Every year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hosts its largest national fundraising event – Great Strides. Nearly 300 walkathons take place across the country to raise money for research, increase awareness, and support the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). On May 4th, Lebanon held its 37th annual Great Strides walkathon, bringing together children and adults with CF, their families, friends, community members, care teams from Dartmouth, corporate sponsors like Vertex, and many local supporters at the CCBA Pavilion.

Before the event, I spoke with Lisa O’Connor, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Nashua, NH. She shared the following on behalf of the CF community:

“Great Strides provides an opportunity for family, friends, students, and colleagues to come together and strengthen the bond of the cystic fibrosis community. The event recognizes the many journeys people with CF face and the work that still needs to be done for those waiting for their transformative treatments – and ultimately, a cure.”

Although there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, significant progress has been made in treatments and medications that have transformed the lives of many with CF. These walkathons are vital to sustaining the fundraising necessary to keep that progress going.

At the Lebanon event, I had the privilege of speaking with several members of the CF community – and I quickly discovered a common thread among them: Robert Plante.

Madison Culver, CF walkathon participant, and Robert Plante at the 2025 Great Strides Walkathon in Lebanon.

Robert is the honorary chairman of the Upper Valley Great Strides walkathon and a beloved figure in the CF community. Full of passion, kindness, and commitment, Robert has been involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for all 37 years of the Lebanon walkathon. Over that time, he has walked more than 7,500 miles, raised over $300,000, and inspired countless others.

His dedication began with his best friend from childhood, Doug Jones, who was diagnosed with and later passed away from CF. Since then, Robert has poured his heart into raising awareness and funds for CF research.

“I’m dedicated to cystic fibrosis research… and I’m going to be for the rest of my life,” he told me. “I love children – they’re my loving angels. All of them.”

One of Robert’s longtime friends and supporters, Bill D’Amico, traveled from Colorado to attend this year’s walkathon. The two met through the Best Buddies program, and this year, they’re celebrating 25 years of friendship. This was Bill’s sixth year participating in Lebanon’s walk and supporting Robert’s team.

“It’s beyond a community… they have a kinship with each other that you can’t help but feel – it’s so endearing,” Bill said. “CF is a very elusive disease. And while they’ve made great strides, there’s still no cure. Events like this make a real difference.”

I also spoke with Paula Garvey, whose daughter, Rosie, was diagnosed with CF at just two weeks old. Since then, Paula has become deeply involved in the CF community. She serves on both the Cystic Fibrosis Patient & Family Advisory Council and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Northern New England Chapter. She met Robert through her work and developed a strong connection with him.

Paula emphasized the importance of Great Strides events – not only for raising funds, but also for bringing people together.

“We used to always have a team – neighbors, Rosie’s friends, her Girl Scout troop. It was a wonderful way to unite people,” she recalled. “Now, the walks are more important than ever. We have to keep up the momentum.”

Thanks to ongoing support and medical advances, her daughter is now thriving – living independently, working full-time, and pursuing a master’s degree in public health.

Another touching conversation was with Lynn Freeman, a CF nurse specialist with 40 years of experience. Her journey with CF began early in her nursing career, and she’s seen firsthand how dramatically things have changed.

“I fell in love with kids with cystic fibrosis,” she said. “They had this amazing sense of humor, energy, and courage.”

Lynn reflected on the game-changing impact of new treatments called modulators:

“When those started coming out and we saw how fast people improved, it was stunning,” she said. “It’s because of the tireless work of the CF Foundation and everyone who walks, bikes, skis, or donates.”

Best buddies, Robert Plante and Bill D’Amico, who met and connected through the Best Buddies program 25 years ago.

Lynn also stressed that CF care requires a team: doctors, nurses, social workers – all working in sync. Her bond with Robert is also special – she cared for his best friend Doug at Dartmouth and remained in contact with him until the end of his life.

One of the most powerful stories came from Madison Culver, who was diagnosed with CF at 18 months old. Her brother, also born with CF, tragically passed away at age four from CF and cancer. Madison was told she wouldn’t live past 19, couldn’t become a nurse, and couldn’t have children. She has defied all those expectations.

Now 32 years old, Madison spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and is now a full-time primary care nurse – and a mom.

“It’s wild to see how different my life looks from what we expected,” she said. “I just started saving for retirement – something I never thought I’d do.”

“CF impacts every aspect of your life. It’s an invisible illness, and there’s a lot of silent fighting that happens. But without the CF Foundation and Great Strides –and the millions they’ve poured into research and treatment – I wouldn’t be here.”

