The hot weather may have resulted in less people donning purple shirts walking laps around the Seymour Middle School track, but the spirits were still up.

The nearly 30 participants in the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk on Sept. 15 were on a mission to help raise $16,000, which was the fundraising goal set for the site by the state office.

They exceeded that goal.

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More than $18,000 has been raised so far, and by the end of the year, it’s expected to be around $19,500.

“When I heard our goal was exceeded, I was so surprised,” said Megan Cravens, 20, of Seymour, who led the walk with Brianna Caudill, 15, of North Vernon.

Both have cystic fibrosis and have done fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for several years.

“I know that more and more people are reaching out to help this organization, and it makes me so happy,” Cravens said. “I cannot wait to exceed our goal again next year.”

The good news doesn’t end with the Seymour walk.

Cravens said the Indiana Great Strides Chapter set a statewide goal of $689,000 and is close to achieving that, and the national goal is $41 million and currently stands at more than $34 million.

All of the money goes toward research for curing and ending cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that progressively limits a person’s ability to breathe.

“Just recently, Vertex, one of the main pharmaceutical companies, released a brand-new drug called Symdeko,” Cravens said. “This medicine is increasing the lung capacity of people with cystic fibrosis every day. The donations truly do help — every penny.”

Cravens said she is happy to have helped organize the local walk again this year. She received support from her parents, Jerry and Rachel Cravens, and siblings, Dawson and Amy Cravens, along with other family members and friends and members of Caudill’s team, Brianna’s Angels.

“I have to give credit to my family as huge supporters. I could not have done anything without them,” Megan said. “I love being a leader and someone that younger people with cystic fibrosis could look up to. It was so humbling to see people from Seymour, North Vernon and other towns coming together to support this awesome cause.

“It’s all about awareness, and each year, we strive to get the word out more and more about this foundation and how they are helping increase the quality of life for everyone with cystic fibrosis,” she said.

Megan has had cystic fibrosis since she was born. The disease is rare with about 30,000 Americans having it.

There is no cure, and the median predicted survival age is 41, but that has increased as more therapies and medications are developed.

Symdeko was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and had great clinical results, Rachel said.

“Without the support of the research by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, these treatments and medications would not be possible,” Rachel said. “That’s why myself and my family are dedicated to continue to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with events like the Megan’s Wish dinner and auction and other events.”

The 16th annual Megan’s Wish on April 14 at Celebrations in Seymour raised around $12,000.

Proceeds from the event went to Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event with walks in nearly 500 cities nationwide to support the mission to cure cystic fibrosis. The foundation funds research and treatments and continues to work toward a cure.

The Cravens family has participated in the Great Strides Walk since Megan was around 4 years old. The walk is celebrating 30 years of success this year.

“It has taken $3 billion and 25 years to get where we are now in research,” Rachel said. “Projects from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation show we will need $9 billion more to cross the ‘cure for all’ finish line.”

Just recently, Megan received more good news: She made the cheerleading team at Indiana State University, where she is a junior studying marketing with a concentration in marketing management.

In her first year on the team, she will participate in home football games and men’s and women’s basketball games and appear in various events around Terre Haute.

“I have cheered my whole life, and I am now given an opportunity to continue my love for the sport,” Megan said. “The opportunity comes not only from the school but from my great health, as well. I would not be in the health I am today nor would I be able to be a cheerleader if it wasn’t for all the achievements of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the support from my family and team of doctors.”

She said being a part of the cheerleading team is just one more thing to show how she is kicking cystic fibrosis down and not letting it define her.

“Cystic fibrosis will not win this fight,” Megan said. “I hope that my determination can help another person who may be struggling with cystic fibrosis continue their fight and know that cystic fibrosis only has power over you if you give it the power.”

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Even though the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk already has been completed in Seymour, donations will be accepted through the end of the year.

Checks may be made payable to Megan’s Wish/CFF and mailed to 8445 Keystone Crossing, No. 135, Indianapolis, IN 46240 ATTN: Megan’s Wish.

People also can visit fightcf.cff.org and click “Great Strides” and then “Find a Walk/Team,” search by the 47274 Zip code and click “Seymour 2018.”

All money goes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to fund research for curing and ending cystic fibrosis.

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