Vestavia girls join cystic fibrosis walk

The Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk will be hosted at Hoover’s Veterans Park on May 16. It is expected to draw a large crowd in celebration of area fundraising for the cure and control of the disease.

Two of those participating are Madison Waldrop and Maddie Hagler, lifelong friends from Vestavia Hills.

Maddie, 12, has cystic fibrosis and Madison, 11, has made it her mission to raise money to help her friend and others with the disease.

“I’ve been taking part in the walk since I was three and have had bake sales and lemonade stands and sold duct tape bows for fundraisers,” Madison said. “CF affects a ton of people, and the [Cystic Fibrosis] Foundation does a lot to help find new drugs to help these people. I can’t wait to get out to the walk and see all the teams again.”

The Great Strides Walk will begin with a 9 a.m. check-in followed by the 10 a.m. walk and run, according to Jennifer McEuen, associate executive director of the Alabama chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There will be breakfast food, children’s activities and some special guest appearances. There is no fee for the event but organizers encourage participants to make donations, McEuen said.

For more information or to sign up for the Great Strides Walk, go to cff.org/Chapters/alabama.