Meet Travis Suit | Social Impact Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Travis Suit and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Travis, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When my daughter Piper was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at four years old, I was completely ignorant about this terminal disease. After several years of going to doctor’s appointments, reading articles and books, participating in community charitable events, and meeting other parents and people with cystic fibrosis, I began to have a more holistic understanding of the nature of the disease, how it affects individuals and families, and what the landscape of the CF community looked like.

It was clear from a high level view, that because the majority of fundraising efforts were going towards pharmaceutical drug research for a cure, that there was little support systems in place for the families and the challenges they face on a day to day basis, and very few people to advocate for those needs. And because of the improving treatments for CF patients, they were now living much longer with a progressive terminal illness, which presents a myriad of complications. What is the cost of ‘buying more time’?

When my daughter was eight years old, she faced some of her most difficult adversity with cystic fibrosis. She was battling lung infections, malnourished, hospitalized for months at a time, and had a feed tube surgically implanted in her abdomen and a IV port implanted in her chest. It became starkly apparent how dangerous and life consuming this disease could be. How do CF families survive and ultimately thrive when facing these physical, emotional, psychological, and financial burdens? Seeing this need for greater support for the families and understanding the opportunity to rally on a grassroots level is what ultimately inspired me to create Piper’s Angels Foundation.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our business is about human equity. We strive day in and day out to bring positive results to the community we serve through our mission and vision. Our core values are what drive our success. We hold our integrity, inclusiveness, courage, and love to the highest standard because our results are rooted in compassion.

We always strive to be innovative in all areas of our business from event production to programming. One of the most unique things we do is produce The Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis, which is an 80-mile international endurance paddle challenge from the Bahamas to Florida. The Crossing is our flagship fundraising event and usually has upwards of 150 paddlers, 60 boats, and hundreds of crew and volunteers. The Crossing has become one of the top sporting events in the world for cystic fibrosis awareness. Next year in 2023 it will be the 10th anniversary of the first Crossing we did in 2013. The community behind this event has been the driving force of our organization.

We are very proud of the impact we’ve been able to achieve since our inception in 2017. We have established many different programs and initiatives that serve the needs of the CF community while also integrating into broader collaborative partnerships. As an example, we have teamed up with Stanley Steemer of South Florida to provide clean indoor air services to our CF families. Through our programs we offer scholarships and grants to empower people with CF to live their best life possible. We pride ourselves on serving a vital role in peer-to-peer mentorship as well, which is a huge factor in the mental health aspect of CF.

We have faced many challenges on the path to building this organization from the ground up. We’ve survived through some major adversity, including the misappropriation of funds by a board member and a global pandemic that put our community at high risk. Each time, our team and community grew stronger together. I like to say that adversity is the starting line of courage and doorway of opportunity. As an organization that represents a community of people that live with adversity on a daily basis, it is paramount that we honor them by showing up for them in the same way they must show up for themselves and their families.

The legacy of Piper’s Angels Foundation in its simplest form is love. When you experience pain and suffering due to a terminal disease, you realize how precious life is. Life is short, shorter for some than others, but we all have a choice to persevere and make the most of every moment. Cystic fibrosis, like all human adversity, is a masterful teacher if you choose to see it that way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a best friend visiting the area, I would definitely take them to the ocean for sunrise to swim, paddle, surf, and play. We have some of the most beautiful beaches and water in the world full of wildlife. I would bring them to Benny’s on the Beach at the Lake Worth Pier for lunch and a piece of key lime pie. We would go to some of the local preserves to walk in nature, appreciate the natural beauty of Florida, and bird watch. I would check the local music scene to see if there was a good reggae band playing to dance and vibe out. We would head down to the West Palm Beach waterfront to check out the scene and grab some delicious food at E.R. Bradley’s. I’d schedule health and wellness activities, like some yoga classes at my favorite local studios, Native Yoga in Juno Beach, Green Tara Yoga in Jupiter, or Village Yoga in Tequesta; get them a drop in pass at MADabolic fitness in Jupiter; and do some restorative wellness sessions at Restore Hyper Wellness in Palm Beach Gardens. For a nice dinner we would hit up Leftovers in Jupiter for some fresh seafood. Beyond that, we would hang out with family and friends around a backyard fire and share stories, reminisce, laugh, and talk about our dreams.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our organization was truly built by a community. There have been thousands of people who have contributed to Piper’s Angels Foundation and The Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis to make it what it is today. We are powered by an Army of Angels that always show up and step up when we need them most. Our board of directors and advisory board have been pillars of strength to lift us off the ground and carry our mission into action. Our small but mighty staff, including Aiyana Sugerman, Tatiana Tims, and Casey Kiernan are the workhorses that make our impact possible. And finally, to all the CF Warriors and families that have fought for every inch, every therapy, every day, and every breath, I am eternally grateful for the wisdom you teach, love you share, and courage you inspire.

Website: www.pipersangels.org / www.crossingforcf.com

Instagram: @travis_suit @crossingforcf @pipersangelsfoundation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-suit-049aaa55/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travis.suit/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLjuMOh7CGcIJnNGSVeWbw

Image Credits
Images by David Scarola & Leonard Bryant