Being able to do yoga regularly is very important to Jessica. Not only does the practice help her mentally but it keeps her lung function scores consistent. She loves to play with her nieces and wants to make sure she has enough energy to run around with them. She also notices a huge positive difference in how clear her lungs feel and how few exacerbations she has when she's doing yoga frequently.
Being able to go out golfing allows Brian to not think about CF for a while. He has found that golf is a lot like CF - they both take time and dedication to master, and you have to be good at all parts of it, not just one. Swinging a golf club lets him release his mind of all the trouble and worries that CF brings.
Michael loves to run around outside in the park, woods, playground, farms, or anywhere he can. He is a very energetic and enthusiastic four-year old. Running and playing help get out some of his energy, and it helps when it's time to do his treatments. Being active also helps him eat and sleep better, which are very important for someone with CF. Being able to go to summer farm camp will allow Michael to have a fun new experience while learning about cooking, farming, hiking, and farm animals. It will also help him develop his social skills with other kids his age.
Emma likes to do a lot of different activities, like rollerblading and skiing. She does martial arts the most though and has found that it helps a lot with her breathing. Martial arts has also been a good way for her to learn how to defend herself. Emma knows the importance of exercise on her lungs and wants to do whatever she can to continue to improve her lung function.
As a police officer Robert knows he has to have a way to keep his mind clear and a way to deal with stress. He loves to golf and ride his motorcycle with his wife. These things take endurance and strength, which he knows he will gain by working out at a gym regularly. By working hard and exercising, he hopes to achieve a level of fitness that will keep him moving forward.
Natalie has a lot of activities that she enjoys like riding her bike, gymnastics, jumping on her trampoline, and swimming. She knows that in order to keep doing these activities, she has to be strong and healthy though. Working out with her personal trainer has helped her build muscle and strength, which allows her to play as much as she wants. "I would like to have this grant so that I can be healthier and so I can live longer."
Contessa is a middle school teacher, and after running around after kids all day, she doesn't always have the energy to exercise. Having a gym membership would allow her to work out regularly and increase her strength and stamina. It would also help her overall physical fitness and lung function. Contessa wants to do everything she can to keep herself healthy and active.
Mariah has been dancing since she was four, and she loves doing it. She loves being in shows with her friends and laughing. She wants to keep dancing as long as she can because she can tell that it's helping her breathing.
"I recently took up ballroom dancing in an attempt to find an activity that could provide the benefits of being with friends while getting a workout. I can honestly say that in the short time since, dancing has become my favorite activity." Jonathan loves being active and finding fun ways to do that. Ballroom dancing has been a great activity for him because it appeals to his love of music and his competitive side. Also, this activity allows him to meet new people and reach new levels of personal development.
Justin wants to get back in shape so he can run and be active without getting tired. Having a personal trainer would help him learn how to use the gym equipment. Getting stronger and more physically fit is very important to Justin. He used to be more in shape when he was younger because he played football. He is ready to work hard to get back to that.
