Friends,One of the first lessons I learned in youth football was that winning requires all of the individual athletes on a team to come together, to cooperate and to support each other. And while it’s not always easy to balance individual egos and personal goals with the needs of the team, it is a worthwhile effort that pays dividends in the end. The cover story in this issue of BEF Update is all about team-building. The article will give you a pretty good idea of what’s been going on with Team Boomer over the past several months as 120 athletes prepare to run the ING New York City Marathon on behalf of BEF and the cystic fibrosis community. At our Foundation, the team-building theme doesn’t apply only to Team Boomer. Our staff, our Board of Directors, our corporate partners and our volunteers come together as a team every day to fulfill our mis-sion: providing financial support to research aimed at finding a cure for CF, and offering programs that directly support the CF community. While I may be considered the “quarterback” of BEF, I also am very well aware that I am not the reason we are so successful. It is the dedication and commitment of our team that ensures a winning season year after year. With that in mind, I offer humble thanks for the contributions you and so many others make to our Foundation and to the CF community. Together, we will beat CF.

Boomer

Letter From Boomer

it’s All About teAm-building by Kevin Adler

Three months ago, Eric Arthrell, James Dussich and Whitney Randles didn’t know each other. Neither did Jennifer Crean, Mary Beth Carty and Dean Reid. Now they are teammates in the fight against cystic fibrosis. They’re among the 120 marathoners who will run in the ING New York City Marathon on November 7, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s Exercise for Life scholarship and other programs supporting the cystic fibrosis community. “The marathon is a great opportunity for us. Not only is it a high-profile event where we can raise a lot of money, but there’s also a direct connection between exercise and healthy living with CF,” said Gwen Shusterman, who for several months coordinated the fundraising effort for Team Boomer under the guidance of longtime BEF volunteer Jerry Cahill. On June 1, Team Boomer celebrated National Running Day with the first of a monthly series of training runs in Manhattan. Later that month, about 30 runners arrived at the BEF offices for a meeting, and other runners joined by conference call. “The idea is to build a network of our runners … a team spirit. We want to encourage them to be ambassadors for Team Boomer, as well as to support them training for the marathon,” Shusterman said. The strategy is working. “The meeting and the group training has been motivating for me. I like hearing about why people are running, and I met a couple of people I liked right-off-the-bat at that first run,” said Crean, who lives in Hauppauge, N.Y., and has three young children. “It’s my third year running the marathon for Team Boomer, and the support has gone up each year,” said Dussich, who has the ambitious goal of a sub-three-hour marathon. “Team Boomer is one of those things where you get out of it as much as you dedicate to it,” added Dussich, who has been deeply involved with Team Boomer and BEF fundraisers for more than a decade. He helped launch the Foundation’s Young Profes-sionals Committee with BEF Event Program Director Michaela Seccareccia. The group holds semi-annual events in New York City, such as the upcoming Halloween party, “Dare to Scare.” (see story on the YPC on page 2).

BEF UPDATE The Boomer Esiason Foundation Newsletter Issue 1 - 2010 | www.esiason.org

CF PROGRAMS: iTunes offers new app for CF podcasts (pg 11)

EVENTS: Giving back to Boomer (pg 6)

NEWS: Recruiting the next generation of supporters (pg 2)

team Boomer and the nYC marathon

InsIDE ThIs IssUE ...

BEF Update is published by the Boomer Esiason FoundationEDITOR: Mary Ann Rinkleff | ART DIRECTOR: Neil Rieger

© Copyright 2010, The Boston Globe

(continued on page 13)

ConnECT wITh BEF ...

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 2Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

Young Professionals Committee recruits next generationof beF supportersA small group of young professionals in New York City has come together to generate support for BEF and the cystic fibrosis com-munity, and they are proving to be adept at reaching an audience previously untapped by the Foundation. The BEF Young Professionals Committee (YPC) “is a group of diverse young professionals who each utilizes their personal resources and networks to reach other young professionals in the tri-state area,” explained Michaela Seccareccia, BEF Event Pro-gram Director and a co-founder of the YPC. Although the YPC is a relatively small group – only eight official members – it already has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Foundation via fundrais-ing and social events. The committee works in cooperation with Refi Rock, a group of young Wall Street mortgage bond traders who put together rock concerts by local bands to benefit charity. Together, the YPC and Refi Rock host spring and fall events at hip venues, recruit attendees via email blasts, Facebook and Twitter, and sell tickets via an event promo-tions web site. In addition to great music, food and drink, raffles and other activities, the parties offer affordable ticket prices, a definite selling point for the younger crowd. The events, designed to accommodate 1,200 to 1,500 partygoers, usually sell out. “People our age want to give back and make a difference in their community,” Sec-careccia said. “Our events allow them to be part of something worthwhile.” The group’s next event is “Dare to Scare,” a Halloween party on October 28. For details and to purchase tickets, go to www.refirockpacha.eventbrite.com.

beF Calendar

BEF nEws

Members of the BEF Young Professionals Committee at the group’s Spring Fling. Top row (L-R): Sean Connery, John Niehaus, James Dussich, Michaela Seccarec-cia and Sofia Lombardo. Bottom: Randy Williams. Not shown: Bob Philp and Kelly Wood.

The members of the Young Professionals Committee come from a variety of backgrounds. Here, they share how and why they became involved in the Foundation.Sean Connery | Attorney – Pryor Cashman LLP“I went to college with Randy [Williams] and became involved with the Foundation shortly thereafter. Also, I was aware of the Foundation’s work through a family friend who has a son with CF.”

James Dussich | Director of Operations, JAD/Mint-X Corporation“I grew up in the same town as Boomer and became involved at an early age with the Foundation.”

Sofia Lombardo | Account Supervisor, Media Specialist – Ketchum Sports & Entertainment“I have been passionate about the cause and have followed Boomer and Gunnar’s story for years. Upon being given the opportunity to work with Boomer on a project level, his passion for BEF enthused me to get involved and donate my time and efforts to raising funds in the hopes of finding a cure. “

John Niehaus | Investment Banking Analyst - Morgan Stanley“My cousin, Jamie Barry, has CF.”

Bob Philp | Vice President - 16W Marketing, LLC“I’ve been working with Boomer and BEF for 10-plus years as an acting marketing rep for Boomer. In the past, I’ve rode in the NY Bike Tour to raise money for BEF.”

Michaela Seccareccia | Event Program Director – The Boomer Esiason Foundation“I have been an employee of BEF for three years. I have been directly touched and inspired by the people I have met with CF, and the stories I have learned. I am a participant in the 2010 ING NYC Marathon to raise money for CF, and to represent Team Boomer.”

Randy Williams | Mortgage-Backed Securities Trader – Gleacher Descap Securities“Gunnar is my cousin!”

Kelly Wood | Manager, Programming - CBS Sports“I work with Boomer on the NFL Today and became involved with the Foundation a few years ago.”

