by Bren Tiner
Progress in cystic fibrosis doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because a dedicated community refuses to stay silent.
Because CF is classified as a rare orphan disease, it affects a relatively small number of people globally and rarely gets the automatic spotlight or federal funding of more common illnesses. That is why public awareness and aggressive publicity are our most valuable currencies; they are the tools we must use to secure the private funding that drives life-saving research forward. We need more research, and that science requires money.
As a parent who has walked this path alongside a child with CF, I understand what this community carries. Our families have always had to be the loudest voices in the room to ensure our children are never overlooked or forgotten.
My son Michael carried this journey with strength and determination, and though he is no longer with us, he is the reason I keep showing up. I show up for him and for every patient and family still fighting for their breakthrough. Honoring Michael means never stopping.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) events are the lifeblood of this mission. Every dollar from these events pushes science forward and brings a cure that much closer. The medical progress made over the last few decades is nothing short of miraculous, but our work is far from finished, and science cannot move forward without our financial support.
Every step we take, every story we share, and every dollar we raise keeps that momentum moving forward, until the day “CF” stands for “Cure Found.”
Bren Tiner works in our Birmingham location and has been with VytlOne for 13 years. Her son, Michael, died in 2021 at the age of 26 from causes not related to CF.