Most of the time you hear from my brother Christian. As the executive director of Peggy Lillis Foundation, he gives 110% to our mission of combating Clostridium

difficile infections (CDI) through education and advocacy. Together, we work to turn the pain of losing our mother into a powerful movement. And we’re succeeding.

This year I’m giving Christian a break. I’m reaching out to you personally with a special request that you donate today. We’ve set a goal of raising $20,000 by December 31^st, so please give as much as you can to help us start 2018 off strong.

With the help of friends like you, since 2010, we have transformed our grief into a living legacy: the leading national organization fighting C. diff. Today, we have a network of more than 3,000 people including nearly 600 C. diff survivors, caregivers, and you.

Together, we have made enormous strides in the past year. For example:

• We increased our website traffic by 500%; reaching 10,000+ people each month with potentially life-saving information.
• We hosted our second C. diff Advocates Summit with more than 70 advocates, researchers, physicians and public health experts in attendance; another 500 people watched it through Facebook Live.
• Christian testified before the President’s Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
• With help of ally lawmakers in Ohio, the state with the largest percentage of nursing home residents in the country, we introduced the first bill to create a more informed public through reporting of C. diff in long-term care facilities.
• Our extended Advocates Council family is driving change across the country, including:
  • In February, Apryl presented her story on a national training webinar for hospital workers.
  • Rich  and his father, Chuck, shared the story of losing their mother and wife Judy Dexter on an NBC Washington news story about C. diff in hospitals. Rich also participated in the Stakeholders Forum on Antibiotic Resistance’s Lobby Day.
  • In Ohio, Christina and Anne testified before the State Senate health committee in support of the landmark state bill, sponsored by Sen. Kenny Yuko, that will require that nursing homes report C. diff. outbreaks.

We’re proud of these accomplishments, and with your help we can go even further in 2018. In the coming weeks we’ll be sharing information about our most ambitious program to date: Make C. diff Count. This campaign aims to increase the tracking and public reporting of C. diff and other healthcare associated infections. There will be many ways for you to be a part of it.