I may have cystic fibrosis but it will never have me!
By Andy Lipman, PWCF, 38
My name is Andy Lipman. I am 38 years old and I am from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States
of America. I was born with cystic fibrosis and lost a sister to the disease three years before
my birth. In memory of my sister Wendy, we started a foundation called the Wish for Wendy
Foundation which has raised $1.25 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the United
States. The foundation has events like fashion shows, softball tournaments and comedy nights
in order to raise money for a cure. We also have many celebrities come out and have a huge
silent auction.
When I was younger, I was unaware that my life expectancy
was to be in the teens. When I was a young boy, I read in
an encyclopedia that people with CF don’t normally live to
the age of 25. For a long time, I believed that cystic fibrosis
would take my life at an early age too. I got so depressed
dealing with the disease but I finally realised that life was
worth living and that I couldn’t give up on my dreams.
In 1997, I trained and ran my first 10km race. I have since
run the biggest 10K event in the world fifteen years running.
I also have competed in a triathlon.
In 2000, I wrote my first book ‘Alive at 25: How I’m Beating
Cystic Fibrosis’. I have since written two more books including
my latest book ‘The Drive at 35: The Long Road to Beating
Cystic Fibrosis’. The book has forewords from legendary
musicians Celine Dion and Garth Brooks. The book is my
memoir about trying to beat the disease that has tormented
me from that September day in 1973 that I first graced this
beautiful world.
Andy with his best friend and wife Andrea at
the world famous Georgia Aquarium.
I always say ‘Live your Dreams
and Love your Life’
In 2001, I ran with the Olympic Torch in Athens, Georgia. In
2006, I won a Community Service Award and spoke on the
local NBC affiliate.
In 2002, after dating for a couple of years, I married my best
friend Andrea, who also has run with the Olympic Torch.
Through In Vitro Fertilisation, she and I were able to have
two beautiful children who do not have cystic fibrosis but
who are however carriers of the disease. Avery is now six
years old and Ethan is three. I am very fortunate to have
these three wonderful people in my life.
Andy at home with his children Ethan and
Avery.
Today I work out very hard. I have lifted up to 300 pounds.
I am currently doing the P90X workout routine. I do about
three hours of treatments a day and take up to 40 pills. I
work out six times a week, play softball, run and swim. I
like to say that I may have cystic fibrosis but it will never
have me!
I continue to spread my message through speeches
including trips to Washington, D.C., Virginia, Missouri and
next at your Annual Conference in Wexford, Ireland.
In 2011, I was named to the Georgia Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation Board becoming the first cystic fibrosis patient
to have this role in Georgia. I was also a nominee in 2011
for the University of Georgia’s 40 under 40.
If you’d like to order my book, you can go to www.
andylipman.com/books.cfm or you can contact me at
[email protected]. You can also find my blog at
http://thedriveat35.blogspot.com.
Andrea and I are very excited to visit your beautiful
country and I look forward to speaking to those of you
who continue to fundraise so that one day CF stands for
‘Cure Found’.
I always say Live your dreams and love your life.
Andy after finishing last year’s 10K road race.