Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to make "Great Strides"

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SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR Committee members involved in the Mahoning/Trumbull Great Strides walk campaign to raise funds for fight cystic fibrosis are, from left, Agi Irwin, Lindsay Adams, Melissa Rowland, Christine Falleti, Judy Greene, Colleen Novosel and Kathy O’Nesti. The walk will take place at Boardman Park on May 22.

BOARDMAN

The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is kicking off this year’s Mahoning/Trumbull Great Strides, part of a national walk campaign to take place in hundreds of cities to coincide with CF awareness month.

The local event will take place May 22 at the Chester V. Long Pavilion in Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road. Check-in will begin at 1 p.m. and the walk will start at 2. Volunteer chairwoman of this year’s event is Colleen Novosel.

Funds raised through such events have helped spur progress in the lives of those with cystic fibrosis.

Fifty years ago, most children with CF did not live long enough to attend elementary school. Today, people with CF are living into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

This year’s goal for the local chapter is to raise $55,000 for CF research, education and care. Since its inception in 2000, local contributors and sponsors have raised nearly $700,000 for the foundation.

The event will feature music, family-friendly entertainment and an ice-cream sundae bar hosted by Handel’s Ice Cream during the walk’s victory party.

An estimated 30,000 adults and children in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide have cystic fibrosis, which causes debilitating lung infections that lead to premature death. More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of a defective CF gene.

To get involved, call the Northern Ohio Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 216-901-CURE or visit Great Strides at cff.org.