Turning Turmoil to Triumph– A Mother’s Journey Toward Finding a Cure
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Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 70,000 children and adults worldwide. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and body and leads to fatal infections. There is no cure… yet.
Finding out that your child has an incurable disease is something that no parent is ever prepared for. And for parent Amy Rovai-Wieler, learning that two of her children suffer from the disease was the hardest thing she’s ever endured.
Amy’s children were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 70,000 people worldwide. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and airways, leading to deadly infections throughout the body. The mucus also obstructs the pancreas, preventing the body from absorbing food. CF is a disease that used to prevent kids from living past the age of five and offered little hope for any cure. But thanks to parents like Amy and the dedication of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, all that is changing.
Amy knew that she couldn’t sit back and do nothing. If her kids were to live a long healthy life, she would need to help find their cure. Amy became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and began organizing events to help raise money for research. Since CF receives no government funding, it’s up to the parents and community to help raise the money needed for research.
Amy began chairing the Northern California Great Strides Walk in Sacramento. Under her leadership, the Walk has more than doubled in size to over 1200 walkers, and has raised close to $500,000 the past few years. Amy’s passion, dedication, and creativity have turned the Walk into a fun-filled family day, complete with free food, music, carnival games, mascots, entertainment, and an amazing raffle! Gabby Stepp, a CF patient and Walker, nominated Amy for the CLASSY Award.
“It’s extraordinary to know how much Amy does for all of us. She’s not only given us the chance to unite together to raise awareness for a cure, but also the HOPE that we WILL find one!” Fellow CF mom Stephanie Davis adds, “Amy is constantly thinking of new ways to spread awareness and raise money to help ALL our children. I am more than proud to be in this fight with her and incredibly thankful for all the time, effort and passion she puts into each creative idea!”
When Amy isn’t organizing various CF events, teaching full time at her school, or being a mother to her four young children, she spends time creating a full line of hair and clothing accessories for her Couture For A CF Cure online boutique, for which all proceeds benefit the CFF. One of her favorite parts of her boutique is her Couture For Courage program, which sends a package full of Couture to CF kids who are hospitalized, so they can dress up and feel beautiful, despite being stuck in a hospital bed.
Pete Tucker, Senior Director for CFF is so grateful for all Amy does. “Amy has inspired so many through her efforts and time working to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). She’s played a vital role helping us make the initials CF soon stand for Cure Found!’
More About This Charity
Region
West
Category
Volunteer of the Year
Name
Amy Rovai-Wieler for the Sacramento Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Mission
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. We fund more CF research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. We are a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Our focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately to find a cure!
Impact
- This Volunteer raised $150,000 through this Achievement
- This Volunteer raised $300,000 for their charity beneficiary in the past year
- This Volunteer helped 30,000 people through this Achievement
- This Volunteer helped 70,000 people in the past year
- This Volunteer inspired 1,200 people to walk to raise money for a cure
Works In
United States
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