Lee University’s Director of Community Engagement Kim Brooks, right, with Katie Fawley of Chick-fil-A, an Elite sponsor of 2023 Great Strides
Shown during the Thank You Luncheon are (far left) Cindy Martin and Jennifer Thomas of Southern Heritage Bank, seated with other sponsors and Lee Provost Dr. Debbie Murray; also shown in the background are Sarah Cantrell, of Caldwell
Paving & Grading, and Mayor Kevin Brooks, who have both been long-time supporters of the event
Steve Hartline thanking sponsors during the Great Strides Thank You Luncheon
Lee University hosted a luncheon to thank sponsors, team leaders, and the Cleveland community for their participation in the 2023 Great Strides event and 65 Roses 5K held to raise funds for a cure for cystic fibrosis. This year, the event raised $66,000 for the CF Foundation and welcomed over 600 walkers, runners, and volunteers.
Great Strides in Cleveland started in 2001 as a partnership between Lee University and the Cleveland and Bradley County community as a way to raise awareness about CF, a genetic disease, and to raise funds for the CF Foundation.
“All of this was and is in support of those in our community who are directly affected by CF, and great progress has been made over the last 22 years,” said Vanessa Hammond, event co-chair and a CF parent. “Awareness is critical to bringing attention to this rare disease and to the potential for changing the outcomes for people with CF, but the event in our community has also helped the families facing CF to feel supported and encouraged.”
Together, this year’s 36 community sponsors contributed over $35,000. Honorary chair Steve Hartline recognized the sponsors, including those that have been supporting Cleveland Great Strides for 20 or more years: Bank of Cleveland, Ralph Buckner Funeral Home & Crematory, Caldwell Paving & Grading, Center for Cosmetic Dentistry – Dr. Ken and Dr. Brian Beard, Dr. Paul and Darlia Conn, First Horizon Foundation, Southern Heritage Bank, and TriCon, Inc.
Those that have been supporting the event for 10 years were also recognized and include Don Ledford Automotive Center, Hardee’s/J &S Restaurants, and Ian Harper, CPA.
Walk teams, also recognized at the luncheon, raised more the $20,000 through individual fundraising campaigns. Dr. Bill Estes, race director of the 65 Roses 5K, thanked the Cleveland Police Department and Terra Running for their assistance with the race route and timing.
“The Cleveland and Bradley County community is unbelievable,” said Jolly Johnson, senior development director for the Tennessee chapter of the CF Foundation. “We are often asked by other chapters across the country how we put on such a successful, long-lasting walk and 5K, but there is no way to recreate what Lee University and the community has built here. It truly embodies a key CF Foundation value that we are ‘stronger together,’ and it shows in what the community has been able to do these past 20+ years.”
Cleveland Great Strides and 65 Roses 5K has reached over $1.3 million raised for CF research since the local event’s founding in 2001. Median life expectancy for those with cystic fibrosis has increased to 56 years, double what it was when Great Strides began over 20 years ago.
“Our CF community members are living longer, healthier lives thanks to all the hard work and commitment of the wonderful people of Bradley County and Lee University,” said Ms. Johnson.
The Great Strides event is planned by a steering committee at Lee University chaired by Dr. Brad Moffett, vice president for university relations. Cleveland’s 2024 Great Strides walk and 65 Roses 5K will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit, donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately find a cure. Research is happening daily to find a cure and develop drugs available to those living with CF.
For more information about Cleveland Great Strides, visit www.leeuniversity.edu/cf.
For more information about the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.