! It doesn't target the vast majority of CF patients, including Scott and Joy, but it does unlock some research doors that WILL help our kids. In fact, Vertex is in Phase 2 trials right now on a combination therapy that would affect my children. All of this never would have happened without the CF Foundation and research support from people like you.

Thanks to the amazing generosity of you and others last year, Joan and I were able to raise over $35,000 from our nearest and dearest to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis. This year we hope you will once again open your hearts and wallets to help save the lives of our children, Scott and Joy. BTW, fortunately, Joy hasn't had as much health drama as Scott this past year. Her lung function is over 90% of normal; she'll turn 30 next month, and is a social worker for Catholic Charities.

Please take a moment - now! - to go to our Team website and make a donation. http://www.cff.org/great_strides/AlanHolmer Or if you prefer to send a check, the CF Foundation is only too eager to accommodate! Just send it payable to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, DC Chapter, c/o Ron Slomski, 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 312, Bethesda, MD 20814.

The event is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's walk program -- Great Strides, our largest national fund-raising event. The Metropolitan Washington, DC chapter, which I chair, holds 12 walks, all in our community. In 2010, over 1 million dollars were raised locally to support CF programs (and $37 million nationwide). This walk brings the entire community out for one cause -- to help find a cure for CF.

Thanks in advance for your generosity and support.