Best Cystic Fibrosis Foundations Podcasts (2025)

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Evolving Your P2P Strategy Alongside Your Community with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Robin Paterson 25:39

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1d ago25:39

25:39

When life-saving treatments transform a terminal diagnosis into a chronic condition, everything changes — including how communities fundraise. The peer-to-peer landscape isn't just evolving with technology and trends; it's being reshaped by the very success of the causes we support. In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Robin Paterson, Senior …

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Sick Chick Strong: The Story of Jennifer Dunlea 55:06

3d ago55:06

55:06

The unstoppable Jennifer Dunlea is an advocate, a fighter, and an all-around powerhouse. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Jen has faced more medical battles than most people do in a lifetime, including surviving a rare cancer at just 23 years old. She’s a two-time double lung transplant recipient, living with diabetes and gastroparesis, and still somehow…

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From Patient to Powerhouse: Leslie Baldwin's story 33:04

10d ago33:04

33:04

The challenges and triumphs of living with a rare disease. Leslie Baldwin shares her personal journey with Common Variable Immune Deficiency and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. You'll hear what fueled her passion for advocacy and the creation of Michigan Rare (MI-RARE). Together, they discuss the power of community, the importance of patient empowerment, a…

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Sickle Cell Awareness Spotlight: Teonna’s Journey with Fertility and Advocacy 14:23

15d ago14:23

14:23

Guest: Teonna Woolford, CEO & Co-Founder, SC RED Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  Teonna had always known she wanted to have a lot of kids. At the age of nineteen, she discovered something that would change the trajectory of her life: she might be infertile due to sickle cell disease. Despite years of managing sickle cell, in and out of hospitals, doctor…

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Setting Your Teams Up For Success with Dolphins Cancer Challenge’s Javier Sanchez 33:39

16d ago33:39

33:39

Leading a P2P campaign means managing multiple moving pieces—fundraisers with different experience levels, corporate partners with varying expectations and internal staff with diverse skill sets. But the most successful leaders know that underneath all this complexity lies a simple truth: understanding what drives each person is the key to keeping …

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Miss America raising hope and awareness for CF 36:12

17d ago36:12

36:12

Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard: A Champion for Kids, Health, and Cystic Fibrosis Abbie Stockard, Miss America 2025, joins us to share her incredible journey, from Auburn University nursing student and Tiger Paws dancer to national advocate and role model. At just 22, Abbie has earned over $89,000 in scholarships through the Miss America Opportuni…

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MRI Fingerprinting: Revolutionizing Care for Rare / Dr. Chris Flask 36:28

24d ago36:28

36:28

What if a scan could do more than show you a picture, what if it could tell you a story about what’s happening inside a child’s body, in real time? That’s exactly what Dr. Chris Flask is working to make possible. Dr. Flask is a Professor of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals…

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Fighting for Firefighters: Maia Brown’s Mission to Change Infertility Support 17:18

30d ago17:18

17:18

Guest: Maia Brown, President of The Beltane Guild Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  Firefighters face physical and emotional challenges at work, but what about when they’re facing challenges with fertility? In this episode we hear from Maia Brown, a firefighter paramedic and president of The Beltane Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to firefighter reproductive…

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From Pain to Purpose: Founding the Carlos Rodón Foundation 14:33

1M ago14:33

14:33

Guest: Ashley Rodón, President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  In this powerful and personal episode, Ashley Rodón, wife of Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation, opens up about their emotional path to parenthood. Ashley shares how her dreams of starting a family were met with unexpected…

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Singing, Acting and Advocacy: It's in Julia Rae's DNA! 39:44

1M ago39:44

39:44

“I always say that singing and performing was as much a part of my DNA as cystic fibrosis.” Julia Rae From the moment Julia Rae could speak, she was singing, and from the moment she could dream, she was already imagining a bigger stage. As her mother fondly recalls, at just two years old, Julia was watching Barney on TV and asked, “How do I get in …

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Sophie Holmes: 36 marathons in 36 days 36:59

