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Willsboro, NY                                         November 1, 2009                                           since 1905

”Team Cookie”

Alumni gather to raise $5,000 for Cystic Fibrosis

TeamCookie

In March, 2009, 3-week old Brooke Taptick was officially diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic disease that effects the lungs and digestive tract.  Brooke is the daughter of camp alumni Meghan and Mike Taptick.

In September, scores of camp friends gathered in in support of  Meghan and “Tappy” to form “Team Cookie” and take part in the CF Walk in Vermont. 

Meghan writes about the experience.

     On September 21st, 38 members of the camp family participated in the Great Strides walk in Burlington, VT to raise awareness BrookeTTeamCookieLogoand funds for Cystic Fibrosis.  Everyone at the walk had great energy and it was such a fun way to catch up with old (and new) camp friends.  After the walk everyone stuck around for a barbecue and raffles.  We could not have asked for a better day.  Highlights of the trip included watching Chad win an adult size American Airlines ski suit, walking on a beautiful day along the waterfront and hanging out after the race eating chocolate chip cookies with all of our friends and family.

     Tappy (husband Mike Taptick) and I became involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation after our 7-month-old daughter, Brooke, was diagnosed with CF at birth.  One of our first reactions to the diagnosis was “What do we need to do to cure this disease?”  We quickly learned that the Great Strides event is the CF Foundation’s most successful fundraiser and is a very powerful way of raising awareness about CF and helping to find a cure. 

CFwalk     With that knowledge and some artistic skills from Jim Kobak, “Team Cookie” was born.  Amy Kobak and Sheila McIntyre served as captains and invited everyone we knew to join us for the walk and donate to the CF Foundation.  The turnout we got from people was truly amazing. We had set a goal to raise $1500 for the event and we ended up raising $5132.46!  Our camp friends and family were beyond generous. We even received donations from camp people that we have not met.  Some friends did their own fundraising events in addition to Great Strides while others posted the Team Cookie logo on Facebook and encouraged donating to the cause.  We also had friends wearing their Team Cookie T-shirts as far away as India!  

     I have always felt incredibly fortunate to be part of the camp famTapticksily.  Camp’s support for Team Cookie has only strengthened this feeling.  When Brooke was first diagnosed, I felt incredibly alone and isolated.  I have now realized that we are not dealing with this by ourselves and we have a huge extended family behind us offering support.  We can’t thank the camp family enough for offering us personal contacts, lodging for doctor visits, donations, creative fundraising ideas and, coming soon, a Team Cookie board at camp’s roller hockey rink!  

     One of my favorite things about camp people is that they will never turn down a party.  So please consider yourselves invited to the 2010 Great Strides event next September!

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