How We Started

Breath4CF started as a result of a journey and a vision. In 2002 Tracey Richardson found herself overwhelmed and overweight, a result of 13 years of struggling to cope with the realities of two children with Cystic Fibrosis. So she set about trying to not just improve her own life but also to make a difference to the lives of people with CF. Unsure how to do that Tracey pursued fitness as her own personal goal and entered a small women's triathlon. But it was 8 days before this event that Tracey stumbled on the path that would set Breath4CF in motion. She heard about a women called Lisa Bentley, a remarkable professional triathlete who competes all over the world in Ironman races. Ironman is a massive triathlon consisting of a 3.8 km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run. Lisa was coming to NZ to compete and Tracey wanted to show her children that exercise from an early age for a person with CF can make a HUGE difference to their health. She want to inspire her own children.

Tracey and her two children went to Taupo to watch the race and to meet Lisa. During the course of the 17 hour race day, Tracey resolved to do the race for herself, for her own journey, but she also had a vision. She wanted to establish a grant fund that would assist children with CF to participate in sports and physical activities, her own participation in the race would be the catalyst to fundraise for CF. Medical advice was unanimous, exercise was the one way that people with CF could affect their own quality of life and longevity. As a mother of CF children, she knew that it is all the families deepest wish to have their children with them for as long as possible.

So Tracey created Breath4CF and set about fundraising to establish this fund. As part of this she approached the organisers of Ironman New Zealand and with the backing of the CF Association asked them to support her quest. They did and named Breath4CF as the first official charity in the events 20 year history in New Zealand. A full campaign swung into action and the athletes in the field where encouraged to use THEIR breath4cf on race day and to fundraise for CF. Tracey completed the race in 15.46 mins with her children by her side and together with the other athletes raised $120,000, thereby establishing the Breath4CF fund. Since then Breath4CF has been the charity for a number of events and will be the official charity again at Ironman New Zealand 2005. The money raised is being used by the children, teenagers and young adults with CF in a variety of ways. Grants have been made for singing lessons, tennis rackets, club fees, gym memberships, lots of bikes, rugby sessions, swimming lessons, trampolines and a host of other items and sessions that are helping to keep the kids active, staving off the affects of their medical condition.

Tracey's vision and drive continues as she pushes the boundaries of event fundraising. She has recently been awarded a Vodafone NZ Foundation World of Difference Award. An award that will allow her to study and then implement the best event fundraising practices from around the world in 2005 . The first innovation is operating now www.fundraiseonline.co.nz a free online fundraising website that allows athletes to build personal pages based on their event for charity. Tracey will work full time for Breath4CF in 2005 as the Event and Fundraising Manager. She is an Associate member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand and has a commitment to professional and ethical fundraising, as well as a being a talented public and motivational speaker. Tracey was also honoured in the NZ Government 2005 New Years Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to Cystic Fibrosis.

You can contact her here.