Walk for Regina aims to raise money for double lung transplant candidate

Hospitals are like a second home for transplant candidate Regina Crowe.

Crowe was born with cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs.

Thirty-five-year old Crowe, who was born in Bloomington and diagnosed at the age of 4, has been a transplant candidate for the last six months. As a patient with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, she is currently waiting for a double lung transplant. 

COTA is funding the “Walk for Regina,” a fundraiser for the Bloomington area to help raise money for Crowe. The walk will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the Clear Creek Trail at That Road in Perry, Ind.

Megan Leiter, coordinator of the walk, said people from around the community have provided most of the donations.

“Our goal for the entire Regina Crowe fundraising is $30,000,” she said. “Right now we have about $2,500, donated by Bloomington residents who knew Regina as a child or know her now.”

COTA is an organization helping with the expenditures of surgeries, hospital visits and medications. It provides support for life-saving organ transplants, such as lungs, hearts or kidneys, said Jim Inman, marketing director of COTA.

COTA funds surgical procedures for people who need transplants. 

To help them, COTA trains volunteers across the country to raise money for the organization, Inman said.

“That is why these events, such as the walk, are so important,” he said. “The funds raised cover a variety of things and helps lessen the burdens of the family of the patient.” 

Cystic fibrosis causes sticky mucus to form inside the lungs, blocking the airways and damaging the lungs.

It makes it difficult for the infected person to breathe, according to the American Lung Association website.

Many people with this disease do not have a long life expectancy rate. According to the cystic fibrosis website, the predicted age of survival of a person with cystic fibrosis is in the late 30s.

With today’s advanced treatments, patients are surviving longer, living into their 30s and 40s. That was true for Crowe’s sister, who was also born with this disease and died when Crowe was 4 years old. At thirty-five years old, Crowe is five years past the age expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients.

Leiter said “Walk for Regina” is just the first fundraising event on her behalf. She is hoping for more than 100 attendees and more than $5,000 dollars raised.

On Oct. 6, COTA is providing another fundraiser for Crowe, called “Canvas and Wine Fundraiser.” The event will be at the Bloomington Wine and Canvas Studio, at 135 N. Gates Drive.

Regina is currently at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and will not attend the fundraiser.

“She (Crowe) was born and raised here in Bloomington,” Leiter said. “There are many people who care about her, and we hope that the walk has a successful turnout.”