Green Bay, WI – This summer, residents in northeastern Wisconsin will be taking steps to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two painful, unpredictable diseases of the digestive tract.
Walkers will raise crucial research dollars and on June 18, 2011, at Green Isle Park, will walk in the nation’s largest annual event dedicated to finding cures for these debilitating diseases, 3rd Annual Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis presented by Aurora BayCare Medical Center.
This fun and energetic program is run by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, whose mission is to cure these diseases, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these seldom-discussed diseases, bringing better therapies and prevention only a few steps away. Nationally since 2008, Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis has raised $22 million for mission critical funding. Over the past 2 years Green Bay’s Take Steps Walk has raised over $100,000.
Walkers have been given all the necessary fundraising tools to raise critical research dollars for these diseases, including a free customizable Web page for fundraising support and fundraising advice and assistance. Top fundraisers are eligible for a variety of incentives, including electronics and gift cards.
Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis presented by Aurora BayCare Medical Center will take place on June 18, 2010, at Green Isle Park, in Allouez. Registration & check-in will begin at 4:00 pm, with entertainment, food provided by Tanners Grill and Bar of Kimberly, and games for the kids. The 2.3 mile walk will officially kick-off at 5:30 pm with a program presented by the honorary emcee, Alison Struve of Insight Creative, Inc.
For more information about becoming involved in Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis, visit www.cctakesteps.org/greenbay or contact Laura Bolger at 414.475.5520 or lbolger@ccfa.org.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. Some 1.4 million American adults and children 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.
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward a cure, and more than 81 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs. The Foundation consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org). For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-932-2423 or visit www.ccfa.org