• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Lea Marie Farone Foundation

Lea Marie Farone Foundation

Helping children and young adults with chronic illness do the things they dream of doing.

  • About
  • Get Involved
  • What We Do
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Donate

For life well lived, today

We help youth with cystic fibrosis and chronic illnesses live like they’re illness-free.

Get Involved

For life well lived, today

We help youth with cystic fibrosis and chronic illnesses live like they’re illness-free.

Get Involved

A non-profit supporting children and young adults with chronic illness to pursue their dreams in the present.

Because why wait for wings to fly?

About Lea

A passionate advocate for quality of life

Lea Faraone was a nurse, public figure, and driven advocate who passed away at 28 due to cystic fibrosis. She believed no one should spend their time waiting for a cure, so we should do everything we can to improve their quality of life now.

Our Story

Help young people with chronic illness live life to the fullest

Get Involved

Fly Me To The Moon Grant

Our grant provides access to the latest treatments and resources, allowing patients to experience more freedom and joy every day.

Learn More

7th Annual LMFF
Chalk Walk!

This is more than sidewalk chalk… It’s a day to gather, give back, and help kids with chronic illness live fuller lives.

Learn More

Women in Science Scholarship

We award a scholarship to seniors at Notre Dame Preparatory School who are entering science or medical fields.

Learn More

Fly Me to the Moon

Recipient stories from the LMFF community

“I can’t even express how thankful we are. You blessed Micah and our family with the therapy pool, and the kids are so excited about their new toys. We are so thankful. You have made our week, day, and years to come.”

— The Clarks, Fly Me To the Moon Grant recipients

“The Lea Marie Faraone Foundation provided our son, Conlee, with an Afflovest in May of 2021. This amazing gift has allowed us to fit in his CF treatments on-the-go without having to leave events or cut time with family short. Conlee is not a kid who likes to hold still or stay at home, so having the ability to do treatments while being on the move has helped improve his outlook on CF as well as made his compliance impeccable. We cannot thank the LMF Foundation enough for this incredible gesture and we will continue to tell Lea’s story every chance we get!”

— The Handshys, Fly Me To the Moon Grant recipients

Our Key Sponsors

affo
jerry-toyota
lumber
baltimore
mooney-and-o'connor
Vertex Logo
Plas Tech Logo

Learn more about living with chronic illness on our blog

  • Meet our 2023 Blog Ambassador | Tyler Smith

    Meet our 2023 Blog Ambassador | Tyler Smith

    What comes to mind when we here to words, “we need to talk about transplant as an option?” To me I felt in my mind that this is the end stage of maybe not just my lungs, but of me, but it wasn’t. On June 22nd, 2018, I was given a second chance at life.…

    Read Article

  • Chronic Illness and Mental Wellness

    Chronic Illness and Mental Wellness

    Our returning Blog Ambassador, Kasey Seymour, who underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2016, shares her struggle with anxiety, depression and taking control of her mental health… Cystic Fibrosis is an invisible disease, for the most part, you can’t tell we are sick. To most people we look like everyone else, it isn’t until our…

    Read Article


View All Posts

The Vision In Action

Our Mounting Impact

19+

Over 19 Fly Me to the Moon grants awarded—and counting

$237,000+

Over $237,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies donated

$126,000+

Over $126,000 raised for a cystic fibrosis cure

Fly Me to the Moon Stories

Meet a Few of our Past Recipients

  • Maddox

    Maddox

    Meet our newest Fly Me To The Moon grant recipient: Maddox Duffey 🌕💫 Maddox is a little fighter living with cystic fibrosis, and we’re honored to support his family through our Fly Me To The Moon Grant. After navigating insurance challenges and rising medical costs, Maddox’s family was left facing a significant financial burden for…

    Learn More

  • Ray

    Ray

    Ray is a 17-year-old living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA), a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes severe muscle weakness. Diagnosed at just five months old at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Ray has faced countless medical challenges with strength, resilience, and an incredible outlook on life. Despite it all, Ray continues to thrive. He…

    Learn More

  • Cooper

    Cooper

    Cooper Pike was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at just 17 days old through newborn screening.Cooper is now 2.5 years old with daily treatments, a loving supportive system and his unstoppable energy. Cooper is living each day with courage, curiosity, and heart. He loves t-ball, football, running and jumping on his trampoline. Cooper’s Mom advocated for…

    Learn More


View All Recipients

Why Wait for Wings?