Third Annual Refi Rock Halloween PartyOctober 28, 2010Pacha NightclubNew York, NYwww.refirockpacha.eventbrite.com

ING New York City MarathonNovember 7, 2010New York, NYwww.esiason.org/teamboomer

Champions for Charity Holiday Shopping EventDecember 2-4, 2010Americana ManhassetManhasset, NYwww.championsforcharity.org

Rimington Trophy PresentationJanuary 15, 2011Rococo TheatreLincoln, NEwww.rimingtontrophy.com

Costa Rica Classic International Billfish TournamentMarch 11-12, 2011Costa Ricawww.costaricaclassic.com

Outback Steakhouse Empire ChallengeJune 21, 2011Hempstead, NY www.empirechallenge.com

DCU for Kids Charity Golf ClassicJune 21, 2011Sky Meadow Country ClubNashua, NHwww.dcuforkids.org

Bermuda International Race WeekendJanuary 14-16, 2011Bermudawww.bermudaraceweekend.com

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 3Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

WFAn Personalities ‘tri’ Hard for team boomerThree of Boomer’s cohorts from WFAN sports radio channeled their inner athletes in June when they participated in the Great South Bay Triathlon on behalf of Team Boomer. Boomer was on hand to watch co-host Craig Carton, traffic reporter Tracy Burgess and anchor Jerry Recco swim, bike and run on the course in East Islip, N.Y. The overall event benefited both BEF and the EJ Autism Foundation.

bgC Charity day: An event Heard Around the WorldBoomer and Craig Carton took their drive time sports talk radio show to downtown Manhattan on September 13, broadcast-ing from the brokerage floor of inter-dealer broker BGC Partners, Inc. The live show celebrated BCG’s annual Charity Trading Day, which raised more than $10 million for roughly 75 chari-ties around the world. The Foundation was one of the beneficiaries of the event, which is held annually to commemorate those lost in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. In New York, the celebrity guests who assisted in mak-ing multi-million-dollar deals included athletes Eli Manning, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Ike Davis, Sean Av-ery and Rod Gilbert, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actress Hillary Duff, and cast members from the popular television show “The Sopranos.”

BEF supporter Tim Baxter and his 17-year-old daughter, Brittany, enjoyed competing in a father-daughter golf tour-nament in Ireland that Tim won at a live auction earlier this year. Tim reports that the pair “had a blast” and that he was happy both to spend quality time with his daughter and to help BEF.

Paul mitchell revs up support at the toyota grand PrixAngus Mitchell, Co-Owner of Paul Mitchell Systems and Angus Mitchell Salon Beverly Hills, offered his support to BEF in April at the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. More than 175,000 affluent Grand Prix guests visited the Angus Mitchell Salon booth at the California event’s Lifestyle Expo, where stylists performed demonstrations and handed out product. The booth raised funds and awareness for the Foundation, a project that was spearheaded by Angus Mitchell. Angus had a close friend who died from cystic fibrosis, so he was eager to support the cause. The Foundation offers warm thanks to Angus and the Angus Mitchell Salon stylists who worked so hard on behalf of BEF.

BEF nEws

Angus Mitchell styles hair at the Angus Mitchell Salon booth.

Angus Mitchell (in white) with Angus Mitchell Salon stylists who worked at the three-day expo.

Boomer with Bobby Valentine (left), Ralph Branca (middle) and co-host Craig Carton (right).

Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of BGC Partners Inc., chats

on-air with Boomer and Carton.

Boomer taking a photo of WFAN radio personalities (L-R) Craig Carton, Tracy Burgess and Jerry Recco.

Craig Carton, Boomer’s co-host on WFAN, suits

up for the swim.

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 4Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

Vote for beF in Chobani Yogurt’s ‘nothing but good’ Charity Program!Chobani Yogurt has accepted the Boomer Esiason Foun-dation into “Nothing But Good,” a charitable giving program under which Chobani donates 10 percent of its annual prof-its to nonprofit organizations that align with the company’s own mission. The allocation of Chobani’s donations to the charities are made based on feedback from its board and from consumers. The Chobani web site includes brief write-ups on accepted charities that do work in the areas of health, the environment and “good.” Con-sumers may vote for a charity using the “Spread Some Good Here!” button under the organization’s description. BEF encourages the CF community to cast a vote for BEF on the Chobani web site (www.chobani.com). Donations the Foundation receives from companies like Chobani are directed toward programs benefiting the CF community.

samsung, sears set to launch nationwide Campaign on behalf of beFSamsung’s Hope for Children Program plans to join with Sears and the Boomer Esiason Foundation later this year for a nationwide cause mar-keting program aimed at increasing awareness about cystic fibrosis and raising funds for BEF’s programs supporting the CF community. The highly visible program will utilize social media tools to reach and mobilize a broad segment of the public. Keep an eye on the BEF web site (www.esiason.org) and the Founda-tion’s Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/boomeresiasonfoundation) for announcements about this exciting program.

Cincinnati bell Programs Continue to ring up supportCincinnati Bell’s longstanding affinity programs for BEF continue to grow, netting new subscribers to the compa-ny’s service networks and generating funds to fight CF. Cincinnati Bell donates $2 to BEF for each new wireless activation, and it donates $1 for each new prepaid activation. Cincinnati Bell’s long distance service, Any Distance, donates $1 for each new subscriber. Also, Cincinnati Bell donates $35 to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center every time a Center em-ployee signs up for Complete Connections residential service; it also gives $55 for every activation with Cincinnati Bell Wireless. Special thanks to Cincinnati Bell President and CEO Jack Cassidy, a BEF Board member, for his ongoing support of the Foundation and these programs.

Popular Jiffy lube Program Helps Consumers, FoundationJiffy Lube franchisees in Utah are offering their popular annual program that enables consumers to save on a wide variety of Jiffy Lube services while raising funds to fight CF. Under this innovative partnership with BEF, drivers purchase a coupon booklet for $5 and receive more than $100 in discounts for Jiffy Lube services; sales of the coupons support the Foundation. The program was developed by BEF Board Member Mike Norseth, and it is supported by a number of Jiffy Lube franchises, which sell tens of thousands of coupon books each year.

buffalo Wild Wings sweepstakes benefits team boomerThe “Best Seat in the House” sweepstakes -- sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings(R) and benefiting BEF -- will kick off November 7. Under the Best Seat in the House program, which will run through Jan. 9, 2011, customers at 14 Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants in the New York metro area will be offered a ticket to enter the sweepstakes. There is no cost to participate, but customers will be encouraged to give a $5 donation per ticket. One overall grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two to the 2011 Big Game in Dallas, courtesy of Heineken USA. The trip package includes airfare, hotel accommodations, tickets to the game and on-site transportation. One grand prize winner at each participating Buffalo Wild Wings® location will win a Best Seat in the House experience, which includes a Dream Seat Xzipit chair. These winners also will receive a Big Game Sunday game day package that includes car service from their home to a Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurant, premium seating to watch the big game on a large-screen tv, and a $100 gift card for food and drink. Other prizes include a New York Jets jersey autographed by Boomer and a Heineken prize kit. All customer donations collected during the sweepstakes period will support BEF’s Team Boomer program.

CAUsE MArkETIng

brax spirit CupsBRAX Spirit Cups, manufacturer of custom NFL travel mugs, supports BEF at fundraising events and by raising awareness of the Foundation and cystic fibrosis. We appreciate their ongoing support.

barbasolBarbasol, a corporate sponsor of Westwood One’s radio broadcasts of Monday Night Football, is in its fifth year of a program under which it donates $25,000 to the Foundation as part of its sponsorship package. Thanks, Barbasol!

