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Claire Wineland

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Claire Wineland (born 10 April 1997) is an activist, entrepreneur, and author. Through her non-profit organization, “Claire’s Place Foundation” she works to support and organize people with terminal and chronic illness and their families.[1][2] She is also the author of the book Every Breath I Take, Surviving and Thriving with Cystic Fibrosis and a TEDx speaker.[1][2]

Early life and illness

Claire was born with cystic fibrosis in 1997 in Austin, Texas. She enjoyed performing from a young age, and appeared in the Music Man at age 4.[2] At age 13, Wineland’s lungs failed and she was placed in a medically-induced coma. She was given a 1% chance of survival, and awoke after 16 days. Upon her recovery, she founded an organization in support of families affected by terminal illness, specifically cystic fibrosis.[1]  Claire has spent approximately a third of her life in the hospital, and has undergone more than 30 surgeries.

Activism

Claire’s Place Foundation

Claire founded the Claire’s Place Foundation at age 13.[1] Inspired by the community’s support while she was in a coma, Claire launched the 501c3 non-profit to provide support to children with cystic fibrosis and their affected families.[2] The foundation operates through two programs: Support Families, which offers personalized support and assistance in areas such as treatment, care processes and emotional support from other parent volunteers; and Extended Hospital Stay Grants which provide financial assistance to families who are struggling with extended hospital stays. Claire’s Place Foundation has provided financial assistance to 26 families to date.[2]

The Clairity Project

The Clairity Project is a website featuring a series of videos, or vlogs, which hope to inspire and educate others about living with a terminal illness.[1] According to the website, Claire’s activism aims “to shed some light on what it’s really like to be sick, and change the way we view illness and those living with it.” Claire’s videos have featured topics such as “Dying 101” and interviews with her family members including her mother and younger sister Ellie. In 2017 Wineland announced that The Clairity Project had concluded after the production company that produced The Clairity Project took total creative control, and then claimed all of Claire's content as their own without her consent.[3]

Public speaking and appearances

Claire was chosen to be the keynote speaker at AARC Congress, the 63rd International Respiratory Convention and Exhibition.[4] She is a TEDx speaker, and has spoken at a number of conferences worldwide. Claire appeared in an episode of Red Band Society and in the documentary series My Last Days.[2] She also joined the Philips “Breathless Choir” as a soloist.[citation needed]

Honors and media coverage

In 2016, Wineland was listed as one of Seventeen magazine’s 17 Power Teens. She received the Fox Teen Choice Award in 2015, and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes[2] and the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Small Nonprofit of the Year Award in 2014.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Living while dying: 'Little Buddha' wisdom from a terminally ill 'goofball'. CNN, 5 July 2017
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rosenfeld, Laura. "Who Is Claire Wineland? The 'My Last Days' Subject Is Helping Others Live Their Best Lives". Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  3. ^ Wineland, Claire. "I stopped doing the Clairity Project because I got screwed over". YouTube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  4. ^ "AARC Congress Announces Claire Wineland As Keynote Speaker". AARC. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  5. ^ "Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards 2014" (PDF). Los Angeles Business Journal.
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