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ENLARGE
Participants during last year's Cystic Fibrosis Walk along the shores of Lake Dillon. The Walk will take place again this year July 11.
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The Great Strides Walk is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest national fundraising event. Tens of thousands of co-workers, friends and family come together each year in more than 600 walks nationwide to help find a cure for the disease. In 2008, nearly $37 million was raised to support important cystic fibrosis programs.
For more information, contact the CFF office at (877) 296-6610, e-mail colorado@cff.org or visit www.greatstrides.cff.org
For more information, contact the CFF office at (877) 296-6610, e-mail colorado@cff.org or visit www.greatstrides.cff.org
SUMMIT COUNTY — The first time Kim Andersen organized a walk for cystic fibrosis research, she did it independently — with only a few other families in the county — and they raised more than $10,000.
“I thought, ‘we need to do (the walk) bigger,'” Andersen said. So, she joined forces with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and went for it.
With the help of more than 200 walkers, she raised $70,000 in 2008 with a Great Strides Walk in Summit Cove. It was so successful, she's doing in again — on Saturday, July 11.
Why? Anderson's daughter, Megan, was diagnosed with the disease at 18 months old.
Megan, now almost 10, must take 40-60 pills and have two lung treatments every day, along with regular visits to Children's Hospital in Denver.
“I met Megan Andersen a couple years ago — she's a delightful, energetic, sweet young girl,” said Julie McCluskie, a local volunteer. “The disease she has is incredibly frustrating, the things she has to deal with because of it.”
According to Andersen, the disease only affects 30,000 kids and adults in the country — it's not a widespread illness — but “it's the most common fatal genetic disease.”
“Most people don't even know what it is until you know someone that it affects,” Andersen said.
“I thought, ‘we need to do (the walk) bigger,'” Andersen said. So, she joined forces with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and went for it.
With the help of more than 200 walkers, she raised $70,000 in 2008 with a Great Strides Walk in Summit Cove. It was so successful, she's doing in again — on Saturday, July 11.
Why? Anderson's daughter, Megan, was diagnosed with the disease at 18 months old.
Megan, now almost 10, must take 40-60 pills and have two lung treatments every day, along with regular visits to Children's Hospital in Denver.
“I met Megan Andersen a couple years ago — she's a delightful, energetic, sweet young girl,” said Julie McCluskie, a local volunteer. “The disease she has is incredibly frustrating, the things she has to deal with because of it.”
According to Andersen, the disease only affects 30,000 kids and adults in the country — it's not a widespread illness — but “it's the most common fatal genetic disease.”
“Most people don't even know what it is until you know someone that it affects,” Andersen said.
Great Strides Walk and fundraiser
This year's annual Great Strides Walk starts and ends at Summit Cove Elementary School in Dillon. Walker registration begins at 8 a.m., and the event starts at 9. “It's a very family-friendly walk,” McCluskie said, adding that kids are encouraged to participate and leashed dogs are OK. “We're raising awareness and dollars for the cure.”
And this year's fundraising goal is to hit the $70,000 mark again.
“It's so much harder to raise funds this year,” Andersen said, noting that kids, families, parents and friends all over the country are independently raising money for the cause. Additionally, the Howling Coyote CoffeeHouse in Summit Cove is taking donations for the fundraiser at the register.
Call Anderson at (970) 409-8871 or e-mail her at kim4cf@mac.com for more information. People can also donate online at www.cff.org.
