I'm Seth Gregory, I am 41 years old and have Cystic Fibrosis. In 2012 I decided to make my health my full time job. I knew that if I could preserve my lung function, a new medicine would come along and I would be able to thrive. Every year after that became progressively harder. I battled multiple infections, bowel obstructions and in 2018 started coughing up blood (hemoptysis). 2019 was one of my toughest years. I was doing 5 treatments per day and exercising 2 times per day. However, in November 2019 the Lord blessed me with a life changing medicine, called Trikafta.

Exercise has been a tool for my health for a very long time. I have gone from 43% lung function, at the start of Trikafta, to currently, a little over 60% and am about to run in my first half marathon at Cowtown in February, followed by my first complete Ironman 70.3 in Galveston, a little over a month later. 

I am dedicating all my events and fundraising in honor of my close friend Ashley Shinpaugh who had the same mutations as mine and lost her life way too early in April 2024 due to lung transplant and infection complications. We and 3 of my other close CF friends (Micah, Katie, and Emily) created an unbreakable bond while we were all quarantining during the pandemic. We are on our clinic's patient advisory board and would virtually meet once a month. That became a weekly meeting that would sometimes last over 4 hours. It was such a gift during a very solitary time as we isolated to try to keep ourselves healthy. While Trikafta helped Ashley, it wasn't enough to stop her lung bleeds and keep her off the transplant list.

I'm excited to join The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Breathe Team again this year, except for the half marathon!  I'll be doing it with my same friend, Jeremy, and PA, Sarah, and at least 2 more of my closest friends who have seen me at my lowest of lows!  Thankful for Chad Salyer and the whole team who make this event special while raising awareness and funds for those of us who live with Cystic Fibrosis every day. So many have not had the success that I have had with the new medicines and are fighting and waiting for medicines that will work for them. These events are for them! I ask you to join me in the fight via donation or sign up and race with me! Every bit counts!
 
**Updated note: I contracted RSV the week before Christmas and spent Christmas week in the hospital. My lung function dropped to 45% but is on it’s way back with a lot of prayer, antibiotics and hard work. I’m still hoping to be able to compete in these events, but I’ll have to see how I recover. I WILL BE doing a complete Ironman 70.3 later this year, even if I must push the date back. Sometimes curve balls get thrown our way and we must adjust, but I’ll keep pushing to get healthy. While RSV doesn’t put most adults in the hospital, RSV combined with CF and the chronic lung infection that I have had for over 20 years caused my oxygen to drop and I had to be admitted.