April 2021
Mindfulness 2.0
Starting Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 4:15 pm PT
Mindfulness 2.0 shares a new approach to bringing mindfulness into your daily life. This eight-week online class, starting Tuesday, April 13, is taught by Julie Desch, MD, who herself has CF. It is based on Unified Mindfulness and has been adapted for the CF community. This new series is designed for both those who have taken Julie’s classes before and those completely new to mindfulness.
Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm PT (7:15 pm to 8:30 pm ET). The class is free and open to individuals with CF and their family members (spouses/partners, parents, siblings).
For more information and to register, click here.
Sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
Support Group to Cope with COVID-19 Stress
Thursday, April 15, 2021, 5:00 pm PT
Every other week, CFRI hosts an online discussion/support group for CF community members to talk about COVID-19 related stress and anxiety, moderated by Yelizaveta Sher, MD, psychiatrist at Stanford’s Adult CF Center.
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Online Support Group for Adults with CF
Monday, April 19, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly Online Support Group for Adults with CF, 
which is open to participants nationwide. The group is facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing adults with CF.
The group meets on the third Monday of every month, from 6:00 pm PST to 7:30 pm (9:00 pm – 10:30 pm EST).
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford.
Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
CF Caregivers Support Groups
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly CF Caregivers Support Group, which is open to 
participants nationwide. The groups are facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing CF caregivers. Participants are able to participate in person, as well as join anywhere from the country by telephone.
Two groups to choose from:
- Parents of children with CF:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST - Parents/Spouses/Partners of Adults with CF:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford
Caregivers Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
Support Group to Cope with COVID-19 Stress
Thursday, April 29, 2021, 5:00 pm PT
Every other week, CFRI hosts an online discussion/support group for CF community members to talk about COVID-19 related stress and anxiety, moderated by Yelizaveta Sher, MD, psychiatrist at Stanford’s Adult CF Center.
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
May 2021
Virtual Embrace Mothers Retreat
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 9:00 am PT – 5:00 pm PT
CFRI’s 7th annual Embrace Mothers Retreat for Mothers of Children and Adults with CF will take place virtually on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Through art workshops, yoga, journaling, CF resources, and respite time, the retreat offers an opportunity for women who share the CF path to connect and rejuvenate.
There will be two shorter preparatory workshops on Saturday, April 17 and Saturday, April 24 (time TBD).
The Retreat is fully booked at this time. Please email Sabine Brants (sbrants@cfri.org) to be placed on the wait list.
Sponsored to date by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, and Gilead Sciences.
Online Support Group for Adults with CF
Monday, May 17, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly Online Support Group for Adults with CF, which is open to participants nationwide. The group is facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing adults with CF.
The group meets on the third Monday of every month, from 6:00 pm PST to 7:30 pm (9:00 pm – 10:30 pm EST).
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford.
Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
CF Caregivers Support Groups
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly CF Caregivers Support Group, which is open to participants nationwide. The groups are facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing CF caregivers. Participants are able to participate in person, as well as join anywhere from the country by telephone.
Two groups to choose from:
- Parents of children with CF:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST - Parents/Spouses/Partners of Adults with CF:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford
Caregivers Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
June 2021
CF Caregivers Support Groups
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly CF Caregivers Support Group, which is open to participants nationwide. The groups are facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing CF caregivers. Participants are able to participate in person, as well as join anywhere from the country by telephone.
Two groups to choose from:
- Parents of children with CF:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST - Parents/Spouses/Partners of Adults with CF:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford
Caregivers Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
Online Support Group for Adults with CF
Monday, June 21, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly Online Support Group for Adults with CF, which is open to participants nationwide. The group is facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing adults with CF.
The group meets on the third Monday of every month, from 6:00 pm PST to 7:30 pm (9:00 pm – 10:30 pm EST).
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford.
Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
July 2021
Online Support Group for Adults with CF
Monday, July 19, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly Online Support Group for Adults with CF, which is open to participants nationwide. The group is facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing adults with CF.
The group meets on the third Monday of every month, from 6:00 pm PST to 7:30 pm (9:00 pm – 10:30 pm EST).
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford.
Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
CF Caregivers Support Groups
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
CFRI provides a monthly CF Caregivers Support Group, which is open to participants nationwide. The groups are facilitated by a social worker well versed in issues facing CF caregivers. Participants are able to participate in person, as well as join anywhere from the country by telephone.
Two groups to choose from:
- Parents of children with CF:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST - Parents/Spouses/Partners of Adults with CF:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST
To participate, please send an email to CFRI to request the registration link. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register.
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford
Caregivers Support Groups are sponsored by Chiesi USA, Genentech, Ionis, Viatris, Translate Bio, Gilead Sciences, and private donors.
34th National CF Education Conference: Illuminating the CF Journey
Friday, July 30 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
CFRI’s 34th National CF Education Conference, Illuminating the CF Journey, will take place in an engaging virtual format, with renowned speakers addressing phage, mRNA and gene therapies, mental health, exacerbations, and much more. Hear from the author of Breath from Salt, and those featured in the book.
The event includes support groups and activities to connect with your CF community across the country and globe.
Registration is free! The first 75 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of Breath from Salt.
Click here for more information and a list of confirmed speakers. Click here to register now.
Sponsored to date by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
August 2021
Virtual CF Summer Retreat
Thursday, August 19 – Sunday, August 22, 2021
CFRI’s annual CF Summer Retreat will take place from Thursday, August 19, to Sunday, August 22, 2021. The Retreat was created to enhance education, positive coping skills, and social support for people who share common experiences with CF. Due to the pandemic, the retreat will be fully virtual, and will include educational presentations by CF experts and special guests, as well as daily exercise, arts and crafts, support group sessions, and more. Registration is required. Before the event, we will send you a link to join, a detailed schedule, and a welcome care package.
Click here to register.
Sponsored by AbbVie, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Gilead Sciences.
For information or to register for these events, please email cfri@cfri.org or call 650.665.7576.