Thursday, August 25, 2011

2011 Palm Coast Great Strides Walk


Welcome to Palm Coast Great Strides 2011 this will be our second annual walk and last year was a great success. With your help we can make this year’s event even more exciting and successful.We walk in a effort to raise awareness and funds for the CFF in support of the nearly 30,000 Cystic Fibrosis patients in the United States and 1 Palm Coast child especially our little Breezy.
Mark your calendars now for an afternoon of FUN
On: Saturday, September 24 – 5:00 p.m.
At: Town Center in Central Park.
Before we lace up our walking shoes, I would like to thank you for your commitment to finding the cure for cystic fibrosis.
Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event. Tens of thousands of co-workers, friends and family come together each year as one community for one cause…to help find a cure for CF. In 2010, nearly $35.5 million was raised to support vital CF programs.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Palm Coast Observer Article- By Brian McMillan

Six-year-old Breezy Shiflett wants to be a veterinarian some day. For now, at her home in the E-Section, she keeps an eye on the wildlife in the backyard.

“Squirrel!” she says, pointing to a bushy tail scurrying across the lanai. “Mostly, I’m at school when he comes. I’m lucky today.”

You would never know by looking at her, or by listening to her describe how she likes losing teeth because the tooth fairy once gave her 10 bucks, but Breezy is lucky every day to be alive. She has cystic fibrosis, a genetic, chronic illness that creates a mucous buildup in the lungs. As a result, the lungs can become clogged and the pancreas can be hampered in its ability to digest food. There is no known cure. Life expectancy is 37 years.

Her mother, Jessica Bear, persistently took her to doctors until they had correctly diagnosed her at 4 years old and put her on medication and other treatments.

Bear also led the effort to start a local, annual Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis, which took place Friday, Sept. 24, at Town Center. Bear said about 200 people showed up, which was a tremendous turnout even country.

“That’s my talent — watching animals,” says Breezy, wearing purple flip-flops and purple pants. “Guess what? I have a pet swimming frog. … The main thing we see sometimes is golf balls on the other side of the lake. I picked two of them up and put them in my jewelry box. Because there was room for them.”

Breezy takes three pills with every meal, and her medicine routine changes frequently, as she battles different infections. She also takes nebulizers and inhalers. Every day or two, for about 20 minutes, she wears a special vest that fills with air and then vibrates her chest to loosen the mucous. She takes another pill to help her cough it up. Physical activity helps, and so Breezy is also on the cheer squad for the Imagine School Lions.

“But I’m a Georgia Bulldogs fan,” she says. She inherited the passion for the University of Georgia from her father, Nate Shiflett. “And I do not the like the Florida Gators,” she says. “My main thing that I really like is dogs. And I do not like alligators, because they kill dogs.”

“Breezy” is a nickname; her real name is Brianna, but when she was younger, long before she was diagnosed, her parents called her “Wheezy Breezy,” because she always seemed to have a raspy voice. She also didn’t gain weight, weighing just 23 pounds at 4 years old. Thanks to the treatments, Breezy is now approaching the 50th percentile, which has been one of Bear’s goals. Bear continues to do whatever is necessary for treatments (the vest cost $16,000), and she keeps close to friends in online, cystic fibrosis groups. She finds strength in the support she has received from people like Marie Butler, of Imagine School, who helped round up about 100 people for the Great Strides Walk. And Bear convinces herself that 37 is just a number — an average.

“Many people with (cystic fibrosis) reach their mid-20s and have living lung transplants or donor transplants,” she says. “You lose people who are a lot younger than that, but then there are some of them out there who are 60 years old.” And at the same time that she cares for Breezy, Bear also leans on her.

“Having spirit means you have a positive attitude, and doing your best,” Breezy says. “That’s our rules in class. To have, like, a smile on your face.”

Hundreds Rally for Cystic Fibrosis Walk- News Journal Article

BY AARON LONDON, STAFF WRITER

A steady, breezy rain did not deter the more than 200 walkers who turned out Friday for a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides walk.In fact, breezy was why they were there. Breezy Shiflett, to be exact.

Organized locally by Nate Shiflett and his wife, Jessica, the funds raised by the walk go to support research on the disease that has touched their lives through their 6-year-old daughter, Breezy.

Nate Shiflett said the response to the walk -- the first one of its kind in Flagler County -- was overwhelming.

"We started to get a buzz about a month ago with trying to promote the event," he said before the late afternoon event. "Imagine School helped a lot."

The Imagine School at Town Center presence was strong, with more than 100 students, teachers and parents on hand to walk for Breezy and others with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems 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, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Great Strides Walk 2010

The Great Strides Walk 2010 we had such a great turn out at this years walk with about 200 participants. We have raised around $8,000 so far and will continue to raise money until December 31st. Thanks so much to everyone who helped! Imagine School Town Center had over 100 students, parents and staff. We had wonderful community participation from Houligan's, Bruster's Ice Cream, All Counties Insurance, Smart Technologies, Dominic's Deli, Prosperity Bank, The Fire Department, and Mezzaluna Pizzera.


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Join us at Houligan's Tonight!!

Join us at Houligan's Tonight Wednesday 22nd Between 4-9 and 10% of your purchase will be donated to Team Breezy's Bravery. Help support Breezy's Bravery to reach our fundraising goal for Great Strides 2010!!

Please click on and print this coupon and give it to your server!!