Find support or contribute to our initiatives

Discover all the ways you can get involved with the LMFF mission.

Get Involved

Follow Us

Say hello to the Butterfly Catcher 🦋 This is one o Say hello to the Butterfly Catcher 🦋 This is one of the brand new children’s activities at this year's Chalk Walk and we are SO excited to debut it!

Little ones will get to toss butterflies into the catcher and see how many they can land. How adorable (and fun!) is that?!

Bring the whole family and let the kids play their way through a day made for community, color, and connection 💜

📅 October 17 | 10AM–4PM
📍 Hunt Valley Towne Centre, Center of Main Loop
🌧️ Rain Date: October 18

See you on the pavement! 🎨
Ground Control to Mission Team… we have a new laun Ground Control to Mission Team… we have a new launch on the horizon! 🧑‍🚀📡 

A brand new Fly Me To The Moon grant recipient is fuelling up for takeoff and we cannot wait to share where this next mission is headed 🚀🌕

From navigating life with cystic fibrosis to chasing their biggest dreams, this incredible young person is about to get the boost they need to fly higher than ever 💫

Stay tuned, mission control. The countdown has officially begun.

Keep watching this space for the official launch date! 🔭🦋
Another special wing sighting for our #WhyWaitForW Another special wing sighting for our #WhyWaitForWings map! 🪽

Lea's friend Nikki spotted these wings while on a Royal Caribbean cruise this summer and she made sure to send them our way 💜

We love seeing Lea's friends and family join in and help us continue filling the map. Every new sighting, whether it's close to home or out at sea, is another beautiful reminder of Lea and the legacy that continues to travel with us.

Thank you, Nikki, for keeping your eyes out for wings and sharing this special find!

Have you spotted wings lately? 📸 Send us a photo in a DM or email it to LeaMarieFaraoneFoundation@gmail.com with your name and where you found them.

Where will Lea's wings show up next? 🦋💜
We told you last week to mark your calendars… and We told you last week to mark your calendars… and now it’s time to share all the exciting details! 🎉

The 7th Annual Chalk Walk is coming back to Hunt Valley Towne Centre!

Chalk Walk is a day full of color, community, and hope as we come together once again to fill the pavement with butterflies in honor of Lea and support children and young adults living with Cystic Fibrosis and CF-related illnesses. It’s an opportunity to meet the team behind the Lea Marie Faraone Foundation and learn more about our mission.

📅 October 17 | 10AM–4PM
📍 Hunt Valley Towne Centre, Center of Main Loop (aka "The Valley!")
🌧️ Rain Date: October 18 | 10AM–4PM
🎨 Butterfly chalk art zone
💜 Face painting (12:30–3PM) & Children’s activities!
📣 Learn more about LMFF's mission and meet our team!

Bring the family, grab some chalk, and help us make this year's Chalk Walk our biggest and boldest one yet. The more butterflies we draw, the more donations we receive!

Save the flyer, share it with your people, and let's paint the pavement with purpose 💜🦋

Footer

The Lea Marie Faraone Foundation is a 501c(3) providing life changing opportunities to children and young adults fighting chronic illness so they may live as if they are illness-free.


Contact Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

P.O. Box 20396, Towson, MD, 21284, US
Email Us

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do
  • Get Involved
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 · LMF Foundation – All Rights Reserved· Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions
Website by Drio Duo