Bonnie Griner and Nick Chastain pose outside their residence Feb. 28. Griner received a double lung transplant Monday, May 1, at Duke University in North Carolina. Her own lungs have been scarred by a lifetime of battling cystic fibrosis.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — An event that has raised money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the last three years is turning its attention to a local woman’s needs this year.

The Color Wish Run for Cystic Fibrosis will raise money this year for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) in honor of Bonnie Griner, a Moultrie woman with cystic fibrosis.

Griner was put on an organ transplant list about two weeks ago, race organizer Haley Hamner said Thursday. She needs a double lung transplant and is staying at Duke University in North Carolina until one becomes available.

“She’s just waiting on the call,” Hamner said.

Hamner started the race to raise money for the foundation because her son also has cystic fibrosis. The CFF funds research for treatments and potential cures.

“We wanted to show him we’re not only helping him at home,” she said, “… [but] we want to help as a family and as a community to raise money to find a cure.”

This year, though, Griner’s needs had to take precedence.

Hamner met Griner when they were in kindergarten, and they’ve been friends ever since. She’s part of a group called Breathe for Bonnie that’s working with COTA to raise money that Griner and people like her can use during their treatment. Although COTA’s emphasis is on children, adults with cystic fibrosis also qualify for assistance.

Breathe for Bonnie has a goal of $100,000 within a year, Hamner said, and it’s already off to a good start with a variety of events and memorabilia for sale.

The color run will be held Saturday, May 6, at Spence Field, site of the Sunbelt Expo. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. The 5-kilometer run starts at 8:30, and the 1-mile run follows it. Both races start and finish at the Expo water tower.

Registration fo the 5-K run is $35, and the 1-mile run is $30. Register online at www.COTAforTeamBonnieG.com; mail a completed entry form to Haley Hamner, 1905 Bob Taylor Road, Moultrie, GA 31768; or fill out the entry form at the registration table the day of the run.

The entry fee includes official T-shirts and post-race refreshments, and T-shirts and other items will be available for sale with proceeds to benefit COTA.

Awards will be given to top male and female finishers by age category in the 5-K run.

Hamner said she expects about 200 runners for the event, which is significantly more than last year’s.

For more information, call Hamner at (229) 454-0799 or Mandy Kinsey at (229) 891-6224.