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 5Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

new York City Wins empire Challenge on late touchdown by Kevin Adler

“Turnovers. Turnovers are the key to the game,” New York City Head Coach Peter Gambardella told his team just before it took the field for the 15th Annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge all-star football game on June 22. Gambardella was right on the money — turnovers did decide the outcome. The three turnovers his team forced led directly to its victory over Long Island by a score of 15-10 in front of 8,224 fans on a breezy, rainy night at James Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University. The all-time series now stands 7-6 in Long Island’s favor (the first two games were all-Long Island affairs in which Suffolk County played Nassau County). Despite the wet conditions, New York City lost the ball only once, and it made big plays when they were needed. The ultimate difference-maker was an interception by New York City cornerback Devante Wheeler (Poly Prep) on a pass thrown by Long Island quarterback John Kinder (Lawrence) from his end zone with less than two minutes remaining. After a high snap went past him, Kinder chased the bouncing ball into the end zone, just a step ahead of New York City lineman Kwaku Duah (Clinton). Trying to avoid the safety and make a big play, Kinder threw the ball into traffic, and Wheeler picked it off. Two plays later, Jordan Rodriguez (Wagner) ran into the end zone for the winning score. “Even with five minutes to go, I felt good that our guys would make plays. They had been doing it defensively all game. When you give up only 10 points in an all-star game, and three of them are after a long kickoff return, you’re play-ing excellent defense,” said Gambardella, who is head coach at Curtis.

Smooth Game

Although neither team finished with 200 yards of total offense, the game did not feel like a defen-sive battle. Both teams moved the ball, but they couldn’t sustain drives, and the defenses mini-mized the big plays for either side. “It was a grind-it-out game … hard-fought,” said Long Island Head Coach Kyle Madden, who had led Half Hollow Hills West to an undefeated season last year. “Both teams were in a lot of second-and-long and third-and-long situations, and it’s hard to convert on them.” New York City received the opening kickoff, and Wheeler returned it to his team’s 28. He fumbled on the return but recovered the ball, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic start. Running back Lyle McCombs (St. Joseph by the Sea) and QB Frank Laino (Fort Hamilton) got the initial first down of the game on three carries, but then a Laino screen pass was sniffed-out by Will Crapo (Plainedge), who tackled Elijah Bratcher (New Dorp) for a one-yard loss, and that shut down New York City’s drive. Long Island’s first possession began at its 25-yard line. Kinder, who is going to Syracuse University in the fall, stepped up in a spread formation with four wide receivers, but two of his first three passes were knocked down at the line of scrimmage. The third-down pass was swatted by Jason Bromley (Flushing), who would be voted the game’s Most Valuable Player for his seven tackles and two sacks. “Our defensive linemen were tall, and I told them that if they could get penetration, they could knock down some passes,” said Gambardella. “They set the tone right away.” When New York City got the ball back for its second drive, Rodriguez came in as QB. On his first pass, he hit Marcus Spann (Curtis) down the middle for a 38-yard gain, which turned out to be the longest play from scrimmage in the game. Spann was well-covered by three Long Island defenders, but Rodriguez placed the ball perfectly, and Spann leaped into the air to make the catch. With the ball on the Long Island 22 after the long pass, New York City needed just four runs to get into the end zone. It was Alton Richardson (Fort Hamilton) for one yard, Rodriguez for 12, Douglas Butler (Abraham Lincoln) for two, and Rodriguez again for seven. On the drive, the 225-lb. Rodriguez ran over tacklers. For Rodriguez, the TD represented a return to form after blood clots ended his senior season. He led New York City with 47 rushing yards and 44 passing yards. “I coached against him for three years, and he can make things happen with his legs and his arm,” said Gambardella. “He’s like a Tim Tebow who can run over the smaller guys in the secondary … they don’t want to have to tackle him.” After the Rodriguez touchdown, the extra point was blocked by another of the five Syracuse recruits in the game: Malcolm Cater (Riverhead). He led Long Island with five solo and three assisted tackles and was named Long Island’s Player of the Game.

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BEF EvEnTs

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 6Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

long island to give back to boomerby bob Herzog, MSg vArSitySepteMber 8, 2010

It has happened every June since 1996. Long Island’s elite high school football players and coaches participate in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge – I like to call it the Boomer Bowl – and have the time of their lives. For a week, they are treated like royalty – first-class practice venues, free equipment and food, pep talks from NFL players and a charity all-star game at a premier venue -- Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium – before a large crowd. There’s a scene after this year’s game that is etched in the mind of Hans Weiderkehr, president of the Suffolk County football coaches association. “In the locker room, I’m watching all the players leaving with their arms loaded with free stuff,” the former Babylon coach said. “I turned to Sal [Ciampi, the East Islip coach whose father coached Boomer in high school] and said, ‘What can we do to give something back to Boomer?’ ” For years, Boomer Esiason, former East Islip, University of Maryland and NFL star quarterback, is the one who has been doing the giving. Proceeds from the Empire Challenge have raised millions of dollars to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis, the disease that struck his son Gunnar, now a sophomore at Boston College. The Boomer Esiason Foundation also supports youth football in the metropolitan area. Nassau and Suffolk are united in their effort to send a giant thank-you card, check enclosed, to Esiason before next year’s game. Long Island’s two counties are going about it in different ways, but each hopes to outdo the other in the fundraising department. There will be no loser. Beginning with this week’s games in Suffolk, the home team is responsible for setting up a table and asking fans to donate at least a dollar to the BEF. The 54 public schools will have each played one home game by the end of Week 2 and after the money is counted, Weiderkehr’s organization will present a check to Esiason. “It’s a way to give back to Boomer,” Weiderkehr said. “Look at all the time and effort and money this man has put into Long Island football.” Nassau will do its fundraising near the end of the season. During the county’s semifinal and final playoff games at Shuart Stadium in November, tables will be set up inside with volunteers requesting contributions from fans. “It’s terrific to give back to an organization that has given so much to Nassau County football,” said Dan Agovino, president of the Nassau County football coaches association and coach at North Shore. He also will present one check for the total amount collected to Boomer. It’s a wonderfully spontaneous gesture by the Long Island coaches, with no prompting from Boomer or his organization. In fact, when contacted on Wednesday for a comment, Michael Buscemi, senior vice president of events for the BEF, said he was unaware of this fund-raising effort. He was unable to reach Esiason for a comment, but said, “Boomer’s dedication to giving back to our community’s football programs has always been a top priority.” And now the football community returns the favor. Unexpected gifts are the best kind and this one comes from the hearts of many. Coaches and players who have participated in the Boomer Bowl like to refer to their post-game swag this way: “Everything but the helmet.” Essentially, that is what they walk away with, compli-ments of Boomer, as they leave Shuart Stadium with shirts, shorts, shoes, bags – and the memory of a lifetime. “I have three coaches on my staff who played in the game and they tell my players it was the greatest experi-ence of their lives,” said Agovino. It’s been 15 years of Christmas in June for many Long Island players and coaches. And now Boomer, a man of great presence, will be receiving two great presents.

