Dottie Lessard-Brownsberger

Dottie Lessard-Brownsberger is one of the most inspirational examples of what the human spirit and mind can accomplish. At six weeks old, Lessard-Brownsberger was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and was given minimal chances for life past age two. Now 44 years old, Lessard-Brownsberger has founded Dottie’s Dream, is president and CEO of Live Life Fully, LLC, and is also an author, athlete, personal empowerment coach, wellness trainer, wife and mother. She specializes in assisting women to believe in themselves and shows them how to overcome anything that is an obstacle today to turn into strength for tomorrow. Lessard-Brownsberger underwent a double lung transplant in 1994 and a kidney transplant in 2002. Despite constant hardships with her health, Lessard-Brownsberger has become a celebrated athlete; she competed in and won multiple Gold Medals in the 100m, 200m sprints at the US Transplant Games between 1996 and 2010. She also competes in the Tri-Fitness Challenge against “able-bodied” athletes and is an accomplished fitness competitor within several organizations. She is a former Nike sponsored athlete who has shared the stage with many powerful business women and Olympic champions. Her story has been featured on and HBO “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” Success magazine, People magazine, Women’s Running, Oxygen magazine, USA Today, The Boston Globe and many others. In 2002, she was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch through Boston. In 2005, she was named one of Runner’s World Magazine’s “Heroes of Running” and was also named as one of Magic 106.7′s “Exceptional Woman.”