2M ago36:59

36:59

Never Just Surviving: Sophie Holmes on Running 36 Marathons with Cystic Fibrosis Despite a schedule packed with training, advocacy, and breaking world records, Sophie Holmes of the U.K. always makes time to share her story, and we’re so grateful she did. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just four months old, Sophie was told she might not live past…

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Fertility 101: The Basics of Genetics and Genetic Testing 15:36

2M ago15:36

15:36

Guest: Jay Shaw, MS, CGC, Senior Product Manager, Fulgent Genetics Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. Today’s episode is a deep dive into the role of genetics in fertili…

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Deploying P2P Strategies For Emergency Response with American Red Cross' Jessi Woomer 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

Crisis fundraising operates on a different timeline than traditional campaigns. When disaster hits, organizations have a critical 24-hour window to mobilize resources and activate their networks. But what separates organizations that thrive in crisis from those that scramble? The difference lies in preparation—having systems, messages, and communit…

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Advocacy in Action: From the Front Lines 52:28

2M ago52:28

52:28

“It’s an honor to be an advocate,” says Laura Bonnell, founder of The Bonnell Foundation. “We are the government—people are. If we don’t fight for fair laws that help the people they’re meant to serve, who will?” In this episode, Laura is joined by five passionate advocates—some seasoned, some new—who recently traveled to Washington, DC, to meet wi…

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Beating the Odds: From Cystic Fibrosis to Fatherhood 10:50

2M ago10:50

10:50

Guest: Dustin and Tequila Menken, Progyny Members at TE Connectivity Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  “I grew up with an expiration date.” Dustin Menken was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that brought him lifelong health challenges and made him part of the 98% of men with CF who are infertile. He never imagined he’d live to see 40, let al…

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Embracing A Builder's Mindset with Parkinson's Foundation's Kayln Henkel 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

There's a fundamental difference between inheriting a well-oiled P2P machine and building one from scratch. When you're tasked with creating systems, culture and infrastructure that need to scale alongside explosive organizational growth, you're not just managing programs - you're architecting the future. But here's what most people don't realize: …

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The power of yes: it saves lives (Mike Walters and Jason Vandiver) 47:00

3M ago47:00

47:00

We have a powerful conversation about dedication, innovation, and impact in the cystic fibrosis community in this podcast. I’m joined by two incredible guests from MVW Nutritionals: Mike Walters and Jason Vandiver. Mike Walters is a true pioneer in pharmaceutical business and innovation, with nearly four decades of experience. He began his career a…

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UFCW Local 152: How Personal Pain Led to Life Changing Benefits 21:16

3M ago21:16

21:16

Guest: Danny Ross, Jr., UFCW Local 152 President Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  Danny and Elizabeth Ross got married at 26, excited to start their lives together and hopeful about growing a family. When they started trying, they were met with a series of challenges that changed everything. Elizabeth was diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS. Danny had …

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How to provide lung health everyday 40:53

3M ago40:53

40:53

Substack is where I discovered Dr. MeiLan Han! I was browsing through and was pleasantly surprised to read an article, and learn that she wrote a book called, Breathing Lessons. And to top it off, she’s from my home state of Michigan. I also learned the Dr. Han’s book was “a passion project during the pandemic.” I’m delighted to share a conversatio…

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Aligning Marketing And Field Teams For P2P Success with Wounded Warrior Project's Brandi Glover 30:07

3M ago30:07

30:07

In P2P fundraising, there can often be a disconnect between the excitement marketing generates and the direct recruitment strategies implemented by local field teams. The result? Frustrated participants, overwhelmed staff and missed opportunities to achieve participation goals and build lasting relationships with supporters. But what if marketing a…

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Fertility 101: Sperm with Dr. Turek: Everything You Didn’t Learn in Health Class 16:58

3M ago16:58

16:58

Guest: Paul Turek, MD, FACS, FRSM, Founder of The Turek Clinic Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. When it comes to fertility, men are half of the equation, but too often…

