OUR HISTORY
When our son Gavin was diagnosed at age 2 1/2 with cystic fibrosis (CF), we didn’t have any idea what it was. We knew it was bad, but the panic really set in when we found out it was a genetic disease because I was already 6 months pregnant with our second child. We were shocked when our unborn son, Jake, was diagnosed with CF through amniocentesis two weeks later. We gave ourselves a few weeks to recover from this double diagnosis, but quickly decided to find a way to save our boys. We knew we had to build an army of people to help – we couldn’t do it on our own – so we named ourselves The Baker Boys’ Battalion, rolled up our sleeves, and went to work.
ShamRockin' for a Cure was launched in 2009 when our close friends came up with the idea to throw a fun party while helping the fight against cystic fibrosis. From the stage of Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, we've watched our army of friends and family grow to epic proportions. ShamRockin' has become our symbol of strength and hope... and has raised $3.9 million since inception!
We are so grateful to the battalion of supporters that stand behind our family and the other CF families like us. Gavin, Jake, and the other 30,000 people in the US fighting this disease deserve to live a full, healthy life and because you’ve joined the Baker Boys’ Battalion, they have a very real chance of seeing that actually happen.
xoxo, Pam Baker
CF Mom and ShamRockin' for a Cure Founder
in loving memory
OF JON BAKER
Jon, co-founder of ShamRockin', lost his battle to cancer in 2021. He was an incredible father, husband, brother, son, friend, cousin, leader, advisor, coach, and more. Jon was always the life of the party and his life was full of family, friends, fast cars and fun adventures.
We will raise a glass this year, and every year, to honor his larger than life energy that will always surround us.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care.
We are driven by a dream that one day every person with cystic fibrosis will have the chance to live a long, healthy life.
Recognized globally, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has led the way in the fight against cystic fibrosis, fueling extraordinary medical and scientific progress:
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The CF population in the U.S. is close to 40,000 - an increase over the past decade due in large part to people living longer.
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60% of the U.S population that lives with CF are adults. When the Foundation was founded nearly 70 years ago, children with CF rarely lived to 5 years old.
To learn more about CF or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please visit cff.org.