Crossing Guards
PIPER ' S ANGELS FOUNDATION
PADDLES AN OCEAN OF HOPE & LOVE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS
by Kelly Gray
Take a deep breath . Feel your lungs expand . Now exhale .
Most of us take breathing for granted . It ’ s the simplest thing we do , every moment of every day . As Travis Suit , founder of Piper ’ s Angels Foundation says , without breath , there is nothing else .
For sufferers of Cystic Fibrosis , to breathe is a privilege . The disease is caused by an inherited genetic condition resulting in damage to the lungs and other organs . Cystic Fibrosis , or CF , triggers normally produced mucus in the body to become thickened and blocked , causing problems in airways , pancreatic ducts , gastrointestinal tract and the reproductive system . There is no cure . Fundraising and medical research has led to treatments , which extend life to as long as 40 years .
Such a dire set of circumstances seems hopeless . Yet in the CF community , hope , joy and love abound . There is just something about CF patients . They are especially determined , focused , resolved . They fight harder . They dare us all to walk a little taller , to go a little further . They refuse to accept defeat . They have a sense of grit .
No one is a finer example of this than Piper Suit , the little girl who captures the hearts of everyone she meets . The namesake of Piper ’ s Angels Foundation , Piper is known for teaching others the value of life and breath through her can-do attitude and resilience .
“ Piper is this guiding light ,” says Travis . “ To see the outpouring of unconditional love and the gift of sharing her foundation to help others , no matter how long they live with this disease , is incredible .”
In June , the foundation will host The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis from Bimini in the Bahamas to Lake Worth Beach , Florida to raise funds and awareness for Piper ’ s Angels . More than one hundred paddlers will paddle the 80 miles between the islands and Florida shores .
What began as a paddle between Suit and friends has grown into the support of thousands of participants . Through his daughter Piper ’ s diagnosis , Suit assembled a team and became inspired to create the aptly named Piper ' s Angels Foundation . Based in Jupiter , Florida , the focus is on uniting families in the CF community , providing urgent financial assistance to lessen their burden , and improve awareness and education .
“ We are powered by this common goal of helping CF patients live longer and live stronger ,” says Suit .
CF happens when both parents are carriers of an abnormal gene and pass that gene on to their child . According to the American Lung Association , about 30,000 people have CF in the United States with another 70,000 worldwide .
Scott Johnson , The Crossing ’ s first first-ever double lung transplant paddler is joining the crossing this year on Suit ’ s team “ Double or Nothing ” to commemorate the 20th anniversary year of his transplant . Johnson believes the healing benefits of salt water helped saved his life .
“ When I met Scott and heard his story and he lifted his shirt to show me his scars , I just started crying — he is paddling solo the full distance ,” says Suit . “ And we have a woman with CF who has participated in the crossing twice , and it was after she relocated to Florida to be near the salt air and salt water , that she saw benefits .”
6 Vol 42 • Extraordinary Health ™