BEF EvEnTs

Taking the early 6-0 lead was a psychological lift for the many NYC coaches who had been at the wrong end of a big early deficit last year that became a 31-14 loss. “Getting that lead took a load off us,” said Gambardella. “We relaxed and said that we’re in this one from the start. A lot of the credit goes to the players. They jelled quickly as a team this year; I had a good vibe right from our first meeting.” Still, Long Island promptly struck back to take the lead with a nine-play, 58-yard drive. QB Gavin Kretz (Amityville) and backs by Kenny Barnett (Inwood), Anthony Brunetti (Holy Trinity), and Davon Lawrence (Central Islip) did all the damage on the ground. Kretz set up in the shotgun on every play, and he usually had four wide receivers. But instead of passing the ball, the team ran it up the middle and in the slot against defenders who were spread out to cover downfield. Lawrence’s three-yard carry tied the score, and Jesse Signa (St. Anthony’s) put Long Island ahead 7-6 early in the second quarter. “The spread offense that Russ Cellan [head coach at Freeport] installed for us is more of a running spread,” said Madden. “It limited the number of guys who can key on the run, which allowed us not to have to block as many defenders.” New York City brought in its third quarterback for its next drive, Jonathan Derbyshire (Tottenville). He led the team to two first downs, highlighted by a 30-yard completion to Bratcher on which Bratcher coolly came back for an underthrown ball while the defenders lost sight of the ball. But on a third-down play from the Long Island 22-yard line, Derbyshire was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Daniel Belfiore (Glen Cove) that pushed New York City out of field goal range. Long Island took over on downs, and Kinder returned quarterback. The team stayed on the ground for another promising drive. Kevin Allen (Freeport) went for 11 yards up the middle, and then Barnett picked up 12 more yards on a sweep to the left. But then Kinder lost six yards on a run and was sacked for another loss by safety Steven Rene (Carnarsie). Facing a third-and-17, Kinder backpedaled against New York City’s big pass rush. When Kinder threw the ball into double coverage, New York City linebacker Mario Tull (Xaverian) got the interception. But Long Island defensive linemen Cater and Ryan Crawley (North Babylon) and de-fensive back JeVahn Cruz (Half Hollow Hills West) made sure that New York City couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity, as they shut down three running plays and forced a punt. By this time, rain was coming down hard, and both teams played conservatively to the end of the half.

Second Half

Long Island started the second half with possession at its own 37, following a good return by Cruz. Barnett and Allen took turns running the ball up the middle and between the slots, as Long Island took advantage of its superior size on the offensive line. However, on a cru-cial third-and-10 from the New York City 41-yard line, Kinder met up with Bromley again, this time for an eight-yard loss on a sack. Long Island punted. New York City couldn’t move the ball, either, as Andrew Hodge (Half Hollow Hills West), Chris Moore (Elmont), and Joe Kirchner (Sachem North) asserted themselves for Long Island’s defense. Only a 51-yard punt by Nick Fiorito (Fort Hamilton) got New York City out of trouble, as the ball was downed on Long Island’s 24. That long punt proved to be crucial two plays later, when Kinder was sacked by Nme-soma Okafor (Campus Magnet), and the ball was recovered by New York City defensive tackle Chris Braithwaite (Holy Cross). New York City took over on the Long Island 17. Once again, New York City couldn’t move the ball forward — in fact, it lost five yards on three runs and a penalty. In stepped Fiorito to try a 44-yard field goal in a downpour. He nailed the kick with about a yard to spare, and New York City led 9-7. “That was the longest kick I’ve ever had in a game,” he said.

(continued from page 5)

(continued on page 7)

Boomer talks with Gene Golda, MSG sideline reporter, at the 2010 Outback

Steakhouse Empire Challenge.

BEF UpdatE, IssUE 1 - 2010 PAGE 7Cover BEF News Cause Marketing BEF Events CF News CF Programs Team Boomer

BEF EvEnTs

Once again, a great special teams return put Long Island right back in the game. Fiorito’s kickoff was short, and Mike Gallo (Seaford) took it on a bounce and returned it 56 yards. He came within a half-step of a touchdown, but Tull didn’t give up on the play and made a tackle from behind. After Long Island moved nowhere on three plays, Signa kicked a 30-yard field goal to give Long Island the lead, 10-9. For the rest of the third quarter and most of the fourth, it seemed as if that would be the final score. Though the rain eventually stopped, New York City’s rushing game was being shut down by Long Island, and Long Island wasn’t going to give up another long pass completion. After the teams exchanged punts, New York City had what seemed likely to be its last good chance with 5:28 remaining when it took possession at the Long Island 35-yard line after an excellent punt return by Dean Marlowe (Holy Cross). However, three plays later, Laino underthrew Jeremiah Kobena (Cardinal Hayes) in the end zone, and his pass was intercepted by Cruz on the Long Island eight-yard line. “When we got the interception, I felt pretty good,” said Madden. “We just needed two first downs to run out the clock.” Only 3:38 was left, but according to Empire Challenge rules, teams can only punt twice per half. Long Island had used its allotted two punts, which put pressure on the team to get those crucial first downs. Of course, New York City was prepared, too. First, Felix Small (Erasmus) stopped Kinder for no gain on a run. Then, Kinder completed a pass to Chris Jean-Pierre (Brentwood), but Rene was there to stop it for no gain. Then, on third down, Gambardella called for a screen to wide receiver Gallo, and the play picked up 11 yards. Only 2:27 remained. Allen rushed for a yard, and New York City used its second timeout with 2:10 remaining. That’s when luck or fate or a slippery football changed the game. On second down, Kinder was in the shotgun, and the snap was high and to his right. It flew past him and bounced into the end zone. At first, it seemed fortunate for Kinder that the ball bounced high, because he was able to pick it up and turn to make a throw, thus avoiding a safety. But he was running sideways and Duah was nearly on top of him when he threw the ball, and the pass floated to Wheeler, who made the crucial interception. With Wheeler’s return, New York City had first-and-goal at the Long Island one-yard line. Madden told his team to let New York City score on its first play so that Long Island could maximize its time and save its timeouts. But Kevin Hauter (William Floyd) didn’t hear the instructions, and he slammed Rodriguez as he tried to run up the middle. No gain, but Long Island had to use a timeout. On second down, Rodriguez took the snap in the shotgun, and with a full head of steam, bulled into the end zone. New York had the lead at 15-10, with 1:41 remaining. Remarkably, Long Island almost won the game on the next play. Barnett took the kickoff and darted to the right side. He had wide-open space in front of him, maybe even enough for a touchdown. “All game on our returns, I felt like we were one guy or one move away from scoring a touchdown. It would have made a difference,” said Mad-den. Instead, Tykeith Fantroy (Campus Magnet) got Barnett by the foot before he could reach top speed, and Long Island had to go the length of the field from its own 34-yard line. The miracle finish didn’t happen, as Kinder was able to get only one first-down completion to Ashanti Foster-Felder (Freeport), but ended the game with three straight incompletions. “I was real down for several days after the game,” Madden admitted. “We’d had a great year at Half Hollow Hills West, where we’d gone 12-0. You never want to lose, especially when you saw how hard our coaches and players worked and how much they wanted to win. But it’s still a great experience — second to none — and we’ll come back and avenge our loss next year.” For Gambardella, it was a night to remember. “It’s a tremendous honor to coach in this game, working with coaches you’ve been butting heads with all season,” he said. “It means even more that we won in the last year that Vinny Laino from Fort Hamilton and our game coordinator Jim DeBenedetto will be on the sidelines.”

