Art And Marcy Falcone Help Bring Awareness To Crohns Disease

Feb. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- BOCA RATON, FL -- Eleven years ago “An Evening of Hope” Chairs Marcy and Art Falcone’s eldest son was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. “At the time we knew nothing about this disease and when told there was no cure, we were scared!” said Marcy. “We needed to learn about our son’s disease quickly and to educate ourselves so we could help him. Luckily for us we were told about the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation soon after our son’s diagnosis and the Florida chapter was nearby. The Crohn’s and Colitis foundation has been a huge source of information, education, and comfort for our family over the years.”

Marcy and Art have been very involved with the Florida chapter as well as nationally. Marcy has been on the Florida board for ten years. She just finished a two year term as president and presently serves as chair of the board. Art also sits on the Florida board and just finished a five year term on the National board. They have been involved in all aspects of the foundation, chairing many of the events held each year, helping to build awareness, and especially helping to raise money to help fund research and education. Their proudest moments have been when given honors for the work they do! Marcy and Art’s dream is to find the cures for these diseases and until that day, the Falcone’s will continue to help in any way they can.

Helping Art & Marcy plan the fundraiser are committee members Larry & Lori Burke, Ray & Raquel Ferrero, Steven & Lauren Geduld, Marc & Sloane Gillman, Craig & Dana Konhauzer, Sabrina Kurzman, Sidney & Nadine Pertnoy, Gary & Bonnie Scharf, Ellen & Steven Shapiro, and Dr. Paul & Jodi Tartell.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disorder which causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Although it can involve any area of the gi tract from where food is ingested and exits the body, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.

The disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn. In 1932, Dr. Crohn and two colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, published a landmark paper describing the features of what is known today as Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the two main disease categories belong to a larger group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (ibd).

Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar, it is sometimes difficult to establish the diagnosis definitively. In fact, approximately ten percent of colitis cases are unable to be pinpointed as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease and are called indeterminate colitis.

Today, one in a half million people and ten percent are children under the age of eighteen, suffer from the physical and emotional challenges of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The mission of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases.

Art Falcone is the CEO of the Falcone Group, LLC providing real estate management and development services. The company offers development, management, and construction of residential and commercial properties. It is based in Boca Raton, Florida. For further information please call: (561) 961-1000.