GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Three million people across the United States live with Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis, which are inflammatory bowel diseases.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Michigan Chapter partnered with Take Steps West Michigan to raise money and awareness for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis to host an event Saturday at Millennium Park Grant Pavilion.
READ MORE: West Michigan takes steps for Crohn’s and Colitis takes place on June 25
Community members, including FOX 17’s Candace Monacelli and Todd Chance who emceed the event, took steps Saturday toward a long-awaited cure.
“We’re not going to stop until we find a cure, and events like these will make that possible one day,” said Lauren Wingarden, community manager of Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
“Our goal as an organization is to improve the quality of life for our patients. So we do that through advocacy, education for physicians and patients, and then we also do events like this to bring the community together.”
Wingarden told FOX 17 that about 100,000 Michiganders suffer from these uncomfortable bowel diseases.
“They can have issues with their skin or vision. They have joint pain, extreme fatigue, abdomen pain, weight loss. It does really affect the whole person,” she added. “We have pediatric patients that get diagnosed as young as one and one of our honored heroes didn’t get diagnosed until she was in her forties.”
This year’s honored hero was Nancy Crumback, who was diagnosed later in life. She walked Saturday for her friend and Caledonia Community Schools colleague David.
Crumback has Crohn’s and David had ulcerative colitis. He died in November from complications.
“That is why I’m walking. I don’t want to lose any more friends,” said Crumback. “Everybody knows somebody that has Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis and this is a good way to get the word out.”
Saturday’s event raised $100,000, while more events are scheduled for this fall.
West Michigan Take Steps is still accepting donations on its website.
