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Clark, 18, a senior at Imlay City High School, has cystic fibrosis and has co-chaired the walk for CF for the last five years with his mother, Sherry Middaugh. The Imlay Township son and mother combination has helped raise an estimated $50,000 to $75,000 for the disease during that time.

"It's been a stressful event, but in the end it's fun," Clark said. "It's brought a lot of responsibility. I do video work, try to promote it. Our school gets pretty well into it."

Clark said individually, he's probably raised $50-100 for CF. Currently, that fundraising for the disease is growing as paper feet are being sold at Imlay City High School, the Romeo Golf Course, and at the BP Gas Station in Imlay City. Clark's girlfriend, Julie Seasword goes to Almont High School and thinks it's "pretty cool" he co-chairs the walk.

Middaugh said her son is a typical teen who is an artist with a girlfriend and his own car. Clark enjoys creating audio visual productions and is a multi-media student at the Lapeer County Education and Technology Center. "Kyle's a very positive person," she said. "I try not to let him be known as a CF person -- he's Kyle. His health is very good. He had some nasal polyps taken care of, but hasn't been in the hospital for eight and one-half years."

Clark said the walk gives him satisfaction because his overall goal is all about having fun. He hasn't let his illness get him down. "I'm doing great," he said. "I give credit to medicines we've changed around and exercise they preach about. It builds my lung capacity. I feel normal because I feel healthy."

Middaugh said cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder. The defective gene to the disease comes from both parents and causes extra mucus. The disease prevents enzymes from working properly.

As co-chairs, the mother and son's responsibilities are to get local businesses involved in the walk through donations of money and prizes, but to walk in Great Strides, one doesn't need to have pledges, Middaugh said, but added it certainly helps. She added last year's walk raised more than $6,000 for CF.

"We like for people to collect pledges. My family, friends and the Imlay City schools do a majority of fundraising," she said. "We had a team of walkers from Kohl's. We do this because the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is renowned for what they do with their money as 90 cents for every dollar goes to CF research. That's why I do it. Great Strides is their biggest fundraiser and it's done around friends and family," Middaugh said.

She said the art students from Greg Irwin's class at Imlay City High School are being asked to donate a piece of art work that will be raffled off at the walk. All proceeds will go to the CF Foundation.

May is CF Great Strides Month. The fundraiser walk starts at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Imlay City High School track. Gates open at 10 a.m.

In case of rain, the walk will be held inside Imlay City Middle School.

For more information on the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk, contact Middaugh at (810) 724-6596.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.