Rylee Walker set out to make history at the 2024 Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, an 80-mile overnight paddleboarding challenge held from June 19-23 in the beautiful waters of Bimini, The Bahamas. Organized by the Piper’s Angels Foundation and led by Travis Suit, this event unites athletes and advocates to raise awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis. Rylee aimed to become the first woman with cystic fibrosis to complete the full distance. However, severe weather, including 5-6 ft swells and extreme thunderstorms, forced her team to make the tough decision to return to Florida by boat for their safety. Although she couldn’t complete the race, Rylee’s unwavering spirit and commitment to empowering others with CF remain stronger than ever. Her story is one of inspiration, highlighting the unpredictable nature of CF and the indomitable human spirit that rises to meet it.
Despite the challenging weather, a few brave souls completed the modified 38-mile route. See the results below!
When I was three months old I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). At that time CF was still such a new disease, which meant that my family had a lot of uncertainty about what my future would hold. The possibility of their child not seeing their first birthday was very real, but also unimaginable. Through the years there have been a host of medical hurdles to overcome, such as many extended stays in the hospital for lung infections, surgeries and procedures to allow me to live a more normal life. But I also recognize that without the challenges and adversities that I have faced throughout my life, I would not be the fighter that I am today. Little did I know that CF was going to become the biggest blessing that would change my life forever. Knowing that my life expectancy would potentially be shorter than those around me, I have set out to make my life as fulfilling as possible by defying the odds of CF and helping to inspire others to live life without hesitation. I have made a commitment to myself to participate in the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis to empower other CF warriors and to send a message to them that our disease does not create or place limits on what we can achieve.
My goal for training this year was not speed, my goal was consistency. My training focused on being able to maintain a consistent speed for a long period of time. Unlike training for a long distance run, its nearly impossible to duplicate the conditions and demands of the Crossing, so I purposely put myself into uncomfortable situations in regards to different weather/ocean conditions, longer and longer paddles, and forced myself to keep paddling even when my mental heath was at its lowest. Wise words from a fellow paddler that I learned during my time training for the event is that the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis is 20% physical and 80% mental. Preparing your body physically is important, but you reach a breaking point when your body is convincing you to give up, your mental strength and mindset is what will get you through. Coming into this event with a new mindset of paddling the full 80 miles was extremely intimidating. The support system that I have gained through this journey helped me set up a training plan to guide me to success. Balancing the physical training, building my mental toughness and managing the physical requirements of CF was no easy task. Knowing the reason why I made this commitment and set out to do this challenge is what continues to keep me going.
During these last couple of months leading up to the Crossing for Cystic FIbrosis there are two significant obstacles that have continued to demand acknowledgement. The first is actually the medicine designed to save my life – is also creating struggles that have affected my life. I have been on Trikafta, a medication that was created to provide relief from the hard side effects of CF. Its not a cure but it has provided a good chunk of the CF population a way to live a healthier and more normal life. It allowed me to cut back on treatments and certain medications including taking over 50 pills a day, reduced to just 20. This was a huge step in the direction of living a pill free/ treatment free life. This medication is still so new and a lot of the side effects are still unknown. Mental health has been a big topic and concern as time progresses with this treatment. Never did I think it would happen to me.
Unfortunately, after just a few months I started to experience a decline in my mental health. I was feeling unmotivated, not my normal bubbly happy self, feeling negative about who I was and losing all confidence in my ability to complete the challenge I was setting out to do. I was unsure what was causing it. With only a month until the Crossing, my CF care team and I decided I should get off Trikafta in hopes to stabilize my mental health. Thankfully that was the right call and I began to feel like my old self again. On the flip side of that, the CF symptoms slowly have started to come back. I feel my old baseline cough coming back, taking medication I haven’t taken in over five years have come back into my regiment and double dose of treatments I have come back into my daily routine. I finished this last month before the Crossing off strong with battling a major sinus infection that forced me to cut my training early to rest and recover to become 100%. This last month leading up to the crossing was one of my hardest I have faced, but also one of the most rewarding because it allowed me to remember how far I have come to get where I am today.
The foundation has brought people from all of the world together to fight for those with CF. We have built an army of angels to stand behind CF warriors as they go through life. I have been blessed to be one of those warriors that has gained an army to stand and fight alongside me. Every person I have met within the foundation and the paddle community has given me the strength and encouragement to set out on this paddle journey. I participated in the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis in 2023 on a four person relay. I was the lucky one to launch from the beach at midnight last year. I remember feeling all the nerves, fear and my mind was running wild wondering what was ahead. At that moment all those feelings left my mind when I felt a hand grab mine. My 2024 teammates, Chris Fahny and Ryan Goodwin grabbed my hands and other paddlers surrounded me cheering my name and building my confidence. If that isn’t the feeling of an army standing by you I don’t know what else is.
