Who better than Boomer Esiason to lead the drive against Cystic Fibrosis? One of the NFL’s foremost quarterbacks of the 1980’s and 1990s, Boomer Esiason began his pro football career for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1985 after starring for the University of Maryland…

Boomer Esiason never took a hit like the one he suffered on the day in May 1993 when he learned his two-year old son Gunnar had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects over 30,000 Americans. It is marked by chronic infections, clogged airways and digestive and reproductive problems for which there is currently no cure. Rather than accept that state of affairs, Boomer and his wife Cheryl decided to fight for a cure, founding the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

The Boomer Esiason Foundation is a partnership of leaders in the medical and business communities, joining with a committed core of volunteers to provide financial support to research aimed at finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation works to heighten education and awareness of cystic fibrosis and to provide a better quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis. The Foundation works to ensure that:

• researchers and scientists working on finding a cure for cystic fibrosis have the resources they need to expand and accelerate their efforts;
• doctors and caregivers have access to effective and innovative treatments that ease suffering and enhance the lives of those stricken with cystic fibrosis;
• people from all walks of life are educated and motivated to become active participants in the ongoing battle against cystic fibrosis;
• those directly affected by cystic fibrosis are encouraged and empowered to fully understand this deadly disease and to take active roles in combating it; and
• students and hospital staff are provided with the financial resources and educational tools they need to prepare for life's challenges and to create a legacy of quality healthcare for generations to come.

Though small in staff size, the foundation has leveraged its volunteer base and leadership from within the medical and business communities to raise more than $60 million to date. Besides lining up sponsors for fundraisers, Esiason does whatever else he can to raise money, from writing a children's book to lending his name to consumer products. The foundation's website, www.esiason.org, includes a comprehensive information resource for cystic fibrosis patients and families.