Richard was diagnosed at 8 years old with cystic fibrosis after his parents noticed his failure to thrive, asthma-like coughing and wheezing, and gastrointestinal issues, and took him to an endocrinologist . Richard grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the perfect climate for his lungs — cool and salty. He is a full-time laboratory professional at a major hospital system and volunteers at his church and with a children’s grief camp. Richard recently completed a training program at Johns Hopkins and hopes to pursue a career in genetics. He just completed his first 5K run in June. He lives in Tacoma, Wash., with his partner, Cheyenne, who would describe him as a “theatrical nerd” who enjoys writing, theater, Dungeons and Dragons, and improv. You can connect with him on Facebook.
