Valerie Batz is a 58-year-old daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, and grandmother with cystic fibrosis. She was diagnosed at 22 months old. Valerie graduated from the University of Illinois in 1981 and has studied and worked in international business. She married in 1987 and gave birth to twins (a son and a daughter) in 1988. Valerie received a double-lung transplant in 1998 and loves breathing with her beautiful "new" lungs. She started a Great Strides walk site in her hometown of Barrington more than 10 years ago and has chaired dances, galas, teas and other CF fundraisers. She has also served as a mentor to other CF patients awaiting their lung transplant, and she speaks to local high school health classes about organ donation.
