25th Annual Great Strides Walk to Take Place March 29
The 25th annual Great Strides Walk and 23rd annual 65 Roses 5k at Great Strides, which raises funds and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, will be held at Lee University on Saturday, March 29.
Cleveland community leader Jarrett Millsaps will serve a second year as community chair for Great Strides 2025.
“The role that community plays in disease awareness and prevention is unquestionable, and it is an honor to join with Lee University and the Great Strides team to raise money for such an important cause!” said Millsaps. “Cystic fibrosis impacts so many in our region—those we work, worship, and serve with on a daily basis. We are grateful to those who have joined us over the last 25 years—our runners, our sponsors, and most importantly, our families. They inspire us to not only live better, but to be better.”
The Great Strides event consistently rallies hundreds of community participants and Lee University students to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Great Strides is the CF Foundation’s largest national fundraising event, which supports their mission to cure cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Every year thousands of people unite at nearly 300 walks across the country to support their goal of ending this disease. Last year, the Cleveland event drew over 700 total walkers, runners, and volunteers, and has reached over $1.3 million raised for CF research since the local event’s founding in 2001.
“Thanks to the generous support of our community, Lee University, and the dedicated work of the CF Foundation, the fight to cure this rare and progressive disease is stronger than ever,” said Vanessa Hammond, event co-chair and mother to a son with CF. “We are excited to celebrate a milestone 25th anniversary of Great Strides and grateful to all who participate. CF families feel the impact every day!”
The route for the 2025 Cleveland Great Strides Walk and 65 Roses 5K run (3.1 miles), directed by Dr. Bill Estes in partnership with Terra Running Company, will begin and end on the Lee campus and travel throughout Cleveland’s historic downtown area. The walk and road race will begin at 9 a.m., and a 1K Fun Run (0.6 miles) will take place at 9:30 a.m. and will begin and end in front of the Paul Conn Student Union.
“We at the Tennessee Chapter of the CF Foundation are always excited to be back at Lee University, recognized within the organization as one of the nation’s most engaged and active communities,” said Jolly Johnson, senior development director at the Tennessee Chapter Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Since Lee University has been supporting the CF Foundation through Great Strides and the 65 Roses 5k, life expectancy of someone born with CF has doubled. While these are extraordinary results, there is still no cure for cystic fibrosis. Our goal is a cure for 100% of people living with CF, and we will get there with the continued support of Lee University and the Cleveland/Bradley County community!”
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately find a cure. Research is happening daily to find a cure and develop drugs available to those living with CF.
For more information about the Cleveland Great Strides or 65 Roses 5K, visit leeuniversity.edu/cf.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Hammond at [email protected].
For more information about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cff.org/.