Hundreds of walkers are expected to descend on Marine Park this Saturday, May 3, to raise money for cystic fibrosis research.
The Great Strides event will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling the chronic disease.
Cystic fibrosis is relatively rare, with only about 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
But the condition hits close to home for the community of Marine Park. Two-year-old resident Max Hesse was diagnosed with the genetic disease as a newborn.
Matt Hesse, who is chairing Marine Park Great Strides walk with wife Marla, said their son takes numerous medicines and undergoes breathing treatments each day in order to stay healthy.
The toddler must also wear a special vibrating vest twice a day, designed to break up the mucus deposits that can clog his lungs.
“He’s amazing at it,” said Hesse of his son. “It’s part of life for him, but there are days when he’ll say ‘No treatment!’
