About Us
Creating Sunshine Forever is a nonprofit organization that provides financial relief to those living with Cystic Fibrosis. Our goal is to radiate sunshine throughout the Cystic Fibrosis community until there is a cure for everyone living with Cystic Fibrosis.
Creating Sunshine Forever was inspired by my favorite thing in the whole entire world - sunshine. Since I was a little girl I've always wanted to help people, but it was not until the pandemic hit that I realized what exactly I wanted to do. I wanted to help those who can’t help themselves through no fault of their own. Cystic Fibrosis is something no one ever asked for; it is something we did not do to ourselves. CF was given to us for reasons we will never understand, by two faulty genes colliding. The pandemic hit families hard, millions of people lost jobs, which means they lost health insurance. It means they were scrambling to find money to put food on the table, pay for rent, utilities and mortgages. However, for someone with a chronic illness, losing a job means so much more. It means that the hundreds of thousands of dollars we rely on insurance companies for is suddenly gone. The feeling of having to choose between your health and basic living needs is a feeling unimaginable for most, including myself. The number of posts I saw where lives were being taken purely by lack of money gave me chills and led to tears. It hurt facing the fact that just because a person did not have money was the reason their life was taken. It scared me to think of what I would do if I was in that situation. More than anything, it made me angry. I was tired of waiting to see what the people would do and I wanted to help.
Instead of starting a nonprofit for research or for scholarships, I wanted to start a nonprofit that would help people living with Cystic Fibrosis right now. I want to cover the expenses of Trikafta because your insurance company will not cover it. I want to cover the expenses of the numerous hospital and doctor visits after the insurance sticks you with a multi-thousand dollar bill. I want to cover extra sick time because your company only allows 40 hours a year and you or your child with CF was sick for three months. I want people with CF to be allowed to take a lower paying job because it is their dream job and not have to worry about paying for medical bills. I want to help and if you tell me what you need the money for, I will help.
I am so excited to start this journey to help the Cystic Fibrosis community. My first goal is to help cover medical expenses. I plan to announce more ways I plan to use this nonprofit as we progress. With your help, we will prolong the lives of people living with Cystic Fibrosis by covering medical bills and giving them medicines they could not afford out of pocket. We will make CF stand for cure found. We are beating this thing. I could not have started this without my two best friends, Emily and Neema helping me. It brings tears to my eyes that I am able to start something so close to my heart and it is because of the family and friends reading this. The family and friends who have donated year after year has led to medical breakthroughs for Cystic Fibrosis. This led to this amazing life I live day in and day out. It will lead to my future that I would never have imagined 10 years ago- my wedding day, my children, my grandchildren, my retirement and frankly to the rest of my life. Join me and my next journey: Creating Sunshine Forever: a nonprofit to benefit the financial burden of people living with Cystic Fibrosis.
Love,
Maddy