This year’s Backyard Ball, the premiere annual fundraiser for the Central Texas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), was recently held at The Belmont in downtown Austin and proved to be a resounding show of community support for those battling this rare disease. The grand evening was also a celebration of CFF’s “Austin’s Finest” honorees. The sold out event, which brought civic leaders and the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) community together, raised over $75,000 to find a cure for CF.
A highlight of the night was the recognition of the 2025 honorees of the “Austin’s Finest” campaign. Each year, outstanding community members are nominated for their exemplary leadership and active involvement in the community to join in the fight to treat and ultimately end CF. This year’s nominees included Jamie Moser, John Burkhalter, Kailyn Jopling, Kathy Vazquez, Krista Evans, Megan Mrazek, Patrice Beiswanger, Rebecca Bassett, and Sunny Nelson. Together they raised an impressive $56,000, with the top two participants—Megan Mrazek and Patrice Beiswanger—each raising almost $14,000 in an unprecedented tie for first place.
Board members Tara and Casey Kent shared their family’s deeply personal journey with CF and the impact CFF’s support has had on their lives. They highlighted the challenges of funding vital medical research today and their commitment to helping families overcome the isolation that often accompanies the disease.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that affects the lungs and digestive system, leading to an overproduction of mucus that can cause severe respiratory and digestive issues. The mission of CFF is to cure CF and provide individuals the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives through research, community support and specialized care.
Stacy Dollar, Executive Director of the local chapter, declared, “We cannot stop until CF stands for Cure Found.”
For more information on how to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please visit cff.org.
