I recently received a message from her husband Lance that I had to share with all of you. He is doing something amazing to raise money for a very noble cause, the Boomer Esiason Foundation. This foundation helped me with some of my re-location expenses for transplant and is an incredible support for those of us with CF. Lance is running the New York City Marathon, a feat I can only imagine, and is running it as a member of Team Boomer. If you would be willing to sponsor him, I would be greatly appreciative!
Here is Lance's message:
Dear Friends and Family -
On November 6, 2011, I will be running the New York City Marathon. This will be my fifth marathon, but it will be my first marathon as a member of a team that is united for a cause. The team I am joining is Team Boomer.
The members of Team Boomer will be running the New York City Marathon to raise money for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Boomer Esiason is a former NFL quarterback who started the foundation after his son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). The mission of the foundation is to increase awareness, education and the quality of life for those affected by CF while providing financial support to research aimed at finding a cure. The foundation also provides funding to help cover costs that patients incur in connection with lung transplantation.
CF is a life-threatening disease that causes difficulty in breathing, inflammation and infections that cause extreme damage to the lungs. It also can impair the digestive system, which can lead to malnutrition. Although great advances have been made in the way of treating the symptoms of CF, there currently is no cure for the disease and the median age for survival of CF patients is 37 years old.
As most of you know, my wife, Cammi, battled CF for close to 20 years and just two years ago was the fortunate recipient of a double lung transplant. I have seen firsthand the damage that CF causes and the heavy burden it places on the lives of those affected by the disease. When Cammi’s lungs became so damaged by CF that she had no other viable options, we temporarily moved our family across the country to wait almost a year for a healthy set of lungs for her. Although Cammi’s journey has definitely not been easy, our family has been blessed along the way by the support of family and friends, access to leading doctors and surgeons and the financial means necessary to pay for medical care and relocation costs. I know that not all CF patients and families are so fortunate.
I decided to join Team Boomer to show my support for all the patients and families who deal with CF on a daily basis, to help spread awareness of CF and to raise funds for this important cause that is dear to my heart. We all have challenges we face in our lives and CF is one of the challenges our family has been dealt. I believe it is my moral responsibility to do what I can to support the CF community and to contribute to the efforts to find a cure.
I know that there are hundreds of great causes and that many of you already support several other wonderful charities. I also know that it is impossible to support every worthy cause. For those of you who are willing and able to show your support through a financial donation, please click on the following link or cut and paste it into your browser to go to my fundraising page and make an online tax deductible donation:
All donations are secure and sent directly to The Boomer Esiason Foundation by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation. For those of you who are unable to contribute financially, I hope that this message will help to remind you of the ongoing battle to end CF and possibly inspire you to participate in a future run, walk or other event for CF that may take place in your local community.
Thank you to all of you for all the love and support each of you has shown our family throughout the years.
All the best,
Lance Brady
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