About Us
Our name, BreatheStrong CF, reflects strength, hope, and resilience. It carries forward the spirit of our signature programs—BreatheStrong Exercise Grants and the BreatheStrong+ virtual wellness platform—while uniting our shared mission: to empower individuals with CF to lead active, healthy lives.
Every day, we help people with CF access what they need to stay strong—whether it’s exercise and sports programs, fitness equipment, wellness classes, or other critical needs. We invite you to explore our work and join us in transforming lives. One strong breath at a time.
Our Vision
At BreatheStrong CF we envision a new era in which people with cystic fibrosis rise above and go beyond perceived limitations.
Our Mission
BreatheStrong CF advances the wellbeing of people with cystic fibrosis through education, direct support, and opportunities to thrive.
Our Programs
Exercise Grants
Our exercise grants power movement and motivation by fueling activities that push the body and the lungs. With up to $750 in support, recipients can choose the activity that inspires them most. Applications are accepted through quarterly grant cycles.
BreatheStrong+
Our virtual community brings the power of connection, motivation, and expert insight straight to your screen. We’re here to help people with CF build strong, healthy habits that last—through challenges, wellness resources, and a supportive community that gets it. Free for anyone in the U.S. living with cystic fibrosis and a small donation requested for those who do not have CF.
Men's Sexual and Reproductive Health
There’s more to male CF sexual and reproductive health than just infertility. We open the conversation. From hormonal imbalances to body image and sexual function, we’re diving into the topics that matter but rarely get discussed. Real talk. Real support.
Susan C. Burroughs Critical Needs Initiative
When nutrition and transportation are out of reach, health suffers. BreatheStrong CF can help with temporary support for groceries and gas for CF patients in Georgia.
What's Your Gap Grant
Each May, this powerful grant in partnership with the Closing the Gap Foundation, is all about tackling the real-life gaps that stand between people with CF and their best health. Whether it’s equipment, access, or opportunity, we’re here to bridge the gap. Open to teens and adults with CF across the US.
Our Origins
BreatheStrong CF grew from the shared passion and dedication of Miles for Cystic Fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation. Both organizations had a powerful history of supporting the CF community through active living.
In 2007, pediatric pulmonologists Dr. Peter Scott and Dr. Steven Julius, both marathon runners, created Team 65ROSES at the Georgia Marathon to honor their CF patients and raise funds. This effort evolved into Miles for Cystic Fibrosis (M4CF), a nonprofit that expanded from fundraising for CF organizations to providing direct support to individuals living with CF. Through programs like BreatheStrong exercise grants and the Susan C. Burroughs Critical Needs Initiative, M4CF empowered people with CF to lead longer, stronger lives. In 2023, M4CF launched BreatheStrong+, offering virtual wellness resources.
In 2006, Brian Callanan, an adult living with CF, launched a national fundraising campaign by cycling from Canada to Key West, FL to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity for managing CF. This initiative grew into the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation (CFLF), which began providing CF Recreation Grants in 2007 to help young people access physical activities. Recognizing that active lifestyles have no age limit, the program rapidly expanded, growing by 400% by 2012. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CFLF introduced STROLO (STROnger LOnger) University in 2020, an online platform delivering education and wellness programming.
In 2023, these two dedicated organizations merged to become BreatheStrong CF and united their missions and resources to better serve the CF community nationwide.