Dear Friends and Family,  on September 22nd, I'm doing Half - Ironman Aquabike Race   https://www.trisignup.com/Race/NY/Montauk/MightyManMontauk in Anna's memory and to raise funds for the PF Foundation. 

This is a story of our beloved Anna Vertlib. 

She was born in poor but tight knit and humble family who suffered a lot during Holocaust with her father being the only survivor.  He told her: you must get education and provide for your family.  And that she did, by getting two degrees and eventually working at government bank (very prestigious at that time).  But at the very young age, she begun experiencing tragic losses. Her father at 16, at 24 she lost best friend and at 19 she lost her first baby and at 31 she lost her 2nd child.  These losses would have broken anyone else but not only she emerged from this but she persevered and and that’s how my wife Nadezhda (Hope in Russian) came into the world.  Anna immigrated to America in 1991 and there was no better place for her than Cherry Hill, NJ where she lived happily for 33 years until she passed away on July 30th, 2024. 

She battled courageously and consistently through a lot of terrible diseases but the primary one being Pulmonary Fibrosis (also known as Scleroderma) and back in Nov 2021 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, doctors gave her 3 months to live. But she persevered and went through all kinds of treatments including chemotherapy in order to be present at granddaughter's bat mitzvah and many more happy and joyous occasions for almost 3 years. 

I remember my early morning drives with her to hospitals whether it was scans or chemotherapy. Through this and so many other displays of courageous behavior, she taught me and others around her so much about perseverance and showing up no matter what.  

I am proud to lead the way toward a world without pulmonary fibrosis (PF) as part of Team PFF. I hope you will join me as I raise funds to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF).

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a condition that causes lung tissue to become thickened, stiff, and scarred. The lungs eventually lose their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, making everyday activities such as breathing and walking extremely difficult. It is a progressive disease, which means it tends to worsen over time. Every individual diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis has a unique experience with the disease, and there is no “standard” or expected clinical course. With no known cure,  the disease is often fatal within three to five years of diagnosis. There are over 250,000 Americans living with PF today. Approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Because of the work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), there is hope for those living with PF. Funds raised will support the PFF’s efforts to accelerate research, advance improved care for those living with the disease, and provide unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and healthcare providers.

But we can't do this without you! Only with your support can we keep the PFF's mission active. Please click the "Donate" button to make your gift today. Thank you in advance for your generous support!

For more information on how your support will make a difference in the lives of PF patients and their families, please visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.