Don't Miss: 'Cure for Cammy: The 3rd Annual Fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation'

The Southold community will come together Friday for a little girl whose spirit has inspired scores of supporters.

"Cure for Cammy: The 3rd Annual Fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Honor of Camryn Koke" will be held on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Southold High School gym. The event will feature juggling and magic with Jester Jim, Zumba with Jill Schroeder of JABS, face painting, carnival games, and a Chinese auction.

Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door and are available at the Southold Pharmacy, JABS, and Founders Tavern.

Tickets and T-shirts can be purchased online by clicking here. 

Camryn 8, is a third grader at Southold Elementary School who loves dance, gymnatics, soccer, skiing and playing with her friends.

But often she has to stop what she's doing, while the other kids are still having fun, when it's time for her daily treatments.

Because Camryn has cystic fibrosis. 

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's website, cystic fibrosis is "an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, and 70,000 worldwide."

A genetic disease, cystic fibrosis is characterized by a defective gene and its protein product that cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucous that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. The mucous obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food, the website states.

But while, for an eight-year-old, facing the challenges of cystic fibrosis aren't alway easy, Camryn's mom Jennifer said her daughter's spirit remains undaunted.  "She does everything she wants to do, which is great because being active is good for her lungs."

Koke said her daughter has many moments where she is the recipient of an outpouring of love and attention from a caring community who have come together to support her.

With her fierce spirit, Camryn takes pride in speaking at events and raising awareness about cystic fibrosis, something she began doing when she was only six years old.

"It just amazes me," Koke said. "So many kids would never get up there in front of a microphone."

Each year, the family participates in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's "Great Strides" event, which takes place in Westhampton Beach -- as team "Cure for Cammy."

An outpouring of love from the community, Koke said, has been a life-altering experience -- as has the support of her friend Jen Olsen, who has organized all three Southold fundraisers."Jen is an amazing friend," Koke said. "My son, who is five, said, 'I know what the cure for CF is - it's Jen Olsen.' I could never repay what she does for me, and for Camryn."

Olsen said she was inspired by Camryn's spirit to help make a difference. "She has so much strength and beauty, inside and out," she said. "She's always so positive. She really feels like she can make a difference in her future, and I really wanted to encourage her to do that."

The Southold community, Olsen said, has turned out in full force for the fundraisers – last year, almost 450 people attended.

"I couldn't believe the response," Olsen said; even those who couldn't attend donated items for the Chinese auction. "The way this community comes together is just amazing -- without even having to ask, everyone is so generous."

Camryn has become involved in actually organizing the fundraisers, Olsen said; the events are places where she can feel special, and help to make a difference.

"It's nice for Camryn to feel empowered," Olsen said. "We're so close to a cure -- one day she can look back and see what she did to make that happen. We are really close -- soon we won't be doing these fundraisers, we'll be having a big celebration."

Her daughter, Koke said, was in a shop in Greenport and coincidentally found three rocks, painted with the words, "Hope," "Believe" and "Breathe," words that the family holds steadfast as they continue to rally for a cure.

"I truly believe we're going to find a cure," Koke said. "She will never stop fighting because we all love her so much. And because of the community -- they're funding her cure. Cystic fibrosis will never win -- because of them."