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Personalized Mission: The Rosenau Family Foundation story 34:10

3M ago34:10

34:10

"Oh, the people you’ll meet, and the places you’ll go..." That classic Dr. Seuss line couldn’t have been more true when I found myself at a rare disease conference, taking with Dr. Gabriel Cohn. A quiet presence with a resume that reads like a roadmap through the last 30 years of rare disease breakthroughs, Dr. Cohn is the kind of person who remind…

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Growing Your “Share Of Community” Through P2P with AIDS Foundation Chicago’s Jonathan Harris & Christina Robinson 31:10

4M ago31:10

31:10

Marketers love to throw around terms like “share of voice” and “share of wallet” - ways to track how much attention or spending a brand commands. But in peer-to-peer fundraising, there’s a different kind of share that matters more. Growing your “share of community” is about going deeper with the people closest to your cause - the ones who feel seen…

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Reimagining LGBTQ+ Family Building: A Midwife’s Perspective 14:10

4M ago14:10

14:10

Guest: Marea Goodman, Co-Founder of PregnantTogether Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples going through their family building journeys, having a medical support system that truly understand their lived experience can make all the difference. In this episode, we hear from Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife, parent of three, a…

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Costco to Connection: Magazine to Mic with Michelle Glogovac 47:44

4M ago47:44

47:44

From Costco to Connection: Podcast Advice That Changed Everything When I spotted a feature on podcasting in The Costco Connection, I was excited. When I saw Michelle Glogovac featured? I knew I had to reach out. That decision turned into one of the best moves I’ve made for growing my podcast. Michelle, THE Podcast Matchmaker®, publicist, and author…

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Activating The Content Creator Community Through P2P with The Immune Deficiency Foundation’s Aimee Yrlas-Simpson & Angela Ridenour 39:13

4M ago39:13

39:13

Celebrity gossip magazines love to remind us: "Stars — they’re just like us!" And while the world of digital creators and streamers can feel like a distant universe, the truth is that these online personalities aren’t so different from the rest of us. As P2P fundraising increasingly intersects with the creator community, it’s easy to view streamers…

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Voices of Care: A Live and Unfiltered Conversation 1:16:39

4M ago1:16:39

1:16:39

Live from Mix and Mingle Education Day: A Powerful Conversation with Caregivers In this deeply moving live episode recorded at the Mix and Mingle Education Day, we brought together a powerful group of caregivers—grandparents, parents, stepparents, dads, and friends—for a heartfelt discussion about the emotional journey of caring for a loved one wit…

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Family Building Without Barriers: Maggie’s Reciprocal IVF Journey 15:30

4M ago15:30

15:30

Guest: Maggie Garnsey, Progyny Member at Santander Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  For LGBTQ+ couples, traditional fertility coverage can leave them behind with little to no access to the actual coverage. Many are forced to undergo unnecessary, emotionally taxing procedures to meet outdated definitions of infertility. For Maggie and her wife, Alli, they…

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Obesity in CF: A New Challenge in a Healthier Future 38:12

4M ago38:12

38:12

Cystic Fibrosis and obesity? Until recently this has not been a topic of conversation for the CF community. The reason for obesity in the CF community is better health and longer lives, so the concern is now a reality. University of Michigan CF doctor, Carey Lumeng is researching the issue. As he says in this podcast, researchers have a lot to lear…

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Assessing Opportunities For New Market Growth with The ALS Association’s Cliff Whitlock 31:29

4M ago31:29

31:29

In the early days of peer-to-peer fundraising events, one of the fastest ways to grow a program was to launch events in new markets. But many organizations scaled back over time, whether due to strategic shifts or limited resources. So what happens when it’s time to grow again? How do you evaluate new opportunities and ensure long-term success? Exp…

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70 years strong: The Luanne McKinnon story. 1:03:30

