The third annual Stillwater Color Splash Dash is set for Saturday, August 27 at 9am at Boomer Lake Shelter #2. The event will raise money to support the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Kelsey Sistrunk, Development Manager with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, explains, “Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that attacks the lungs and digestive system. CF is an orphan disease, meaning that it affects less than 200,000 people, and it receives no governmental funding for research. Funding depends on grass roots fundraising efforts like the Stillwater Color Splash Dash.”

The first year the event was held, it raised $8,000 with 100 runners and walkers. Last year, the event reached two goals including raising over $12,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research with over 350 participants. This year, event organizers have set a goal of raising $15,000 with over 400 participants.

We spoke with the Ronda Meyers who organized the first Color Splash Dash in 2014 and remains the director for the event.  Ronda hopes that each year the event will raise awareness about Cystic Fibrosis as well as raise funds for a cure.

She first became involved with fundraising for CF when her grandson, Aden, was diagnosed at birth with CF in 2012. “Our family knew very little about Cystic Fibrosis so we all had to get educated on what CF was and what can we do to help make his life easier. I started learning there was no cure and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation needed funds to be raised for research and studies in order for us to have hope that Aden and all the other Cystic Fibrosis children, teens, and adults could live a life as normal as possible. I started doing fundraisers to raise awareness and make the funds available.” 

This year, Ronda is serving as a Breath and Beyond Honoree with the Oklahoma City Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chapter. As an honoree, she has pledged to raise $10,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research–with the success of this event, she hopes to reach that goal.

To learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how it impacts families, watch the video below featuring Ronda’s grandchildren, Aden and his big sister Isla. Visit the Stillwater Spalsh Dash page to learn more about this event and sign up to run or walk for the cure!