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samsung renames ‘Four seasons of Hope’ Program to emphasize Health, educationIn June, Samsung announced it was rebranding its popular Four Seasons of Hope charity program. The program’s new name, “Hope for Children,” unveiled at the Ninth Annual Four Seasons of Hope Charity Gala, strategically focuses Sam-sung’s efforts on programs dedicated to helping children live, learn and thrive. The annual gala, held at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, featured singer, record producer and fashion designer Jennifer Lopez and her five-time Grammy Award-winning husband, Marc Anthony. It also brought together a host of other stars from entertainment and sports for a sensational evening. Samsung’s gala is one of the highest-profile events in the fundraising season, supporting not only the Boomer Esiason Foundation, but other foundations led by sports legends, entertainment stars and civic leaders. Samsung’s partners on the corporate side include Sears, Lowe’s, Best Buy and other major retailers. The company’s longtime support of BEF also has included a variety of cause marketing pro-grams offered in conjunc-tion with Sears.

dCu for Kids golf tournament Above ParDCU for Kids, the non-profit charitable foundation of Digital Federal Credit Union, has supported the Boomer Esiason Foundation for several years via its annual charity golf tournament, and this year, DCU contin-ued its tradition of philanthropic leadership. The 11th Annual DCU for Kids’ Charity Golf Tournament was held in June in Boylston, Mass. For the sixth consecutive year, proceeds from the event benefited BEF, as well as other local deserving causes and charities benefiting children and families. “Supporting Boomer’s ongoing efforts, as well as making a meaningful difference in the communities where we serve our members on a daily basis, is imperative to our organization,” said Jim Regan, DCU’s President and CEO. “Boomer’s vision, passion and his work as a tireless advocate for finding a cure to a disease that affects over 30,000 Americans is a testament to the individual that he is.” Boomer joined more than 100 participating golfers for a day on the course, silent auction, buffet dinner and afternoon awards ceremony. During the ceremony, Boomer spoke of DCU’s involvement and support of the Foundation. “DCU has unconditionally supported our efforts through this tournament in helping to find a cure for cystic fibrosis,” he said. “The leadership, as well as each and every employee of DCU, have raised and continue to raise the bar when it comes to their involvement in responsible corpo-rate citizenship.”

boomer’s big bang takes Aim at CF

Boomer’s Big Bang: Sporting Clays Pro-Am continues to be a perennial winner for the Foundation. The twelfth annual clay shoot, held in June, brought in outstanding numbers to bolster BEF’s support for the CF community. Each year, Boomer’s Big Bang is hosted by Elk Creek Hunt Club in Owenton, Ky. Designed for shooters at varying skill levels, the event is structured similarly to a charity golf outing. Teams of four shooters square off to shoot at clay targets flying through the sky. Each team is paired with a professional shooter to provide guidance and to ensure proper gun safety. Boomer’s Big Bang cycles funds back into the Cincinnati community through grants BEF makes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This year, the event was spearheaded by Jack Cassidy, a BEF Board member and CEO of Cincinnati Bell. Because of Jack’s dedication and vigorous work ethic, the event flourishes year after year. We ap-preciate his efforts, as well as those of our 2010 sponsors -- GyroHSR, Remington, Outback Steak-house and Under Armour.

BEF EvEnTs

nebraska golf Classic a Perennial WinnerThe annual Nebraska Golf Classic -- a solid fundraising event for the past decade – again roped in significant support to the Nebraska Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. More than 600 guests mingled at the opening banquet, which was held at the Embassy Suites LaVista and began with a VIP reception. The eve-ning also included silent and live auctions and a keynote address by former Husker and current Detroit Lions defensive end Ndamukong Suh. Quarry Oaks in Ashland hosted the event, and, as usual, the course was in perfect condition. Auction winners were awarded their prizes at the 11th hole and massages were available after everyone’s rounds. Golfers enjoyed Omaha Steaks hot dogs, and Bonefish crabcakes and shrimp while playing on the picturesque course. Thanks go out to TD Ameritrade and Travel & Transport, the two primary sponsors of the event, and to co-chairs Sam Tynan and Matt Hickey.

Boomer points out a game ball recipient to CBS Sportscaster Bonnie Bernstein.

Dan Marino with Gunnar Esiason and Boomer.

Enjoying a great day are (L-R) Gunnar Esiason, Jack Cassidy, Trey Cassidy, Boomer and Sydney Esiason.

Boomer and Gunnar Esiason with Donna Russo, Chairman of DCU for Kids.

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BEF EvEnTs

rimington Football Camp Provides instruction to 300 KidsMore than 300 youth athletes enjoyed a three-day football camp in July organized by BEF President Dave Rimington. The Dave Rim-ington Football Camp in Omaha, Neb., is one of the premier youth football camps in the country, featuring a high school offensive line-man camp and a youth camp for ages 8 to 14. The camp uses athletics as a tool to teach youth a sense of pride, self esteem, imagination, discipline, dedication and a strong work ethic. Dave was joined this year by former NFL players Chris Bober (Giants and Chiefs), Brenden Stai (Steelers, Jaguars, Lions and Redskins), Ahman Green (Green Bay, Seattle, Houston), Aaron Graham (Arizona, Oakland, Tennessee), as well as other spe-cial guests who helped with the instruction. Proceeds from the camp go toward cystic fibrosis research and the CF community.

massachusetts golf event rounds up support for beFBEF Board Member Jim Rosetta, his friend Paul Scheer and a large group of enthusiastic golfers hit the course for BEF at the 2010 Tony Strycharz Memorial Golf Classic. The annual tournament, held in July at the Oak Ridge Golf Club in Feeding Hills, Mass., honors the former owner of the golf club, who died in 2000 from a brain aneurysm. Each year, the Golf Classic draws a variety of sports and entertainment celebrities who lend star power and add to the fun. Special thanks to Jim and Paul for their ongoing support of the Foundation.

spring Fling offers Fun at the Central Park ZooIn May, the Foundation’s Young Professionals Committee hosted the Second Annual Refi Rock Spring Fling, a fun-filled evening at the Central Park Zoo. More than 1,500 young professionals from throughout the tri-state area attended the event, which raised funds benefiting BEF’s Team Boomer and other programs supporting the cystic fibrosis community. The night included a tour of the rain forest, sea lion demonstrations, and polar bear and penguin exhibits that entertained the crowd. In keeping with the Refi Rock tradition, the Spring Fling brought together bands from a host of Wall Street firms, including headliner Rubix Kube. Partygoers also were treated to a guest appearance on the red carpet by African tribal band Magbana. Raffle prizes included airline tickets to Europe, Yan-kees and Mets tickets, autographed sports memora-bilia and restaurant gift certificates. The next Refi Rock event is “Dare to Scare,” a Halloween party on October 28. For details and to pur-chase tickets, go to www.refirockpacha.eventbrite.com.

the island mermaid Welcomes boomer and CartonBoomer Esiason and Craig Carton, co-hosts on WFAN sports talk radio, bartended at a festive summer party on Fire Island, raising money to support the Foundation’s programs for the cystic fibrosis community. The gathering was held on a warm sum-mer night in late July at the Island Mermaid in Ocean Beach, N.Y. The Island Mermaid pro-vided tasty hors d’oeuvres, Boomer and Car-ton jumped behind the bar to serve drinks, and Boomer tossed autographed footballs into the crowd for anyone who tipped $100. Thanks to the folks at Island Mermaid for their support of our mission!

BEF President Dave Rimington with some of the 300 kids who attended the camp.

