A Kid Again Adventures

Living With Cystic Fibrosis

We’re talking today with the founder of A Kid Again, Kathy Derr. It is a nonprofit organization that plans family adventures in many states across the U.S. and the adventures are free to families.

Kathy Derr and two of her friends started the nonprofit camp 25 years ago. Kathy’s son Christopher died from an inoperable brain tumor. She started A Kid Again in her son’s honor.

Kirsten Kulik is A Kid Again mom. She has three kids, and her son Chase has cystic fibrosis. Kirsten tells us what the camp meant to her, and the family.

Kathy Derr is co-founder and current Director of Family Engagement for A Kid Again, a national nonprofit that provides year-round, cost-free, fun-filled Adventures for kids with life-threatening conditions and their families. Kathy and two friends started the nonprofit more than 25 years ago in memory of Kathy’s son Christopher after he passed away from an inoperable brain tumor. The spark for A Kid Again was inspired by the kindness of Kathy’s family and friends who organized outings for her family during her son’s battle with cancer. A Kid Again is the only childhood disease nonprofit that focuses on group recreation and support for the entire family, not just the child with the illness. Today, A Kid Again serves more than 10,000 families nationwide.

Kirsten Kulik is an A Kid Again mom. She and her husband Jody are parents to Jacob, 19, Chase, 16, and Skye, 8. Her son Chase was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in September 2016 and the family has been part of A Kid Again since 2019. In addition, Susan also works as Vice President and General Manager for FAST International, Inc. and enjoys volunteering with A Kid Again, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Electrocoat Association. As a pastime, Kirsten enjoys watching her two sons drag race which they have been doing since they were 8 years old.

https://thebonnellfoundation.org

A Kid Again contacts:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-kid-again/

https://twitter.com/akidagain

https://www.instagram.com/a_kid_again/

https://akidagain.org/

https://www.facebook.com/akidagain/

For more information on The Bonnell Foundation find us at: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/

Our new CF Familia page: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/familia/en-home/

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The original music in this podcast is performed by Kevin Allan, who happens to have Cystic Fibrosis. You can find him on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/KevinAllanMusic

This podcast was produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts: https://jagindetroit.com/

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Thanks to our sponsors:

Vertex: https://www.vrtx.com

Viatris: https://www.viatris.com/en