I also had the privilege of speaking with a mom whose 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with CF at birth. The early years were rough, but a new medication has been life-changing.

“She’s been so healthy since then. She’s super active, into all the sports – it’s made a world of difference,” the mother said.

These stories moved me deeply. The strength, determination, and love within this community are undeniable – and incredibly inspiring.

Here’s to the continuation of critical research, the walkathons that fuel it, and the incredible individuals and families who make it all possible. To the CF community in Lebanon: you’ve gained a new supporter. I’ll be there next year – hopefully alongside some of you, dear readers.

Community efforts met with passion and purpose during the Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CBHM) on June 1st. This annual marathon helps support local non-profit organizations through their fundraising efforts with a 13.1 mile road race that travels through Pomfret, Woodstock, and Quechee.

The five non-profits – which include WISE, The Family Place, Willing Hands, Positive Tracks, and David’s House – partner with CBHM with a goal to help raise funds for their programs and spread awareness about the services they offer to the community. All the non-profit teams work together to support each other in a true collaborative effort, and CBHM also gives money to multiple youth groups who volunteer their time at the race.

I gained insight into the details of organizing the event, as well as the impact it has on the Upper Valley community, by speaking with Mike Silverman, one of the CBHM co-race directors. He was introduced to the CBHM 25 years ago, and now he and co-race director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy partner together to organize the race each year. Mike’s history and passion for community involvement, paired with his love of outdoor activities and working with the Upper Valley community, make him an inspiring leader.

“What makes [CBHM] more special, I think, is that people come from all over. It isn’t just NH and VT, and they see the perfect setting of VT…They come through a valley, they go through a town, and they follow a river.”

There is a lot of planning involved in the race, including safety, gathering supplies, water stations, communication, traffic control, parking, and of course, local musicians who play music at different check points to help keep the energy up! It is also imperative that organizers take into consideration the impact on local businesses and churches and remain mindful when planning and organizing.

One of the challenges Mike acknowledged is finding enough volunteers, as they often have to find new ones to replace those who have moved on. Parking is also a big challenge, especially when the race is over, and people are trying to leave. “The exit is your last impression,” he explains, and he wants the community to feel a sense of appreciation for the event and look forward to the next year.

For Lebanon-based non-profit organization WISE, this was their 10th year partnering with CBHM. I spoke with WISE director, Betsy Kohl, as well as with Susan Dicken, a Lebanon resident who volunteers for the crisis line, is a WISE staff member, and manages the WISE Team.

“For us, it’s a great touchpoint in the community, and honestly, across America,” Susan shared. “The majority of our team is local, but some do come from all over, so it does help share what WISE is to a great number of folks we would have never connected with before.”

She said the most rewarding thing for her is seeing the excitement of the WISE Team runners, some of whom return every year to run. It’s especially heartwarming for her to see students who grew up with WISE in their schools decide to run for their team.

Betsy explained that this event raises “a significant amount of donations. But for us, it’s about participating in this community event with our community partners…it’s a fun way to bring people together; it offers that peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity, and it builds awareness of our issues, and that’s really, for us, what’s most important.” Susan added, “It’s a gorgeous course and the energy is so fun. They have built up such a great community around it.”

Izzy Kotlowitz & Sarah Wagner, friends and CBHM runners on the WISE team

CBHM runners, Izzy Kotlowitz and Sarah Wagner, have been running together for the WISE team for five years. They share a passion for running and being involved in their community. They are both from the Upper Valley and have personal connections with WISE, explaining that this is one way they can give back to the community they grew up in.

Izzy was inspired to get involved when she interned at WISE with the parent of a childhood friend who had previously participated in the race. In 2019, Izzy and her mother signed up to run for the WISE Team. It’s a very welcoming and energizing way to get involved with WISE,” Izzy said. “It’s a great way to give some time and some care.”

Sarah shared her interest in running marathons and in supporting local non-profit organizations. “I also just ran the New York marathon…I love to run,” she said, noting that her favorite thing about running is that it is one way in which to show up for yourself and your community.

What excites Izzy about the Covered Bridges Half Marathon is that “the run is like planting little seeds.” When you see runners, some of whom do not know each other well, it normalizes everything when they all come together. “This is one little thing we can put some energy into…the running and the friendship…and raising money for WISE.”

Sarah thinks that the marathon is a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about WISE so people can “be aware of it so they can support it.”