Craig Carton and Boomer serve up drinks at the Island Mermaid.

Spring Fling partygoers enjoyed the animal exhibits at the Central Park Zoo.

More than 120 young athletes took part in the Second Annual Ridge Runs in Basking Ridge, N.J. The June fundraiser for Team Boomer included a 5K race and a track and field competition.

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CF nEws

luminex Announces Commercial launch of new CF genetic screening testLuminex Corporation has announced the full commercial launch of a new diagnostic test that can simultaneously screen a single blood sample for up to 60 cystic fibrosis-causing genetic mutations in a matter of hours. The company’s xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 60 Kit v2 test is the most comprehensive and flexible FDA-cleared CF test avail-able, featuring an unsurpassed level of gene mutation coverage. It will be used to screen potential parents to determine if they are carriers of CF-causing gene mutations, and as an aid in newborn screening and in confirmatory diagnostic testing in newborns and children. The test recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The launch of our new xTAG Cystic Fibrosis 60 Kit v2 is a great achievement in cystic fibrosis testing,” said Patrick J. Balthrop, President and CEO of Luminex. “This cleared test has the most comprehensive genetic mutation coverage avail-able today, featuring mutations found among Caucasians as well as those that are more commonly found in other ethnic populations. It will give doctors the ability to screen children and potential parents of many ethnicities for CF.” Early diagnosis of CF is important and studies have demonstrated that early treatment and intervention can reduce a child’s therapeutic needs, lower rates of medical complications, increased life expectancy and improve overall quality of life. Late diagnosis of cystic fibrosis can lead to health complications, chronic lung infections and compromised growth.

‘improving Access to Clinical trials Act’signed by President obamaPresident Obama earlier this month signed the “Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act” (I-ACT) in a victory for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its advocates and 120 other health advocacy organizations. The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives in September and the Senate in August, enables patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical trials without losing eligibility for public health care benefits. The new law is particularly important for people with CF, a rare genetic disease. A limited patient population makes it challenging to find enough people to participate in research studies evaluating the effectiveness of promising new drugs. “Because of this groundbreaking legislation, people with CF and other rare diseases will no longer be forced to choose between critical health care coverage and participation in research that could lead to the development of a cure for our most serious illnesses,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “We are grateful to our champions in Congress for approving this bill, which will help move new treatments more swiftly from the lab to the patients who need them most.” Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., led the effort to pass the bill in the House. The House version of the legislation, H.R. 2866, had 141 co-sponsors. “No one should have to choose between participating in a clinical trial and accessing the essential benefits they need. This bill will open doors of hope and offer the possibility of better health to those with rare diseases like cystic fibrosis. This represents an important and hopeful milestone in the battle to beat devastating rare diseases that afflict millions of Ameri-cans around the country,” Markey said. Added Stearns: “As co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, I commend my colleagues for approving this legislation allowing people with rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis to participate in life-saving clinical trials that provide nominal compensation without the risk of losing their health care coverage.” The Senate version of the legislation, S. 1674, was introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., James Inhofe, R-Okla., Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., as original co-sponsors. An additional 17 co-sponsors signed on. The previous law prevented many people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from accepting research compensation because it made them ineligible to receive government medical benefits. This penalty stopped significant numbers of people with rare diseases from participating in clinical studies.

Cystic Fibrosis medical briefsMpex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced positive Phase 2 clinical trial results of Aeroquin™ treatment in CF. The results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in bacterial load, respiratory function and time to need anti-pseudomonal antibiotics. “Aeroquin represents a new class of inhaled antibi-otics for the treatment of CF,” said Dr. Patrick Flume, Co-Chair of the Pulmonary Guidelines Committee of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “It is critical that chroni-cally infected patients be treated frequently with inhaled antibiotics. Having mul-tiple classes of aerosol antibiotics available will give clinicians the ability to rotate classes and tailor treatment to the needs of each individual patient.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Mpex clearance to proceed to Phase 3 trials with Aeroquin.

Aradigm Corporation has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its investigational new drug application for inhaled lipo-somal ciprofloxacin. “We are very pleased to have an opportunity to investigate the utility of ARD-3100 in young CF patients and potentially provide another thera-peutic option for the pediatric population,” said Dr. Igor Gonda, President and CEO of Aradigm. “A once-a-day inhaled antibiotic, such as ARD-3100, would reduce the treatment burden for people with cystic fibrosis and be a welcome advance that could improve the lives of those with this disease,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced research data that denufosol tetra-sodium, an investigational therapy, may hold promise as an early interven-tion for treatment of CF. The data suggest that denufosol, an inhaled ion channel regulator, has properties that allow it to reach and improve lung function in the small airways, which may support its potential as an early intervention therapy.

Less may be more when it comes to treatment of cystic fibrosis exacerba-tions. An analysis of more than 1,500 CF patients suggests nothing is gained by extending intravenous antibiotic treatment beyond eight to 10 days, or by giving antibiotics in the hospital. Furthermore, therapy doesn’t necessarily preserve long-term lung function, the researchers at Johns Hopkins University have reported. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) did improve after treatment but never returned to pre-exacerbation levels. “Preventing exacerbations may ulti-mately be more important than the approach taken to treat the exacerbation,” the investigators wrote in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medi-cine, published online in June.

A recent study has found that chronic infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in people with CF was associated with worse survival than those who don’t have the bacteria. According to the Cys-tic Fibrosis Foundation, MRSA can cause infections that are resistant to some common antibiotics, and more than 20 percent of people with CF have MRSA in their respiratory tract. This study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to find a possible link between MRSA and survival rates. The CF Foundation is funding a study to find the most effective way to treat MRSA infections in CF patients. This will lead to clinical trials to test treatments in CF patients with chronic MRSA infection and those with newly acquired MRSA.

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‘Wind sprint’ Video series offers tips for living with CFThe Boomer Esiason Foundation has launched a new video series offering quick tips for living with cystic fibrosis. The CF Wind sprint series features short-for-mat videos hosted by BEF Volunteer Jerry Cahill. The videos address a variety of topics relevant to living with CF, including traveling, nutrition, exercise and treatments. The videos are available on the BEF web site (www.esiason.org) and on YouTube. Recent topics include: sterilizing nebulizers; exercising at home and in the hospital; sinus irriga-tion; smoothie recipes for maintaining weight; using an oxygen tank while exercising; and accessing and sterilizing a mediport used to deliver IV antibiotics. BEF invites the CF community to submit questions and topics for CF Wind Sprints via its Facebook fan page or on Twitter. Topic sugges-tions also may be emailed directly to Jerry at jcahillbef@aol.com.

CF ProgrAMs

itunes offers new App for CF Podcast seriesThe cystic fibrosis podcast series produced by BEF Vol-unteer Jerry Cahill now is available on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. A new iTunes app made specifically for Jerry’s pod-casts offers these features: streaming access to play episodes from anywhere; the latest episodes and an archived back catalog; the ability to download episodes and play them offline; playback resume (when interrupt-ed by a call or other distraction); favorites (to mark episodes to return to); quick access to all the contact methods for the show. The “Living. Breathing. Succeeding.” series of podcasts – 12 per year, thanks to an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech – provides information and inspiration to the CF community and any-one else who’s interested in CF. These in-depth interviews cover topics ranging from the importance of exercise to the challenges of having a relationship while living with CF. The podcasts’ compelling stories and interesting angles contrib-ute to Jerry’s success; he is consistently voted one of the top health genre podcasters. Click here to find out more or to purchase the $1.99 iTunes app, or search for it in the Podcast category at itunes.apple.com/us. You also can find the podcasts at www.jerrycahill.com.

