Community
Cars and ‘Q fundraiser benefiting Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, with a PTC resident ambassador
Entering into its twelfth year, the Cars & ‘Q for the Cause event hosted by Choate Construction has raised more than $2.3 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, funding to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Choate Construction will hold the event on October 16 from 3-6 pm at the Choate offices in Sandy Springs, a phenomenal car show complete with live music, delicious bbq, and craft beers.
For nearly 30 years, Founder & Chairman Millard Choate, along with senior management at Choate Construction, have made it their personal and corporate mission to help fund a cure for CF with his daughter and Choate Construction’s Vice President of Marketing Emily Bridges at the helm.
“Choate’s support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began in 1989, pretty much at the inception of the company,” Bridges said.
The steadfast mission is deeply personal, in that Bridges’ lifelong best friend Leann Ott was diagnosed at age 3 with CF, around the same time of the company’s launch. Fast forward a few decades, Choate has many CF fundraising events under its belt, from walks to galas to golf tournaments.
In order to focus their efforts and not to spread themselves too thin, the business “pivoted a little bit” according to Bridges, into something their “people would enjoy, what tends to be coined ‘passion fundraising’. You do something that you love and try to bring funds by way of it, through awareness.”
So Cars and ‘Q became one of the most popular passion projects to prosper in this new mindset. So hopefully people may come for the attraction of the shiny cars and yummy bbq but then be moved by the compelling stories of this year’s ambassadors speaking in support of the CF Foundation.
One of the 2021 Ambassadors at the event is Charlotte Mavros, a sweet and active two-year-old resident of Peachtree Corners. Charlotte was diagnosed with CF at birth and has courageously battled life-threatening complications with the support of her mother Heather and father Kyle, her family, and the CF community.
“The CF Foundation began as a grassroots effort—started by parents who wanted more for their child’s future than what was predicted for someone with CF in the 1960’s. Today the CF Foundation is known for leading the charge of one of the best stories in medicine. It’s on those founding parent’s shoulders we stand as we continue to fight for a cure” Heather Mavros said.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long fulfilling lives. For those unfamiliar with the condition, CF is a progressive genetic disease that generally causes persistent lung infections and inhibits the ability to breathe over time. Heather and Kyle Mavros were unaware of their shared status as carriers for CF prior to having children but are now passionate about driving the momentum for a cure forward.
“Charlotte cannot advocate for herself. As her parents, Kyle and I consider it our duty to advocate on her behalf until she has her own voice. Looking at her from the outside all you see is a healthy, happy and strong toddler. She is two years old and according to any developmental book, she’s right on track. We work tirelessly to make sure that Charlotte remains healthy. Our day-to-day life is very involved as it comes to her care. Truly, we are driven by a dream that one day Charlotte will live free from the burden of CF.” Heather Mavros said.
Choate Construction Company fights alongside the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and amazing CF Ambassadors like Charlotte. Due to their unwavering support, in 2019 the FDA approved a life-changing drug called Trikafta. This drug is the first of its kind to treat the underlying cause of CF and is available for nearly 90 percent of people with CF. Just this year, Trikafta was approved for use for children ages 6-11.
While this drug has been a game-changer for people with CF, ten percent of the CF population does not benefit from this drug, along with a myriad of other complications. The Foundation and Choate Construction Company have committed to a cure for CF. So, the fight continues until CF stands for Cure Found.
Source: Background information regarding Choate’s history with the event and with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation provided by Zoë Ferqueron, Marketing Communications Specialist at Choate, along with Emily Bridges.
Welcoming Week: Reserve your FREE one-time guest pass during the week of September 8 – 17 and enjoy everything the Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA has to offer. Welcoming Week provides an opportunity for Peachtree Corners neighbors, whether they are immigrants or U.S.-born residents, to connect and strengthen community bonds. From swim class and water safety to day camps, group workouts and community well-being initiatives, the Rober D. Fowler Family YMCA has something for the whole family.
Guest passes do not include access to outdoor pools or basketball facilities in the gymnasium. Click here for you free guest pass.
Lifelong Learners: Healthy living doesn’t always mean physical activity. Creative thinking, exploring interests, and learning new things are as important as diet and exercise. That is the philosophy behind Lifelong Learners. For ages 50 and up, Lifelong Learners offers seniors the chance to come together and enjoy guest speakers, local field trips and spirited cultural discussions. The group meets every other Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the Senior Center. For more information, email Rob Wilson at robertw@ymcaatlanta.com.
Grief and Loss Support Group: Grief and loss are two of the most difficult emotions to face in life, but you don’t have to face them alone. Every Monday at 11 a.m. in the Senior Meeting Room, the Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA provides a safe and caring environment for participants to come together and begin to understand the grief process. For more information, connect with Ellie Garrett at ejgarrett@gmail.com.
Caring for Those Who Care: The YMCA’s weekly Caregivers Group provides a dedicated meeting space for caregivers to offer and receive emotional support. If you are providing care for a loved one, or want to learn more about long term caregiving, this group is for you. The group offers practical information while respecting confidentiality and encouraging camaraderie. Take this opportunity to build relationships with others in similar situations every Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. in the Senior Meeting Room. To learn more, email Mary Crawley at mcrawley@wans.net.
More Senior Activities:
- Canasta: Every Monday at 2 p.m. in the Senior Meeting Room,
- Dominoes: Every Thursday at 10:45 a.m. in the Senior Meeting Room
Call it luck or divine intervention, but some force in the universe was determined that the 10th annual Light Up The Corners event was going to take place as planned. About an hour before start time, the deluge that threatened the area with heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday, Aug. 12, began to subside.
By the planned 8 p.m. start, the sun had peeked through the clouds and fun and festivities were in full swing.
Guests from all across metro Atlanta gathered at The Forum at Peachtree Corners for the four-mile glow run and one kilometer twilight trot benefitting the Fowler Family YMCA. The evening raised over $60,000 for the local community center, according to organizers.
“This event has taken on a life of its own,” said Light Up The Corners race organizer Amy Massey in a press release. “The run is less about competition and more about friends, neighbors and families coming together to participate in a healthy, family-friendly fun way to ‘glow for the good’ of the community.”
Despite the weather threat, this year’s event attracted a record number of participants, sponsors and volunteers with more than 1,400 registered runners and hundreds of spectators cheering along the racecourse. Even if the physical activities weren’t your thing, there were plenty of other attractions to keep one occupied.
The festivities included activities for the whole family, a live DJ, roaming entertainment — one of the dancers was a dead ringer for Katy Perry — face painting, neon manicures, special prizes and awards for the runners. Light bites, beverages and giveaways were provided by The Forum retailers and restaurants, along with local schools, churches and businesses across the Peachtree Corners and metro Atlanta area.
“Light Up The Corners has become a truly beloved tradition not only for The Forum, but the entire Peachtree Corners community. Witnessing thousands of glowing runners is a thrill from start to finish, and we’re honored to support our friends at the YMCA year after year,” said Charlotte Hinton, The Forum marketing manager.
Since its inception, Light Up The Corners has raised more than $400,000 for the Fowler Family YMCA. To learn more, go to lightupthecorners.com.
Photos by George Hunter
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