Jake and Max Genova May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and the Genova family of Garden City is once again gathering support to help raise money to find a cure for the disease.

Matt and Danielle Genova, along with their sons Jake and Max, have been very active in Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fund-raising event, since Jake was diagnosed with the disease in 2002. In 2003, Danielle and Matt organized “Jake’s Team” and every year since the family has worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness.

This year, the Great Strides walk will be held on Sunday, May 15 at 10 a.m. at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Registration begins in field 6A at 9 a.m.

To join “Jake’s Team,” visit www.cff.org/great_strides/jakesteam and click on “Click to Donate.” You do not have to actually walk to become a member of “Jake’s Team.” For more information, call Danielle Genova at (516) 248- 8686.end_ of_ the_ skype_ highlighting

If you prefer to mail a donation, make checks payable to “Jake’s Team” or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with “Jake’s Team” in the memo section and mail to 80 Wellington Rd., Garden City, NY 11530. More than 90 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to funding the potential cure for this disease.

The Garden City News has been fol- lowing the Genova family since 2005 when Jake was six years old. This year, Jake has had a relatively healthy year with no hospitalizations. However, he still must endure extremely difficult and time-consuming drug and physical therapies around the clock to maintain his health.

“As you can imagine, this takes a toll on him both mentally and physically,” Danielle said. “On a positive note, Jake continues to amaze us every day.”

This past fall, Jake entered sixth grade at his new school, St. Anne’s. He has maintained first honors and has made many new friends. Jake’s fascination with technology, specifically smart phones, design and video games, continues to grow.

Danielle told The Garden City News that thanks in part to the money raised nationally in 2010, researchers have been able to develop the first drug which actually impacts the underlying defect that causes CF. Danielle said they hope that the drug, currently called VX-770, will soon be approved by the FDA.

“Today CF research is at a critical time in its progress,” the Genova family writes in their annual fundraising letter. “Without the funds to continue this research there is no hope. Although there are many political advocates, celebrities and other interest groups fighting relentlessly to keep CF top of mind in Washington, D.C., the government still does not contribute a single dime toward CF research of any kind.

“As parents, it is so gratifying to see the money we work so hard to raise being used for the treatment and prevention of the disease our child must endure each day. We again reach out to you-our loved ones, families, friends, neighbors and communities to continue to help us in the pursuit of the cure that will end this unnecessary disease. We do this not only for our son Jake, but for everyone who suffers with this disease.”