CF Family days Provide education, supportEach year, the Boomer Esiason Foundation hosts a series of CF Family Days across the country to provide awareness, education and support for families dealing with cystic fibrosis. The free, 90-minute CF Family Day programs feature Boomer speaking about his experiences as a CF parent, a presentation by a medical professional, and an inspirational talk by BEF’s Jerry Cahill, who addresses the im-portance of exercise in staying healthy. The CF Family Day program is made possible by a grant from Eurand; new sessions and locations already are being scheduled for 2011.

Click here to view an episode of CF Wind Sprints.

Boomer addresses a crowd of CF parents at a September CF Family Day event at Columbia

University Medical Center in New York City.

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CF scholarship Program Helps ease Financial burdenAs therapeutic developments increase the lifespan of cystic fibrosis patients, the need for a scholarship program to support college students with CF has emerged. BEF’s scholarship program assists students who are working toward academic success while living with CF. It’s the only program of its size and scope focused solely on supporting the CF community.

CF ProgrAMs

BEF Scholarships assist CF patients pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. They are awarded quarterly on the basis of demon-strated need and academic accomplishment. Amount: $500 to $2,500 Deadlines: March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15

Exercise for Life Athletic Scholarship - Doctors and CF centers have made it clear: when it comes to CF, exercise saves lives. The Exercise for Life Scholarship is awarded annually to high school senior scholar-athletes.Amount: $10,000 Deadline: June 20, 2011

The “Sacks for CF” Scholarship is related to quarterback sacks made during the NFL season. The undergraduate and graduate award is made annually to 30 people who strive for therapy adherence and academic success.Amount: $3,000 to $10,000 Deadline: January 14, 2011

The Scholarship of the Arts promotes communication through cre-ativity. Artwork in the form of painting, sketching, and sculpturing is considered for this annual award.Amount: $500 to $1,000 Deadline: May 16, 2011

The Bonnie Strangio Education Scholarship is awarded annually to a person living with CF who, like Bonnie, has an upbeat personality and “can-do” attitude.Amount: $500 to $1,000 Deadline: June 20, 2011

The Rosemary Quigley Memorial Scholarship honors a woman who relished academic challenges and enjoyed a career as a medical ethics professor and health policy attorney.Amount: $500 to $2,000 Deadline: June 20, 2011

For more information and to download scholarship applications, go to www.cfscholarships.com.

Club Cystic Fibrosis bridges gap, Provides inspirationPeople with cystic fibrosis are living longer and more productive lives than ever before, and they are overcoming many of the life challenges previously presented by the disease. Cross-contamination still is a real threat, however, which means people with CF cannot be in proximity to each other. This reality can make it difficult for them to form relationships with other CFers. Club CF (www.clubcysticfibrosis.com) bridges this gap, and it also provides inspiration. Young adults with CF now can look to people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s who are living full lives. CFers of all ages can find people who are finding ways to deal with similar challenges. And everyone can draw inspiration from the stories of caregivers, often the unsung heroes of the CF community. Club CF is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech. For more information or to share your story, go to www.clubcysticfibrosis.com.

For most of his life, Dan Palumbo, 53, kept his CF story to himself. Now, by sharing that story, he hopes to help others as they face the challenges he knows so well.

dAn’S Story. “Growing up in Dupont, Penn., cystic fibrosis did not deter-mine who I was. As a child, my parents got me involved with sports and exercise, similar to my peers. They also introduced me to the drums, which raised my interest in music while allowing me to move about and exercise. Music continues to be a large part of my life, and I currently play the guitar and keyboard and enjoy writing. Upon graduation from Kings College, I founded an ad agency. I have been working for 31 years doing a range of advertising that includes television, radio and print.”

dAn’S MiSSion. “My mission is to fight as long as it takes to experience the glorious day a ‘cure’ is actually realized and announced. The day when parents no longer fear having children with cystic fibrosis, and children no longer suffer its devastating effects. Not a manageable disease, a nuisance of sorts, but the actual end of cystic fibrosis. My mission is to be here when it happens. The party will be at my house!”

on StAying HeAltHy. “I stay compliant with treatments so I can live life to the fullest and take care of my family. Due to digestive problems, I always eat healthy and continue to exercise on the treadmill every week.”

A Fun FAct About dAn. His favorite movie is “Tommy Boy.”

becAuSe oF beF ... “The Boomer Esiason Foundation has touched my life positively in so many ways. At 53, and being one of the survivors, BEF has taught me that telling my story may help so many others in their daily struggles with cystic fibrosis. BEF has helped me grow to learn to open up and share my experiences. Working in television and owning an advertising agency for the past 31 years, I tried to keep my CF story to myself. I really can’t explain why, other than fear of scaring off clients and associates -- a selfish motive that [BEF’s] Jerry Cahill and my friends at BEF have taught me to overcome and outgrow. Looking back, a few things have helped me get through the harder times: prayer, family, attitude, exercise, compliance, and knowing that whatever mountain I must climb, I’m not the only one. I am part of the CF family.

dan PaLumBo - CLuB CF 50+

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it’s All About team-building continuted FroM cover

Cahill and Gerard Pearlberg, better known as Coach GP, are leading the training side of Team Boomer. Coach GP organizes the monthly runs, and he communicates daily with the runners through Facebook and email. “Coach GP has been incredible. He’s been doing weekly training plans based on a runner’s finishing-time goal, which has in-cluded specific workouts, nutrition advice and more,” said Shuster-man. “He’s always available for email follow-up. And he’s doing it 100 percent as a volunteer for us.” Reid, who will be running his third marathon, believes that Coach GP’s ideas will enable him to post a personal best in November. “I’ve been reading his tips,” said Reid. “One thing that’s been very useful is his advice about the benefits of cross-training. I had been lifting weights three or four days a week and running three days a week. Now, I incorporate stretching and other exercises on my ‘off-days’, too.”

Individual Stories, Team Goals

About half of this year’s Team Boomer runners are mar-athon first-timers, and about 60 percent of the runners are from the New York City metro area. “It’s a mix of skills and time goals, and we have people from across the U.S. and outside the U.S.,” Shusterman said. “Each person has his or her motivation for participating and personal goals. We are backing them up with training support and also with ideas and materials that will help them in their fundraising.” Carty proudly wears her Team Boomer gear on her runs near her home in Bronxville, N.Y. “I turn 50 this year, and so I wanted to run a marathon,” she said. “But I didn’t want it to be just about me. I’ve always supported CF charities because I had a sister who had CF. I like that Team Boomer encourages exercise for people with CF and has scholarships that give opportunities to young adults with CF.” Recently, Carty met Boomer Esiason for the first time when he was making an appearance on behalf of his WFAN Sports Radio show. “Boomer was so welcoming. We took some pictures, with me in my Team Boomer shirt, and I’ve put them on my fundraising page,” Carty said. Arthrell, a 22-year-old from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, has CF. “I want to prove that CF will not affect my life and control what I can and cannot do,” said Arthrell, who was doing treadmill workouts in February when he decided to train for a marathon. “CF has not affected my performance all that dramatically in my life,” said the former captain and most valuable player of his high school hockey team. “So I want this challenge that’s just me and the road for 26 miles.” As he has grown older, Arthrell has become more public about having CF. He attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, which linked its Freshman Week orientation activities to education and fundraising about CF. “The program started long before I got to the school. I didn’t really know much about it at the time. But I volunteered to speak about my experience — which was intimidating to talk to all the other freshmen I hadn’t met yet — but it went over well, and I have been involved ever since,” he said. Reid will be running the marathon because his 14-year-old nephew, Thomas Reid, has CF. Reid, 48, will be running with his younger brothers, Tim and T.J. “Right after the 2009 New York City Marathon, Timmy called and said he was motivated by T.J. running it, and he said that the three of us should do it this year,” Dean Reid said. “I’ve done a couple of marathons, and T.J. is really fast — he’s

