#TeamAllan Fights Cystic Fibrosis With Custom Team Shirts

There’s a newness that comes with having a baby. It’s learning that your once consistent sleep schedule is right out the window. It’s realizing that stepping on toys instead of a bare floor is your new normal. However, for Cally Baker, mother of Allan Baker, and her family, there was also the newness of dealing with a Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis.

Allan was born on December 27th, right smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the 2018 holiday season in Mishawaka, Indiana. Looking at Allan’s adorable face, you’d never believe that soon after he was born, Allan was admitted into the NICU after trouble with both eating and breathing. Days later, Allan had lost almost an entire pound. After a few tests, the Baker family learned that Allan had Cystic Fibrosis.

Cally Baker and her son, Allan, at the Great Strides Walk

A diagnosis like this has the ability to rock any household, but Cally was determined to get through it. “When my son was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly after birth, I knew I wanted to learn all I could about it,” she says. “When I learned that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raises funds each year through the Great Strides Walk, I knew I had to help! Thus, the fundraising was born.”

And born it was. Inspired by her son, Cally knew that she wanted a special way for people to show their support for Allan for their first walk. The team came up with their hashtags, #TeamAllan and #AllansAvengers and once they learned they could create custom t-shirts, everything, as Cally says, just came to life.

Best friends, Cally Baker and Jerracka Sorgenfrei

Lucky for Custom Ink, Cally remembered seeing Custom Ink commercials and decided to check it out for her first custom t-shirt order. Admittedly, there were a few bumps at the beginning. Despite the easy to use Design Lab and assortment of products, there was an issue using Cally’s original design choice that she found online, due to copyright restrictions. However, thanks to an amazing rep and Custom Ink’s incredible expert team of artists, Cally was able to create something similar yet more unique to Allan and his amazing crew.

Cally’s final t-shirt design.

Finally, it was time for the Great Strides Walk and everyone was excited to get their custom shirt in support of Allan. “Everyone loved the shirts! They were very proud to support our boy.” Cally says. Rocking their custom #TeamAllan shirts, the team walked to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to contribute to research and helping the almost 30,000 people diagnosed with CF in need. If that doesn’t scream Avengers, then we don’t know what does.

Allan’s parents, Cally and Jeremy Baker

Despite Cystic Fibrosis being coined an “invisible disease,” you can’t deny the visibility of those like Allan, Cally, and their team of incredible supporters working to find the cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

(Back Left to Right) Jerry and Lisa Phillips (Allan’s Grandparents), Jeremy Baker (Allan’s Dad) Jerracka Sorgenfrei, Alta Entz, Tara and Robert Smith, (Middle left to Right) Cameron Baker (Allan’s Brother), Cally Baker (Allan’s Mom), Faith Entz, Jamee Baker (Allan’s Sister), Alexis Morris, Sara Morris (From Left to Right) Allan Baker, and Isabella Baker (Allan’s Sister)

Want to help? You can help #TeamAllan by visiting their fundraising page, the Great Strides Walk page, or learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and discover your own way to help.