Wish For Wendy Foundation looking to the future and for a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Nearly three years before I was born, my mom gave birth to a little girl named Wendy Carol Lipman. My mom and dad had hopes and dreams for Wendy that most parents had for their firstborn.
Unfortunately, what they didn’t know was my sister would never come home from the hospital. A loss that is unimaginable for most parents and unfortunately a reality for many.
I knew I had an older sister growing up but I had no idea that she lost her life to cystic fibrosis. The reason behind her death became the family secret over time. Every year my mom would visit her grave here in Atlanta on her birthday to celebrate her life and mourn the loss of her child.
At the age of 25 I finally mustered up the courage to ask my mom, why/how did my sister die? My mom finally revealed to me what everyone with the last name of Lipman already knew; Wendy died from cystic fibrosis after only 16 days of living on this earth.
Living with CF and knowing the Truth about Wendy:
From there on out it became my passion and mission to make a difference in the world in memory of my sister. Since I am a passionate sports enthusiast I wanted to combine my passions to make a difference. That is why my friends and I started the Wish for Wendy Softball Challenge. With the support and hard work of my family and friends, the event turned into so much more. This year will be the 20th anniversary of the tournament and we will have raised well over 4 million dollars for the CF Foundation here in Georgia.
We are also taking Wish for Wendy to new heights, using the foundation as more than a one day fundraising event and dedicating ourselves to raise hope through the CF Warrior Project and raise funds to find a cure for CF. The Wish for Wendy Foundation is so much more than just a softball tournament now!
The only picture my family ever took of my sister sits as my screensaver years later to remind me of why I must give back, raise hope and find a cure! We are still brainstorming of how we can make a difference in memory of the girl who only got 16 days of life. It’s my hope that we give her a legacy.
Let’s all be in this together! Help us find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Consider making a donation to the Wish for Wendy Foundation via the CF Warrior Project today! A portion of the CF Warrior Project book sales will also benefit the foundation who will then distribute the money to other well-deserving CF charities around the world.
Live your dreams and love your life.
Andy