Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America hosts kickoff event

Sept. 7, 2017 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com

Miss Western Massachusetts 2017 Olivia Clark poses with information and gifts offered to attendees’ of the Chron’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Kickoff event on Aug. 26. Reminder Publications submitted photo.



EAST LONGMEADOW – The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) had their Kick-Off event at Shaker Bowl on Aug. 26 in an effort to drum up excitement and awareness regarding the fundraising walk that is coming up on Oct. 14.  Annually, the CCFA puts on a Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk that raises funds to aid in finding a cure for both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

The Kick-Off event welcomed 50 guests representing 10 teams that are signed up for the October Take Steps walk at Stanley Park in Westfield.

 “This event is to provide an opportunity to get details about walk day, meet our honored heroes and team captains, get fundraising ideas and enjoy the kick off to our fundraising campaign,” Walk Manager Jessica Gale said.

Gale noted that this year’s event at Shaker Bowl was the most successful kickoff the organization has had so far.

“There is opportunity to learn more about mission updates impacted by the participant’s efforts,” Gale said.

The CCFA serves more than 600,000 patients annually through its 40 chapters, with a constituent base of more than two million people according to Gale.

Over the course of the last three years, the Take Steps fundraising walk conducted in  Westfield at Stanley Park has raised $87,500 toward finding a cure for these diseases.  This year, the Western Massachusetts Take Steps team has a goal of raising $55,000, which is $10,500 more than what was raised last year.  Additionally, each year has shown growth in participants.  In 2014 the walk had a mere 200 participants, whereas this year the CCFA is anticipating 500 individuals walking for a cure.  Currently, 31 teams are signed up to walk at the fundraising event.

“Since the Foundation is not a government-supported agency, we rely on the support of our members and donors to continue our work,” Gale said.

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation is a volunteer-driven and non-profit organization that’s been inexistence since 1967.  The CCFA website states that they are the only Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) research and support organization focusing on research, patient services, advocacy and professional education.

“With an investment of close to $300 million, the Foundation has played a role in every major scientific breakthrough in IBD.  In 2016, we invested $30 million in research across 200 active research projects,” the website states. “The goal is to discover and support emerging areas of research that could impact the scientific community’s understanding of the causes of and potential cures/treatments for IBD.  We are incredibly proud of the work our researches do each and every day.”

This years Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk will be on Oct. 14 at Stanley Park in Westfield.  To find out more information about the walk, sign up or join a team, go to http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/TakeSteps/Chapter-NewEngland?pg=entry&fr_id=7097.

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