5M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

A 70-year-old person with cystic fibrosis. It’s a phrase that wasn’t just uncommon a few decades ago—it was virtually unheard of. When Luanne McKinnon was diagnosed in 1969 at just 13 years old, doctors told her parents she might live to be 19 years old. Today, Luanne stands on the edge of her 70th birthday—a milestone that not only redefines possi…

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From Struggle to Storybook: The Journey Behind Cupcakes Everywhere 15:58

5M ago15:58

15:58

Guest: Erin Sarris, Progyny Member Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  When Erin Sarris and her husband first visited a fertility clinic, they were hit with unexpected news: severe male factor infertility and an immediate recommendation to pursue IVF. What followed was a long, winding, and often painful journey filled with setbacks, from failed cycles to lo…

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Live Fearlessly: Jacob Venditti 31:54

5M ago31:54

31:54

Eight miles. Two friends. One cause. This episode now holds even deeper meaning. Jacob Venditti, who has since passed away from complications of cystic fibrosis (August 16th 2025), shares his story with a raw honesty that feels like a gift. He opens up about life with CF, the daily challenges he faced as he prepared for a lung transplant, and the v…

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Inspiring Your P2P Community With A Bold, Audacious Goal With Pat Morrissey, Team Human Powered Potential & Liz Deimer, The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research 45:21

5M ago45:21

45:21

In the P2P fundraising world, we often look to the spark of organic, supporter-led moments like the Ice Bucket Challenge as examples of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. But when lightning strikes, are you ready to catch it? This episode dives into one such moment: when four friends, Pat Morissey, Brendan Cusick, Peter Durso, and Scott Fo…

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Building Better Benefits—for Bread Financial and Herself 13:36

5M ago13:36

13:36

In this episode, we hear a deeply personal and professional journey. As a benefit’s leader, Deanna Allison was on a mission to bring better fertility and family building benefits to her company, Bread Financial. Simultaneously, Deanna had also just set out on her own path to parenthood, realizing she would likely need support to build a family. Dea…

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From Bulky to Breakthrough: The Future of Airway Clearance 27:37

5M ago27:37

27:37

From Clunky to Cutting-Edge: The Evolution of Airway Clearance with Nicole Dunn When our daughters first received their vest machines, they felt like they weighed a hundred pounds and had to be plugged into the wall. The vests didn’t fit well—riding high in the armpits and leaving much to be desired in comfort and function. Fast forward 25 years, a…

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Creating Synergy Across A Growing P2P Portfolio with Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s Steve Merker 28:54

5M ago28:54

28:54

In the early days of the P2P industry, most nonprofits concentrated on one tentpole P2P event—typically a walk or cycling program—which allowed them to align staffing, branding, and resources around a single, large-scale initiative, focusing on broad market appeal. However, as the industry has evolved, so too has the need to diversify offerings—bot…

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Love & Surrogacy: A Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant Winner's Story 14:45

6M ago14:45

14:45

When Kristina and Lorenzo set out to build their family, they knew their path wouldn’t be traditional. Kristina’s complex medical history including epilepsy, endometriosis, and thalassemia made pregnancy unsafe, but that didn’t stop them from pursuing their dream of having a child. In this episode, they share their deeply personal journey of sacrif…

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Milestones, Medicine, and the CF Community with Siri Vaeth 53:36

6M ago53:36

53:36

CFRI’s Executive Director, Siri Vaeth is sunshine to me. She’s a dear friend. We met after Siri took on her role with the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute. I consider Siri a dear friend, and a mentor. Siri is truly among the smartest people I know. She is an advocate for her daughter Tess, who has CF, and is an incredible advocate for the CF comm…

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Aaron Trumm: living his best life! 45:23

6M ago45:23

45:23

I love that I was able to bump into Aaron Trumm via an email. He reached out to check in about our scholarship program for college. We only award grants to undergrad students, but I was intrigued by all I learned about him. Aaron has CF, he is post-transplant, he started a recording label, he plays the piano and wraps, And he worked with the man kn…

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Healing Through Song: Nelly Joy’s Journey Through Endometriosis, IVF, and Grief 1:10:48

