Robert Plante is the honorary chair of the Lebanon Great Strides Walk to cure cystic fibrosis (CF). He has been volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 38 years. In that time, he’s raised more than $350,000 dollars to support research to find a cure for CF.
Robert Plante and Bill D’Amico, who met through the Special Olympics/Best Buddies program.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, more than 40,000 people in the U.S. are living with CF. Plante became involved with the organization after his childhood friend Doug Jones, who was diagnosed with CF at the age of 13, passed away at the age of 43. Plante spoke at his funeral.
Bill D’Amico traveled to the Upper Valley from Golden, Colorado, for the event. He met Plante, who is a former Special Olympics athlete, 26 years ago through the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International partnership, which pairs volunteers with Special Olympics athletes who have aged out of or are no longer involved with the program. They first only corresponded by email, but received permission from the organization to meet in person in 2006. Since then, D’Amico has traveled to the Upper Valley each year for the Great Strides Walk.
What has been the most rewarding part of the Walk for D’Amico? “I just think that Robert’s consistency in doing this for 38 years and raising $10,000 a year, every year, all through the Upper Valley” he said. “It’s an amazing testament to the community here, and people that support this type of event. And Robert, specifically. He’s been the ambassador.”
More than 50 people participated in this year’s event, which took place on May 3 at the CCBA Pavillion in Lebanon. The 2026 Great Strides Walk raised $13,685, surpassing its $11,750 goal.
Robert Plante with volunteers and participants at the CCBA Pavillion.
Robert recruits neighbors and friends to join the walk every year, and he reaches out to local businesses to donate lunch for participants.
Paula Garvey of Amherst, New Hampshire, met Robert at a walk 15 or 20 years ago. She got involved because her daughter has cystic fibrosis. She said she and Robert talk every day on the phone. “Robert is the best part,” she said, adding that he brings people together. “He is why this walk happens. We’re all here to support Robert.”
