POULSBO — The 23rd annual Poulsbo CF Walk will take place on May 30. Participants will meet at Vinland Elementary School for festivities before the event.
The Poulsbo CF Walk is a walk presented annually by the Great Stride, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event. All proceeds from this event go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and from there 90 cents of every dollar is donated to research in hopes of finding a cure.
Cystic Fibrosis, or CF, is a life-threatening disease that damages the lungs and pancreas. Mucus becomes thick and sticky, blocking airways; thickened secretions in the pancreas affect the body’s ability to break down food and absorb nutrients.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, roughly 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. Thanks to research and the awareness being spread by events such as the Poulsbo CF Walk, more treatments are now available for those diagnosed, but a cure has yet to be developed.
That is a main goal for Brianna Strand, a young woman who is living with CF and whose family began this event after she was diagnosed. She and her husband are now in charge of the local event.
“We’ve done a lot of work promoting this event and spreading awareness this year,” Strand said. “We’ve really worked to get our name out there and encourage people to get involved.”
Strand was diagnosed at age 3, and as her parents began trying to research a disease that was not well known, the Great Strides Walk was born. Strand is now a spokesperson for the cause.
The community has joined her efforts and is taking part in this year’s event. There will be monster trucks, hydro planes, the Poulsbo Police Department K-9 unit, restored military vehicles, a photo booth and more.
Strand and fellow CF activists had a booth at Viking Fest and were in the parade. With the walk going on its 23rd year, Strand said they have “so much going on.”
Local businesses wil provide food for participants. Safeway will provide sub sandwiches, Westside Pizza will supply pizza and Buffalo Wild Wings has recently gotten involved.
“We just got the call yesterday that Buffalo Wild Wings is having employees come out and volunteer as well as donating a ton of wings,” Strand said over the phone on May 22. “That’s really cool.”
Other local businesses are supporting the event. If you walk, run, skip, bike, unicycle, pogo stick or take part in any other form of transportation, you can join in on the Poulsbo CF Walk. Check in begins at 9 a.m. on May 30.
In Strand’s words: “This walk is full of hope, you can feel it. There is research going on right now, making huge strides for CF. A lot taking place in Seattle, in our community. This is a great way to spread awareness and it will be fun. A great way to kick off the summer.”
Online: www.poulsbocfwalk.org