6M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Infertility is a deeply personal and often isolating experience, but for singer-songwriter Nelly Joy, music became both an outlet and a source of connection. In this episode, Nelly shares her raw and emotional journey with endometriosis and the struggles she faced while trying to conceive, which pushed her limits physically and emotionally. From to…

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Secondary Infertility, Surrogacy, Surprise! 21:33

7M ago21:33

21:33

For Alex Kornswiet, the path to parenthood started with unexpected ease, having her first son after one round of IVF, following a blocked fallopian tube diagnosis. Trying to have their second child wasn’t as smooth sailing. Alex and her husband experienced secondary infertility and a frustrating path including canceled cycles, recurrent pregnancy l…

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Bob Coughlin, CF Dad: from Congress to Science 45:50

7M ago45:50

45:50

CF Dad Bob Coughlin see's a cure in the future for his son, and all of our kids. His high energy in this podcast is contagious. In this conversation, Laura Bonnell and Bob Coughlin discuss the journey of Bob's son, Bobby, who has cystic fibrosis. They explore the advancements in treatment, the importance of advocacy, and the intersection of policy …

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AMH, IVF, OMG: How an At-Home Fertility Test Fast-Tracked Erin’s Path to Motherhood 19:46

7M ago19:46

19:46

Newly engaged and nearing her thirties, today’s guest knew she wanted children in the future, so she opted for an at-home fertility test. The results shocked her, revealing something that changed everything - her biological clock was ticking faster than she had expected. What started as curiosity quickly became a call to action. In this episode, Er…

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Michael Armstrong, wise beyond his years 26:45

7M ago26:45

26:45

Michael Armstrong is a 25-year-old pre-law student. He loves to read, paint, play card games and video games. He was diagnosed with CF as an infant. We’re going to talk about his CF journey and how life took a turn when he was being evaluated for a lung transplant in 2023 and 2024. Michael was featured in the 2025 Portraits of cystic fibrosis calen…

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Single Parent by Choice: Choosing Solo Motherhood and Overcoming Loss 17:24

8M ago17:24

17:24

For today’s guest, becoming a mother wasn’t just a dream—it was a promise she made to herself. In her mid-30s, Erica Ward knew she wanted to be a parent more than she wanted to be a wife. By 40, she made the decision to pursue single motherhood, despite the challenges ahead. Her path wasn’t easy, from choosing a sperm donor, failed IUIs to IVF, and…

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Life after the death of a child to CF 42:53

8M ago42:53

42:53

If you lose a child to CF, what does that do to parents? To their identity? And their place in the CF community. These are hard discussions to have, but for a couple years now Peggy Hawkins has want to share her story on this podcast. Peggy talks about the toll waiting for a transplant takes on a family. One of the issues was that one of them alway…

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How Laura Overcame Infertility and Postpartum Depression 20:53

8M ago20:53

20:53

What happens when the path to parenthood takes unexpected turns? For Laura, it meant navigating the heartbreak of unexplained infertility, the frustrations of multiple failed IUIs, and the surprising joy of a positive pregnancy test during the unlikeliest of cycles. But as her story unfolds, it becomes clear that getting pregnant was just the begin…

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Advocate, Amanda Boone 1:05:19

8M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

Saving yourself by way of advocacy. Living with cystic fibrosis podcast host, Laura Bonnell talks to CF advocate, Amanda Boone about the fight that grew from a threat to her medications in Colorado. Amanda has led the way against the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). Amanda, who has CF, was struggling prior to 2019 because her health wa…

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BreatheStrong CF 44:09

8M ago44:09

44:09

I have known Becky Penuel for many years. Becky used to run Miles for cystic fibrosis and then merged her nonprofit with Brian Callanan’s nonprofit, CF Life Fitness. After the merger, the nonprofit name is now: BreatheStrong. Becky is the Executive Director and was not able to join us today but, her Director of Operations is with us . Shawna Gray i…