“Beating the Odds is a book that young and old alike should read. It is encouraging and insightful, as well as a teaching tool for all those who happen to see life as ‘a glass half empty.’”

Mila Mulroney, Honorary Director of Cystic Fibrosis Canada

“I have personally witnessed the power of Chris’s optimism and resilience. Whatever the odds you’re working against, Chris will inspire you to overcome them.”

Sheila Copps, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and author of Nobody’s Baby

“I often think of Chris as an insightful warrior. He is driven, committed, and always inspiring. Chris is where he is, health-wise, not only because of advancements in science, but importantly because of his attitude and approach to life and living. This book will be helpful to people living with cystic fibrosis and other diseases – but frankly, his advice is helpful to us all.”

Kelly Grover, CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada

“Chris MacLeod is a warrior for life. He never gives up. Not with a hole in his heart as a newborn; not with the cystic fibrosis which threatens his wellbeing every time he wants to take another breathe, not when bleeding from his wracked lungs would not stop for months. Life can be difficult; Chris challenges each of us to be much more than we think we can be. Become the CEO of your health and life. Chris does not take no for an answer, especially from himself. Every person with an unmet health need can be a warrior for life, so no one is left behind. Beating the Odds shares Chris’ experiences and reflections, so we all can learn from and then apply by making the next move. And the next. As a thinking person of faith, he frames a dozen lessons for us based on his personal journey. One excerpt: ‘I was told the ADM did not meet with individuals. That led me to establish the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Society … to advocate for individuals that need access to medicines like Kalydeco. I will leave the rest of this story for another day.’ We all need to hear more from Chris on that story. Lives hang in the balance.”

John Adams, Chair Best Medicines Coalition

“Chris MacLeod knows what he speaks. He is not only a CF warrior but he has helped so many as a CF lawyer. We as a community are grateful for people like Chris who know what it takes to advocate for those who want their voices heard.”

Andy Lipman, Author and founder of the CF Warrior Project Atlanta, Georgia

“One of my favourite quotes is from Elon Musk who once told an interviewer that, ‘When something is important enough you do it even if the odds aren’t in your favour’. It’s that mindset that got us to the moon and back, that discovered insulin, and that developed a Covid-19 vaccine in less than 10 months. Chris MacLeod is the walking definition of what Musk is talking about … and he is changing the odds for people with cystic fibrosis.”

Dan Donovan, Publisher & Managing Editor Ottawa Life Magazine

“This book should be mandatory reading for absolutely everyone. We all face adversity in life, however, we don't all thrive in the face of it. Chris writes about his incredible journey of success, despite living with a health challenge. He translates this to a practical, powerful guide for anyone trying to build resilience in their own lives. Being successful is hard enough, doing so against all odds is remarkable. Chris and this book are just that, remarkable. This book provides lessons that everyone should learn for a more resilient, remarkable life.”

Emily Lyons, President & Founder, Femme Fatale Media

“We could all use a little more resiliency: Beating the Odds is the perfect guide to getting it.”

Amanda Lang, Anchor, BNN Bloomberg, and best-selling author of Power of Why and Beauty of Discomfort

“Chris MacLeod shows us the remarkable strength of the human spirit in Beating the Odds. His lessons are an inspiration to anyone looking to overcome hardship in their life.”

Frank Stronach, Founder of Magna International Inc., Chairman of Stronach International Inc., and author of The Magna Man, The Question of All Questions, and The Greed Factor

“I have witnessed the caring, the passion and hard work of Chris MacLeod since 1989 when he started working with us on Parliament Hill. I have seen his resilience over the years. Chris makes the impossible possible. This book is a must-read.”

Dennis Mills, Former Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth

“I could write a book about the impact of this book. At the very moment Chris bestowed his hard-won wisdom and sage practicality to me, I was afraid to lose my life and the battle meant facing a wall of Goliaths — a whole government, a global pharmaceutical company, and the media … just for starters. ‘We have to get in war mode,’ he told me, and for the first time, I had guidance from someone who had been in the trenches like me. Chris’s guidance dropped the sugar-coating, and got to the gritty strategy I needed to win. It led me to victory. I could say this book saved my life, and it would be literal. Here’s what is even better: this book gave me the strength to save my own.”

Lilia Zaharieva, Advocate and lead representative plaintiff in the first class action on behalf of CF patients in Canada

“There is nothing more exhilarating than ‘Beating the Odds’ when you’ve been dealt a truly lousy hand. And to do it time after time! Now I know why Chris MacLeod is on a perpetual high. Thanks for sharing your formula for a ‘never better’ daily life experience. You are an inspiration to all.”

Durhane Wong-Rieger President & CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders

“I have watched Chris’s indomitable spirit triumph over and over again in the most challenging of circumstances. He describes his life in vivid metaphors — for example, a Super Bowl game — where everything is on the line, and one is thrown onto the field with no practice, no experience at all. Chris’s lived example — taking control of his attitude — can serve as a blueprint for others faced with difficult odds. That attitude spills over into action — a powerful way to ‘take charge’ when so much is beyond one’s control. Jesse Jackson once said ‘Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy: sweat will get you change.’ Chris’s story makes it clear that he wants no sympathy. Instead, he chooses to roll up his sleeves and use his considerable gifts to ‘sweat’ effectively for change.”

Patti Tweed, parent of a person with CF and health advocate

“Chris MacLeod has unstoppability. Reading Beating the Odds is like listening to him in person as his positive, focused, relentless energy leaps off the page, with hard-earned lessons delivered at a fast pace. He won’t be stopped, and it’s only a matter of time before he beats the odds by gaining access for Canadians with rare diseases to life-saving drugs.”

Mike McDonald, former Chief of Staff to BC Premier Christy Clark