Hundreds of cyclists rode in the 2nd annual Aptalis CF Cycle for Life earlier this month, raising $120,000 for cystic fibrosis research—a 167 percent increase in fundraising from last year.
“The great success we experienced this year was due to the support of our sponsors—Bristol Farms, Smart & Final, Harley Marine, SmartWater, Unified Grocers, Sara Lee, and Hidden Villa Ranch as well as the participating cyclists,” said Michael Shumard, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “We could not have achieved this without the Orange County community coming together to help in our mission of finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.”
Additionally, this year’s honorary chair, Kevin Davis, president and CEO of Bristol Farms, was recognized as the overall top fundraiser, raising more than $22,000 this year.
According to Davis, “this was all possible because of the relationship Bristol Farms has with the community and our vendors. Once many vendors heard about Bristol Farms involvement, they stepped up as well.”
Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. The average lifespan of someone with cystic fibrosis is 37 years old.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit donor-supported organization, is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. The foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to cystic fibrosis. It funds and accredits more than 115 cystic fibrosis care centers, 95 adult care programs and 50 affiliate programs, and has 80 chapters and branch offices nationwide.
In the featured photo at top: Dave Hirz, president of Smart & Final, left, Shelby Klug and Kevin Davis, president and CEO Bristol Farms. (Photos courtesy of Sara Young Photography)
