Over the years, Travis Suit has always tried to help different charities, but in November 2011 he found out his daughter, Piper, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

CF is a disease that can cause problems with the lungs and the pancreas, and for a child diagnosed with this disorder the average life expectance is less than 40 years of age.

That was why he decided to participate in The Crossing for a Cure, an event that will help to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research.

Suit is preparing to stand-up paddleboard from the clear tropical waters of the Bahamas back to South Florida.

The trip is approximately 90 miles across the open Atlantic Ocean, and runs through the Gulf Stream.

“I had worked with a lot of charities through my production company,” Suit said. “But when Piper was diagnosed, I knew which charity I would focus on — the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The foundation has done amazing thing with their research over the years.”

As a father, Suit is looking for a way to help his daughter to live a better quality of life.

He later heard about the foundation from Gary Ellis, a local philanthropist who has a child with CF.

Suit isn’t a doctor or a medical professional. So he thought the best way to help would be to raise money for the research.

When he heard that the foundation spends 90 percent of the funds received on research, he knew what he was going to do.

“All my life I have been a physical person. I played football, went to Officer Candidate School for the Marine Corps, rode bulls as a hobby and have professional stunt-training experience. I love the motto of the Marine Corps, ‘Pain is weakness leaving the body,’ ” Suit said. “I’ve wanted to do something more challenging and daring the last few years and when the idea of The Crossing for a Cure came about, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was born and raised in South Florida and thought how cool it would be to cross the Gulf Stream.”

If you are interested in more information, visit http://www.crossingforacure.com.

If you would like your event listed in The Miami Herald, please send the information to Corey W. Campbell at Campbell.corey @gmail.com.