Whether an athlete or someone who just loves to run, the most important thing is the passion behind the purpose. The Covered Bridges Half Marathon is a community event made possible by the creative and thoughtful minds of those who organize it, the 600 volunteers who participated and contributed, and the surrounding community.

When speaking to those who have never run a half marathon before, Izzy explained, “You can go as slow and steady as you want. And people will cheer for you and it’s beautiful.” Racing on behalf of a local non-profit supports individuals and the entire organization, and “feeds right back into the people.”

After a successful first year, the Upper Valley 24-Hour Play Fest was back this September, held at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, and organized by Lebanon residents Rachael Thomeer and Molly Raposa. What is a 24-hour Play Festival? Great question! It’s just what it sounds like: 24 hours for participants to audition, write, direct, rehearse, and then perform short plays in just one calendar day.

With the festival beginning at 7pm on a Friday night, the actors audition (everyone is cast), and the writers stay overnight to work on their plays until the wee hours of the morning, when they then head home for some sleep. On Saturday morning, the directors and actors arrive to review scripts and hold the casting session, and then the tech crew arrives, rehearsals take place, and a performance begins to take shape. By 7pm Saturday night, the plays begin – six ten-minute plays – written, rehearsed, and performed in just 24 hours, and never seen before by any other audience. The Play Fest’s theme this year was “The Day Everything Changed”.

Upper Valley 24-Hour Play Fest Producers: Molly Raposa, Aaron Richter, Rachael Thomeer, Loriston Fennell

I met with two of the four producers to ask them some questions – Rachael Thomeer and Molly Raposa. Rachael has a background in community building, social events, and theater, and she served on the board of the Upper Valley Young Professionals. Having participated in a couple of play festivals in college, she had a vision of bringing such an event to the Upper Valley when she moved here in 2021, with the goal of inviting people from the broad community to come together for a fun, low-barrier, all-inclusive experience. She explained that the small time commitment (of 24 hours) helps make the event accessible to many, and the aspects she looks forward to the most are the camaraderie and team-playing of the participants who all work to bring the plays to life.

Eliza, UV 24-Hour Play Fest actress

Outside of organizing the Play Fest, Rachael also works in the box office at the Lebanon Opera House, and she loves how walkable downtown Lebanon is. “I like walking on the Rail Trail, going to the summer farmers’ market, and visiting the downtown businesses (Katie’s Cookies is my favorite!),” she said.

Molly also has a theater background, having majored in theater management and participating in play festivals at college as a director. She gave a shout out to the “Upper Valley Ladies 20s and 30s” group on Facebook, which is where she was first introduced to Rachael last year and joined in her mission to hold annual play festivals for the Upper Valley.

Both Rachael and Molly live in Lebanon, and “The festival has always been rooted in Lebanon,” Rachael said. “Since its founding, we’ve always had at least half of our production team live in Lebanon.” A few of the actors this year hail from Lebanon, too.

Even though the event itself is only 24 hours long, the producers and collaborators – all of whom are volunteers – work on making this event possible for months. In the months of planning leading up to the festival, the producers met at libraries in Lebanon and Hanover to plan the event. Rachael said that she sometimes forgets that the UV 24-Hour Play Fest is a real thing that an audience is coming to watch: it’s “not real until it’s real,” she said, and “it’s so short it feels like a dream.”

“It’s exciting and so nerve wracking at the same time,” Molly explained. “We are so heavily involved, and on the day-of, we’re starting to pass [what we’ve worked on] off to other people [actors].” She expressed how exhilarating the leap of faith and trust feels in passing their idea over to the Play Fest participants and seeing what they come up with over such a short period of time.

As far as this kind of event being a valuable part of the community, they both had a lot to say. Rachael said that this kind of event brings people together, especially during a time when social ties have disintegrated in recent years. “We really try to be inclusive and welcoming,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to let people try new things, and I think that’s just really empowering for them…We want to offer a low barrier of entry, and we want to make it really low stakes.” The first priority is that “we want everyone to have fun, feel safe, and be comfortable,” she added. “Our second thing is that [we] put on a good show. We really care about our [audience and actors] and their experience.”

Aran Eagle (L), director and Talon Eagle (R), actor

Molly said, “we’re just so passionate about bringing accessible art to the Upper Valley.” A 24-Hour Play Fest is a unique niche that is “awesome for the community.” A lot of people don’t want to make a big commitment (time wise), but still want to be involved in theater, and the Play Fest provides a great, low-commitment opportunity for them. “And, if you walk away from the day wanting to get more involved in the local theater scene at all of our amazing local arts venues, that’s awesome, and that’s a win for us,” Molly added.

