Why I Stride, A Mother's Perspective
IST Gives Back
Why I Stride, A Mother's Perspective
Our servant's heart approach reflects in everything we do at IST Management. Our passion to serve others provides a connection to our community that, in turn, enriches our company and our people into the compelling force it is today. In 2011, when deciding to champion a cause, President & CEO Hal Blackman immediately knew it had to be Cystic Fibrosis (CF). While working at an event at Marriott in his twenties, he witnessed children with Cystic Fibrosis using oxygen tanks to help them breathe. Seeing this had a profound impact on him, and when given the opportunity, he promised to work towards finding a cure. Participating in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides Fundraiser each year has become an essential pillar of what makes IST such an exceptional company. It provides a moment to learn from the CF community, especially our excellent ambassadors, Blake and Lila Jones and Jennifer Stasney, and advocate for their future. As we celebrate ten years of our first official walk in 2012 and return to a live event, Jennifer shares her experience as IST's Ambassador for CFF's Great Strides Fundraiser.
What does it mean to be an Ambassador for CF?
Jennifer: Being IST's CF Ambassador has been a true honor. To be the face of and represent a group of such incredible fighters...there aren't words. When I say thank you, I genuinely feel it in my heart. For those of us living with, fighting with, and caring for a CFer, THANK YOU for caring enough about our world that you take action in yours. We are stronger when you stand with us.
How has Great Strides impacted your life?
Jennifer: Scot Rittenbaum, the then-director of CFF Georgia, called our house several months before the 2008 Great Strides and asked us to create a team. Blake had been diagnosed the summer before through his newborn screening, and I felt helpless. I wanted to take this bad thing away from my baby and carry the burden myself. Mom is supposed to have the superpower to kiss it and make it all better, right? I couldn't. I was helpless but not hopeless.
Scot provided our hope. He said, "This is what you can do to help. Raise money and awareness to create more funding for research of new medicines and therapies and one day - A CURE!" We created our team, Blake's Buddies, raised money that year, had some t-shirts made, and had a wonderful time walking in the Atlanta walk that May. Our small-town family team raised over $20,000 that year, and we won the Top New Family Team award!
At the awards ceremony in February of 2009, we struck up a conversation with CF scientist Dr. Nael McCarty, who has since become family. This relationship has been an enormous blessing in our lives, and it all started with a hesitant yes to participating in Great Strides. Fourteen years later, Great Strides is a highlight in our year! It's a fun family reunion with all we've known and loved in the CF Community. Where we once felt so alone and isolated, Great Strides brought us to a loving, supportive community. We couldn't be more grateful!
What is something you wish people knew about CF?
Jennifer: A CFer's battle is on the inside. They may look healthy, but they are contending daily to make things work together within themselves: tons of pills, therapies, treatments, hours a day on what our bodies do naturally. They want to be normal, feel normal, and know what a day is like without all that, but they can't. Their life depends on these daily rituals. It can be very isolating. CFers cannot be within six feet of each other to avoid sharing harmful, even deadly, bacteria. It's a risk to be in the vicinity of someone who GETS you, yet all you want is to feel normal with someone else who fights your same daily fight.
What is your favorite memory of participating in GS?
My crew loves the food! We look forward to Jim and Nick's BBQ every year, followed by all the IST carnival food. I loved the year IST came dressed as muscled superheroes! LOL! That made for fun pictures.
What is your hope for this year's fundraiser?
As far as the fundraising aspect, I'd love to see us top last year! The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation takes care of its community. They are spending these dollars strategically in all the right places so that CF families genuinely feel the fruits of our labors with medications and programs that truly do make life better, more accessible, and LONGER for our CFers. As for the event, we're just delighted to be back with everyone and soak in all the feels!
Until it's done, y'all! xoxo, Jen
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This year, IST has campaigned to raise $30,000 toward CFF's Great Strides Fundraiser, surpassing our previous years' contributions. Being a part of the movement to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis and follow Jennifer and Blake's journey has been immeasurable. Recently, Blake received positive news after showing an improved Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) rating after discontinuing two of his inhaled medications. We celebrate this victory with Blake, Jennifer, and Lila and celebrate future achievements made possible by CFF. Consider following and donating to our fundraiser to help us add more tomorrows. Until it's done.
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IST Management Services, Inc.
1341 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316