finalist, was in Blackfoot Tuesday to raise funds for and promote awareness of cystic fibrosis (CF).
“CF is a disease where mucus builds up in the lungs and/or pancreas,”
said Christina. “Each day treatments can take from 10 to 45 minutes. There are multiple pills and multiple medical treatments.”
Christina and her three sisters all have CF.
“People have asked why our parents had any more children after our first sister was diagnosed with CF,” she said.
Just meeting the vivacious 16-year-old is reason enough to celebrate her
life. Christina will be a senior at Idaho Falls High School this fall.
Christina and her sister, Ali, were finalists in the 2010 version of “America’s Got Talent.”
“I think singing made my lungs stronger,” said Christina.
After the show, Ali and Christina performed in 24 cities.
“They still perform across the country,” said their mother Janie
Christensen, who travels with them when they tour.
Melissa Cortes, a certified massage therapist and owner of Reprieve
Massage in Blackfoot, hosted Christina as part of a week-long fundraising
event called “EveryBody Deserves a Massage.”
“Each massage therapist can choose which fund he/ she would like to support,” she said.
Cortes choose to support the Boomer Esiason Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
after visiting with Christina.
Cortes is also a speech and debate teacher at Idaho Falls High School
where Christina was one of her students.
“I didn’t realize who she was until I started visiting with her,” she said. “Her story inspired me. “She always has a positive attitude and she follows her dreams,” she said.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation educates, gives
scholarships and provides transplant grants.
“It’s helping right now,” said Janie Christensen. This week, 100 percent
of all donations Cortes receives will be contributed to the Boomer Esiason Foundation as well as 20 percent of all business proceeds.
To involve more people, Cortes is offering her services at local businesses throughout the community this week.
Cortes will be giving chair massages {for a donation) from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. today at Walmart from 2-5 p.m. today at Winger’s Roadhouse Grill, and she will be at the Morning News from 1-4 p.m. on
Thursday. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Cortes will be at XII Stones Internet Cafe.
Other sponsors of this event are Alliance Title and Escrow and Idaho Central Credit Union.