TO FIND CURES FOR DIGESTIVE DISEASES
La Jolla, CA- Just one year ago, 5 year-old Grace was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Grace, who has been selected as this year’s Honored Hero, and her mom Nicole are walking with friends and family to raise critical funds and awareness for this debilitating digestive disease. The 5th annual Take Steps, Be Heard for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk will take place on Saturday June 2nd, from 4-6pm at NTC Park at Liberty Station.
“Grace’s story is incredibly touching and a great inspiration to the Crohn’s & colitis community,” said Laura Pinner, Walk Manager. “Surprisingly, these diseases are not very well known, yet they take a tremendous toll on people’s lives.”
Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss and fatigue. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. One in 200 people suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.
Grace and her family know the struggles and challenges of living with a debilitating, unpredictable digestive disease every day. Initially, Grace had pools of blood in her stool and loss of appetite. Although the pediatrician told the family that the symptoms should pass, Grace’
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About Take Steps
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Take Steps is the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s national Walk program. Thousands of people will gather this spring and summer, at 158 Walk sites across the country, to join the fight against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Take Steps has raised over $30 million for research and patient support services. Our goal is even more ambitious for 2012. We’re committed to transforming the lives of those impacted by these diseases and leading them to a brighter future through well-funded, cutting-edge scientific research. Join us in this effort –register today at www.cctakesteps.org/
About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA’s mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org/
