GSL raises money for Cystic Fibrosis
April 12, 2016
By ANSLEE ROGERS and ZACK THOMAS
The Girl’s Service League is taking part this year in the St Pete Great Strides walk for Cystic Fibrosis.
The walk is a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to raise money to find a cure. Warren Smith organized the walk. He got involved because his 19-year-old son was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when he was a year old. Money raised will also benefit the Cystic Fibrosis center at All Children’s Hospital that the son attended until he was 18.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition in which the lungs and digestive system becomes clogged with sticky mucus. There is no cure, but the treatments have greatly improved through the years.
Senior and Girls Service League member Paige McAuliffe says GSL helped to support the walk at the Saturday Morning Market by gathering supporters’ email addresses and passing out posters.
“I like helping people. … I like seeing their response(s),” McAuliffe said.
Smith said volunteers are still needed.
“I would love for it to be too big and have to move it back to downtown eventually. I really want to recruit more teams, schools, corporations and local businesses. Most of the teams are family members of patients or past patients,” Smith said.
Smith said he got in touch with GSL because he wanted students to help with the walk. It would provide students volunteer hours for Bright Futures scholarships, and he would receive help and support for the event. Smith said he’s helped about 20 students get their volunteer hours for Bright Futures scholarships by working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“My reason for reaching out to Lakewood is your school is the closest to the park and I am looking for a partnership with a school. I want everyone interested involved. There are a lot of activities to get a walk off the ground and I could use help with all of them,” Smith said.
The St Pete Great Strides walk will be taking place at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on April 16 at 8 a.m. Anyone interested is welcome to participate in the 2k walk.
“There is no fee, however, the purpose of the walk is to raise money to fight CF. One of the things I’m trying to do is get more teams. Even if they donate little or no money because I am trying to build something. I do suggest to people that they get to t-shirt level which is $100. It sounds like a lot but if 10 people give $10 that’s it,” Smith said.