One of the many amazing thing about the London Cobra Show in addition to the awesome people and beautiful cars is how it also helps raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. With the support of the Factory Five community, people like Melody Stasel and her family have benefited from new treatments. Melody’s dad Dustin shared their story, and how participating in the London Cobra Show has become a big part of their year.
“We were first contacted by Melody’s pediatrician after a newborn screening came back positive for Cystic Fibrosis. The call came when Melody was just 10 days old, the day after Christmas. We were in disbelief. As brand-new parents, we were still adjusting to life with a newborn when we suddenly had to learn how to care for our daughter in ways we had never imagined. We had never heard of CF before, and it was incredibly difficult to process that this was a genetic condition that actually runs in our family. There was a steep learning curve, and it felt like our world had changed overnight.
One of the biggest challenges Melody has faced is the reality of daily treatments since she was a baby with hours of needed airway clearance, nebulizers, and taking enzymes and medications with every meal. Our family had to create routines around her care, making sure treatments were a non-negotiable part of our day, even when we were traveling or on vacation. CF doesn’t take breaks, and neither could we.
As Melody has gotten older, new challenges have emerged. She’s now beginning to understand more about what CF means for her future and how her life might look different than her peers. She is learning that her health needs may change, and how she’ll have to continue trying new medications and learning to listen to her body. Gaining that understanding can be overwhelming at times, but she faces it with courage and maturity beyond her years.
Through it all, we’ve made it our mission to give Melody a full, joyful life, filled with fun, laughter, and meaningful memories. We’ve always wanted her to know that while Cystic Fibrosis is a part of who she is, it does not define her.
Now, at ten years old, Melody continues to amaze us every single day. She is confident, kind, and open about her journey. She proudly shares what CF means to her and helps others understand it in her own words. She is truly a ray of sunshine wherever she goes, full of light and lifts everyone around her. Melody inspires people not just because of what she lives with, but because of how she lives. Her resilience, positivity, and openness encourage others to be strong in the face of their own challenges. Whether it’s classmates learning empathy through her story, adults gaining perspective from her strength, or fellow CF families finding connection through our shared journey, she has made a lasting impact. Her smile, her humor, and her courage remind people that even in tough circumstances, joy and hope are always possible.
As a family, we’ve become deeply involved in the CF community, raising awareness and fundraising in the hope of finding a cure. Thanks to donations, including generous support from partners like the Ohio Cobra Club, medications like Trikafta have become available, truly changing the way Cystic Fibrosis is treated. Melody takes Trikafta, and we are beyond grateful for what it has meant for her health and quality of life. It has given us hope, strength, and a brighter outlook for her future.
We were first told by the CF Foundation director that the previous family that supported the charity rides at the London Cobra Show was interested in passing the torch. We went to the show that year and Melody got to take a ride in one of the cars. We had a lot of fun being there for the show and meeting the Kerr family. They were planning to take a step back in the next few years after many years of supporting and were looking for another CF family to take over. We loved the idea of supporting the community in this way and were excited to support the following year. Now this will be our 3rd year running the charity rides booth. Melody looks forward to it every year and we are very grateful to the Ohio Cobra Club and the Kerr family for giving us this opportunity.” – Dustin Stasel
Click here to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by purchasing a ticket for a chance to win a Factory Five Roadster built by Henry’s Hot Rods.
Click here to learn more about the event, and we hope you can join us and the London Cobra Club on June 21st!
Cystic Fibrosis Donations
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that affects more than 40,000 people in the United States and 105,000 people worldwide. Although CF is a rare disease, more than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. In people with cystic fibrosis, a defective gene causes a thick buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria, leading to infections, extensive lung damage, and respiratory failure.
Thanks to the commitment of donors such as those who take part in the Ohio Cobra Club’s sweepstakes, there has never been more hope for many in the CF community, with transformative therapies on the horizon. The Ohio Cobra Club is proud to say that as a result of our 2024 London Cobra Show and Sweepstakes, we were able to donate $270,000 to help fight cystic fibrosis. Since 2001, more than $2,595,000 has been donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. All donations have been designated to advance the foundation’s innovative CF research.