Meet Robert Davidson

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CPFF founder Robert left a monumental legacy of awareness, information, and hope for the pulmonary fibrosis community in Canada and around the world.

He established the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in 2009, less than two years after his own idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis and a few months before receiving a double-lung transplant on January 30th 2010. Robert's lung transplant gave him 9 more years to enjoy life with his family, to carry on building CPFF, and support fellow sufferers. He actually had a triple bypass in 2015. Some cardiologists would not attempt that on a double lung transplant recipient but he found Dr. Cusimano at  Toronto General who was willing to take up the challenge and the surgery was successful!

Robert rallied people living with PF, their loved ones, medical professionals and was a real sense of hope. He launched the cpff website providing reliable information about the disease for Canadians living with PF, raised funds for research, and started the support groups that were so desperately needed. It was with great sadness that CPFF announced the passing of Founder Robert Davidson on May 1, 2019 at 71 years of age.

Robert wrote a book about his experience with pulmonary fibrosis. It is called “Breathing Should Never Be Hard Work” and is published by Friesen Press on Amazon. 

About the 2024 Robert Davidson Walk for PF

IN PERSON WALK - SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 MARKHAM, ONTARIO

Heather Davidson (Robert's wife) and her family invite you to join them in their walk for PF on September 21, 2024. Together you will tour a small part of the beautiful Toogood Pond Park which is a 33.3-hectare park located in the neighborhood of Unionville, in Markham, Ontario. The pond is home to many Canada geese, ducks, fish, and plants.  To join this event click REGISTER button and select IN-PERSON WALKER. 

Location

Toogood Pond
Park across the street from 218 Main Street Unionville (The Church of the Nazarene)
At the corner of Carlton and Main Street

Help Heather raise awareness for pulmonary fibrosis throughout the whole month of September by virtually walking in your own neighbourhood and beyond on your own time. To join this event click REGISTER button and select VIRTUAL WALKER. 

You can choose to walk in person AND/OR walk virtually.

SHARE PHOTOS OF YOUR WALKS

Help us spread the word about pulmonary fibrosis by posting frequent photos of you walking:

• On your team or individual page
• On social media using the hashtag #hopebreatheshere

Why the Davidson Family is Walking

Rather than give in to the disease and die, Robert decided to fight and live as normal a life as possible, borrowing from Winston Churchill, the mantra “Never surrender.” The Davidson family will continue Robert's quest by walking in his honour and paying tribute to all of those living with PF and those who have passed away. Their goal is to continue building hope, awareness, and funds for people living with pulmonary fibrosis and their loved ones. They hope to have at least 30 people turn out to walk in the live event, and while donations are deeply appreciated they are not mandatory to participate in the walk. 

Heather is walking in memory of Robert Davidson, founder of CPFF and her husband and encourages participants to walk for their loved ones as well. She encourages everyone to follow Robert’s motto “Never Surrender” be it negotiating the challenges of pulmonary fibrosis or just handling the challenges daily life brings to you. 

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Support the Robert Davidson Walk and CPFF

Simply click the DONATE NOW button on the side of this page to pledge Heather for CPFF in support of pulmonary fibrosis.

Click REGISTER button to walk in-person or virtually on your own as often as you'd like during the month of September.

Pictures from the 2023 Robert Davidson Walk for PF

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