This year’s Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis did not go as planned due to severe weather. We faced 5-6 ft swells, extreme thunderstorms, and crazy wind. With broken hearts and the feeling of our dreams ripped from us, my team and I decided to make the journey back to Florida by boat, which was the RIGHT CALL to make. The safety and well-being of our team is the priority over everything. The ocean is so unpredictable, just like CF. This year’s crossing truly captured the feelings of disappointment, the unknown “what if” feeling, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) that people with CF face throughout their lives. They fight hard to get ahead of their health battles, only to find out that the hard work they have put into being healthy has sometimes done nothing. But those moments of defeat continue to build us up stronger as we battle every day to see another day. Looking back on this year of training, I have gained so many new friends who turned into family and experienced many new adventures. The community here with the Crossing is beyond anything I have ever experienced. June 2025 better be ready for me because I’m going to be coming back stronger than ever. HISTORY WILL BE MADE.
My relationship with the ocean has grown from an enjoyment to a need in my life. Having only lived in Florida for a year my lung function has increased, my mental well being has improved significantly, and I have gained confidence in water activities. Paddling has become an outlet for me to enjoy the ocean and also gain the health benefits from the salt air. Paddling has become a sport in my life that started out challenging for me just like any new sport for anyone. The foundation and the community it has created has helped me learn, practice and master new skills I never thought I would do.
Without those who have advocated for cystic fibrosis, I wouldn’t be here – breathing, thriving and living, advocating for others just like me. The spreading of awareness and fundraising for CF is critical in providing support to families in need. There are CF warriors in countries who do not have access to life saving medication or treatments that could give them a fighting chance to improve and change their lives. The more awareness that we can spread about CF will lead to the expansion of an army of angels who are helping to help support and advocate for the community, and creating the necessary programs that are truly making a difference. Being able to share my story and experiences and advocate for others with CF has always been a dream of mine, as I still remember when I was younger, looking for someone with CF to look up to and learn from. Before becoming involved with the foundation, I knew one other person with CF, so meeting someone else with my disease was rare. Now I have met so many CF warriors that have inspired me to be the best I can be. It is my turn to help inspire others by helping spread the word of the Pipers Angels Foundation and leading with confidence and power that a disease does not define us. It empowers us to go above and beyond what we are capable of.
After the crossing I hope to continue taking on new challenges to test the limits for myself and continue to defy the odds and labels of CF. Making an impact in the CF community by representing strongly and sharing my story along the way. The message I hope that everyone takes away from my story, with or without CF, is that every breath you take is a blessing. Every battle you face takes you one step closer to where you want to be. Every victory no matter how small or large is a victory. Be brave, be bold, be a warrior.
Womens Competitive Solo
1st place – Maddi Leblanc, 5hrs 40mins 29 seconds
Mens Competitive Solo
1st place – Blake Carmichael, 5hrs 27 mins 53 seconds
2 person SUP relay team
3rd place – Team Charleston, 5hrs 52 mins 31 seconds
2nd place – Team Moms incredible, 5hrs 47 mins 52 seconds
1st place – Team Elemental Performance, 5hrs 12 mins 41 seconds
4 person SUP relay team
1st place – Team Tideline, 5hrs 13mins 5 seconds
OC1
1st place – Team Fords Fight, Tyler Hoffman, 5hrs 7mins 32 seconds
Event website https://www.crossingforcysticfibrosis.com/
Rylee insta
Photos by the courtesy of: PIPER’S ANGELS FOUNDATION, @asnycz and @mediawithjairo
16 May 2024
Join us as we discover the extraordinary journey of Maddi Leblanc, a SUP athlete for Team Canada, as she gears up for the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis. This grueling event, organized by the Piper’s Angels Foundation and led by Travis Suit, takes place from June 19 to 23, in the stunning waters of Bimini, The […]
16 Apr 2024
Paddling for a cause: the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, an extraordinary paddleboarding marathon stretching from the idyllic shores of Bimini in The Bahamas to the coastlines of Florida. Scheduled for June 19-23, this event not only challenges athletes with its demanding distances but also unites participants in a cause that touches hearts deeply—supporting the cystic […]
