On Friday, September 18, 2026, Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF) held its 17th Annual Changing the Odds Gala at 26 Bridge in Brooklyn, New York. Guests joined PLF leadership for the most successful gala in our history, raising over $125,000 to held end the harm caused by C. diff. This year, we were thrilled to honor Bobby Warren, MPS, Dr. Alexander Khoruts, Pete Westerhaus, and Carol Raye for their contributions, innovation, and leadership in caring for C. diff patients. 

Co-founders Christian John and Liam Lillis opened the evening by discussing “The Whole Fight” and the community it takes to end the harm caused by C. diff. 

The Whole Fight

“Ending C. diff does not happen in a single lab, clinic, or conversation. It requires patients who refuse to suffer in silence. Scientists who can rebuild the gut’s ecology from the ground up. People with the genius and will to take a breakthrough from the bench to the bedside. Survivors who reach out to those suffering today and support them. And researchers who ask whether the hospital room itself is part of the problem.”

The night’s honorees embodied this fight in more ways than one. But before presenting their awards, Liam and Christian highlighted all of PLF’s achievements in this same fight over the last year, including:

• The huge success of the second annual Scientific Symposium during C. diff Awareness Month in November 2025.
• The launch of the Peggy Lillis Foundation Speakers Bureau, connecting survivors, clinicians, and researchers with media and conferences, increasing PLF’s global public presence.
• The National C. diff Summit and Lobby Day in March 2026 where nineteen volunteers from fourteen states went to D.C. to meet with staff from thirty congressional offices. 
• Co-hosting an international webinar with GARDP that drew 381 registrations from sixty-seven countries
• Our most successful media story: People magazine’s story about a 12-year-old named Charlie who has battled C. diff for months following a head-on collision. The story was picked up by numerous additional outlets, reaching a potential 1.5 billion people.

The evening’s presenting sponsor, Nestle Health Science, was represented by Mike Mallory. He took the stage to deliver welcome remarks that reinforced the message of committing to the fight as a community. We then welcomed Ashlesh Murthy to the stage to represent Emerald sponsor Pfizer to present additional welcome remarks before introducing this year’s co-Leadership Award recipients, Dr. Alexander Khoruts and Peter Westerhaus.

Dr. Alexander Khoruts, Distinguished McKnight Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology at the University of Minnesota, has helped shape microbiota therapeutics through rigorous, practical work rooted in patient need, from advancing fecal microbiota transplantation and standardized formulations to caring for people with difficult C. diff infections. Pete Westerhaus, a former University of Minnesota linebacker, turned his own diagnosis of ulcerative colitis into advocacy by founding Achieving Cures Together, which brings people, ideas, and resources together to accelerate microbiome research and the development of new treatments. PLF was delighted to honor them for their leadership and for modeling a partnership between science and philanthropy. 

Following the Leadership Award presentation, guests were treated to a plated dinner from Cobble Hill Kitchen. Mike Mallory of Nestle Health Science then rejoined the stage to present this year’s innovator award to Bobby Warren, MPS. Bobby is the Founding Director of the Disinfection, Resistance, and Transmission Epidemiology (DiRTE) Lab at the Duke University School of Medicine. He also serves as a research associate at Duke’s Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention and as an instructor in research mentorship at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Beyond his research, Bobby is a dedicated educator, mentor, and advocate who serves on the Peggy Lillis Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council and continues to support greater awareness, prevention, and progress across the C. diff community.

Our final honor of the evening was our Advocate Award. Introduced by Corey Fang of AstraZeneca, this year’s recipient was long-time PLF Advocate, board member, and C. diff survivor, Carol Raye. Since joining PLF, Carol has contributed to many projects and speaking engagements that have helped put a human face on C. diff. She was integral in the creation of the Lifestyle and Nutrition Guide for C. diff Recovery, a resource that has reached thousands of patients navigating recovery. She has traveled to Capitol Hill year after year to speak directly with members of Congress about the patient experience and the need for stronger action. And she became the chair of our Peer Support program, helping to connect patients with PLF mentors and ensuring their requests are handled with care and compassion.  

Following the award presentations, guests enjoyed casino games, from blackjack to roulette, and vied for a variety of raffle prizes. The fun continued well beyond the tables, with guests striking a pose in the 360 photo booth, hitting the dance floor, and savoring cocktails and dessert as the music played on. It was an evening of celebration that brought the PLF community together in the best way. At the end of the evening, Christian and his helpers presented the winners of the casino games and raffle prizes. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and honor.