TEAM BooMEr

training with Coach gPGerald Pearlberg, or Coach GP as he’s typically known, has coached thousands of elite and occa-sional runners to reach new levels of performance. For the second year, he is providing advice and support to Team Boomer runners without compensation.

Here are some of his training tips that Team Boomer runners say will help them on race day:

• Cross Training. “I didn’t do cross-training or hills before my first marathon, and it cost me. Now, I’m lifting weights in the gym, and I can notice a difference. I’m less tired when I finish a long run, and I can feel the muscles tightening around my joints.” – Jennifer Crean

• Posture. “I talked with Coach GP in person, and he told me that when I feel tired on a long run, I’m probably starting to lean forward, which just makes it harder. He said to stand up straighter and take smaller steps until I gradually get my energy back.” – Mary Beth Carty

• Proper Training. “It’s 99 percent training. You’ve got to pay attention to your body during training, especially long runs. Listen to the signals your body is sending to you. Be cautious and don’t ignore a nagging injury.” – James Dussich

• Persistence. “Like everyone else, one of the hardest things is finding the time to train. Getting schedules and daily emails from Coach GP and [BEF’s] Jerry Cahill really helps … I didn’t know that anyone could be so persistent.” – Whitney Randles

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TEAM BooMEr

hoping to run a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon — but Timmy hasn’t been a runner. Timmy did a half-marathon on Long Island this summer, and I think he will be able to go the distance.” Given their different speeds, the Reid brothers won’t run the November marathon together. But they are planning a big post-race celebration that should put them over their fundraising target of $3,000 each. “My Uncle Joe is renting a bar near Madison Square Garden for after the race, and we’re inviting all of our friends,” Reid said. “We’ll celebrate, and we’ll hit them up one more time for donations.” For inspiration, Randles looks no further than her sons, Colin, 7, and Sean, 5-and-a-half, who have CF. “My boys are doing great — we’ve been very fortunate. Colin was diagnosed at two weeks old, and so we’ve been able to keep him on a healthy regimen since the start. Sean was diagnosed in utero, and there were challenges at birth, but you wouldn’t know that now,” Randles said. “Sometimes, they will ride along on their bikes when I’m on a run. There’s no training buddy like that.” But inspiration can wane when one has been fundraising non-stop for many years. “I’ve got to ad-mit that some time in my sixth year, I lost some of the fundraising drive,” she said. “My former husband and I had had raised large amounts for the CF Foundation’s Great Strides program. The great thing about Team Boomer is that the enthusiasm of its staff and volunteers has rejuvenated me.” Randles is aiming to secure $10,000 in donations, and she does much of it the old-fashioned way: writing letters. “I ask everyone. I ask the pharmacy where we get our prescriptions, the eye doctor — everyone who comes in contact with my kids,” she said. “I do a huge letter-writing campaign, and I personalize it. Plus, I’m lucky that I have such giving and dedicated friends.”

Finding Inspiration

Regardless of their finishing times and their fundraising targets, all of the runners want to inspire people to make exercise part of their daily life. “If you’re not exercising, you won’t feel as good as you should. Exercise is how I handle the stresses of life. It’s unbelievable how it feels when those endorphins get going,” Dussich said. That emphasis on exercise carries over double for people with CF. “I spoke with a woman on Team Boomer last year while we were waiting for the race to begin, and she talked about how carefully she trains and her nutrition, and how running helps keep her lungs clear,” Dussich said. “That’s what Team Boomer is all about.” When the runners line up on November 7, their training will be done. They will have sweated and struggled and strained, day after day, for months. They will have found ways to fit their training and fundraising commitments around other personal and professional obligations. And yet, they know that the marathon is optional — unlike having CF. “Some days, when I’m having a tough time on a run, I think about what I’m doing and compare it to what people with CF go through every day. That’s when I remind myself that I can do this,” Carty said. Making that extra effort brings the runners closer to each other and to people with CF. “I’ve learned so much in the last few months by speaking with parents whose kids have CF. It’s remarkable what they deal with every day. I want to set that example for my three kids and to remind them that we can’t take our health for granted, and that we can do our part to help,” Crean said.

team boomer training diary

team Boomer training diarY

hayli hodsdon :: September 17, 2010of Fall, toBi and Club CFHayli Hodsdon, 20, is training to run the 2010 ING New York City Marathon for Team Boomer. Hayli is a Sacks for CF scholarship winner and is in her junior year of college. Her weekly training diary offers a peek into her preparations for the marathon in November. The leaves are starting to change color and the air is be-coming cooler and crisper as the days go by, which can only mean one thing: fall is here! Fall, in my opinion, is the best season. Not only is the weather ideal for running at any time of the day, but the beauty of fall is breathtaking. The only catch with the change of season is that a lot of people on campus have been get-ting sick, and with the marathon right around the corner, the last thing I need is to get sick. So I’ve taken a little extra precaution with washing my hands more frequently and opening doors with my sleeve or a paper towel. No, I’m not being paranoid ... I’m being proactive. I have had an increased cough, though, which was starting to mess with my run and sleep. I called the clinic up in Pittsburgh, and because of the type of bacteria I grow in my lungs -- Pseudomonas -- as well as having MRSA, they knew exactly what to prescribe. Cipro and Bactrum, and on top of that, I’ve started my next 28-day cycle of TOBI. My voice has gone a little hoarse and manly sounding from the TOBI, but I feel so much better! Yesterday, my training partner, Laura, and I were able to run around six in the evening which, during the summer months, would have been pure torture. The training schedule called for five easy miles, so we were really able to enjoy the cool air and each other’s company. De-spite the many hills of Steubenville [Ohio], we were able to power right over them, reminding each other to take it nice and easy. Whenever we scale a hill that’s particularly daunting, long and steep, we congratulate each other. Normally, I like to shout for joy, but with my voice as manly and scratchy as it is, clapping works just as well. We ended up running to this graveyard that’s near campus; besides all of the hills, it’s great running ground full of winding tails and paths, and plenty to look at. Laura and I have come a long way as far as running goes. We were talking about the marathon yesterday and how great all of this running has made us feel in so many different ways. I don’t know if I’ll ever train for another marathon again but, no matter what, I am going to continue running. I saw on Club CF that there’s a 60+ Club. In 40 years, I am SO joining that club.

Hayli has pledged to raise at least $2,800 for Team Boomer via her participation in the NYC marathon. To support Hayli’s efforts, go to her FirstGiving fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/haylihodsdon.

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