This event is all-inclusive, no experience necessary, and come as you are, with some participants trying it for the first time, while others may have a background in theater and acting. Everyone gets to participate and share in the collaborative process, making it a rewarding and community-building experience.

As far as any changes since last year’s event, there were a few notable things. The auditions used to happen the morning-of, after the writers had written the plays. However, not knowing the demographics of the actors ahead of time, they wrote plays that were not necessarily written with specific demographics in mind, such as more kid-friendly scripts. This year, they had the writers watch the auditions, so they had a better idea who they were writing for, and this made a big difference. They learned a lot about the venues as well. Last year, they held the first Play Fest at Parish Players, and it was such a huge success; not only did they have to turn away participants because of lack of space, but the festival sold out! So, this year they found a larger space and ended up having over double the number of participants – 60 participants in total, with the number of children increasing and even a couple of families joining the mix.

Eliza, an 11-year-old participant, said this was her first play festival experience, though she has been involved with plays in the past at camp and was in

A Christmas Carol at Northern Stage. What excites her most about this event is the pressure of it. “I work best when I’m under stress,” she said. “This is really motivating but also scary, in a good way.” She thinks this is a valuable part of the community because it “causes a lot of people who share the same interests to come together and meet new people, and share their passion,” she said.

Fauve Dela Cruz, actress

Alexander Bulova, one of the co-directors who participated in 24-hour play festivals back in college, said that the most challenging aspect of the event is having only 24 hours to pull everything together. He is very used to coming into rehearsal having already done the blocking and preparation, and you don’t have that kind of time with the 24-Hour Play Fest. “This is really an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and just work in the moment, learn with the actors, and discover stuff in the moment, which is really valuable,” he said. He explained that it’s important to keep things fresh for the performers, and that you don’t want them to “over act” and be tired by show time. “You want a little bit of uncertainty before you go on stage, because that’s where the acting and the magic comes from, is working with that audience and discovering stuff in the moment.” Also, the format removes barriers between the different roles, and everyone comes together. “This is a great opportunity for people to step out of their day-to-day lives and their jobs and just have fun.”

Play Fest actor Rawan Bresselsmith, from Lebanon, is new to acting, though you would never know; she is such a natural! Her background in ballet lends to her familiarity with stage performance, and part of her studies in medical school require some role playing. This was her first time taking part in a play festival, and she explained that the most challenging aspect of a ten-minute play is learning to memorize lines. And, in their play, they had a few scenes taking place all at once, which made it a challenge to stay focused on her next line. “This is a great way to meet people that I otherwise never would have crossed pathways with,” she said. “Coming together to do something collectively challenging is so fun…this is the essence of teamwork.”

Fauve Dela Cruz, another actor, said this is her second year involved with a play festival. What excites her most is “how it is so uncertain, and we have no idea what the outcome is going to be,” she said. “Everyone is obviously pushing to their best, but there’s no pressure to make it perfect…You literally have no time to get into your head, you’ve just gotta do it and go for it, and that’s the beauty of this whole thing that everyone’s going for…because you’re only doing it once.”

“It requires a lot of different people of different abilities, and so it pulls from all these different areas of the community,” Fauve added. “It will pull people from all walks of life…This is such a great entry-level way of getting into it and getting your feet wet and seeing if you like it, versus a huge commitment for a full production.”

Rawan Bresselsmith (L) and Jane Svindrychova (R), both UV 24-Hour Play Fest actresses.

Talon Ansteth heard about the UV 24-Hour Play Festival from his partner, who participated as a director. He was planning on being an usher, until someone dropped out from acting and he decided to audition. He participated for a number of years with the “Arts In Reach” program in Durham, Nh, and this really piqued his interest and involvement in theater.

What excited Talon most is that, “from the group that I’ve been in, they’re very inclusive, and they understand that I can’t do a lot of things, and they’re really helping me express myself in the play itself.”

You might not think it takes long to put something like this together, but there is always more behind the scenes than we ever imagine. It takes months to find just the right space, the sponsors and partners that come together to make this possible, the creative marketing, and all the thoughtful coordination. The four producers, including Molly, Rachael, Loriston Fennell, and Aaron Richter (who is the music director/organist and admin assistant at the West Lebanon Congregational Church), all volunteered their time, energy, and effort to make this happen. And, at the end of the night, a successful, exciting show that left me with such enthusiasm that I just might have to participate next year myself!