Cystic Fibrosis - Emily's Story

Meet Emily, the inspiration for BioGuard Splash for CF™

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age nine, Emily was determined to

continue her normal routine as much as possible, including being an avid

swimmer and member of the Birmingham Swim League.

After reading a book about a young girl who raised money for her local

hospital by riding her bike, Emily decided she wanted to do something

similar to help raise money to support treatment and research as well as

raise awareness for cystic fibrosis. Spending four to five days each week

at the pool, she felt she could translate her love for swimming into a program to do just that.

In 2003, a mere six weeks after her diagnosis, Emily swam 65 laps in her first Laps for CF® event

raising $60,000, 20 times more than her original goal of $3,000. The next year, she swam again

and raised over $90,000. In 2005, Emily’s Laps for CF gained great momentum when it partnered

with the Auburn Swim Team of Auburn University and, together, they raised over $220,000.

In 2008, Laps for CF has partnered with BioGuard to host Splash for CFTM, a nationwide summer

swim program encouraging everyone young and old to jump in the pool to raise money in the fight

against cystic fibrosis.

"I want to do swim events for as long as people will help us. Even though CF doesn't affect that

many people, the people who are affected, it's a major part of our lives," says Emily. But, merely

finding a cure won’t change Emily’s fundraising plans. "If there was a cure for CF, that'd be really

great," she said, "But that doesn't mean we'd stop the fundraising even then because you've got

to pay for treatments and equipment."

Finding a cure won’t slow Emily down and neither will CF. Her daily routine includes 30 to 60

minutes of treatment, involving a vigorous clapping on the back and chest to loosen mucus that

could trap bacteria and cause infection, along with a steady dose of pills, including pancreatic

enzyme supplements to aid in the digestion of food. Emily considers the medication the worst

part of her day. However, doctors believe that her swimming has helped strengthen her lungs, a

fortunate bonus from her fundraising efforts.

Since the forming of the Laps for CF Foundation, Emily has been featured on NBC’s Today

Show, the Crystal Cathedral and numerous local television newscasts. She has also been

featured in numerous state and national publications including Sports Illustrated, Sports

Illustrated for Kids, and American Girl Magazine. For more information, please visit

www.lapsforcf.org and www.splashforcf.org.