Help local children and adults with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) while enjoying a morning with friends and family at the Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis Walk on Saturday, May 14. Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other diseases causing inflammation of the intestines are prevalent, with 1 in 200 Americans suffering from them.
The community walk – with companion festivities – is the major fundraiser for the nonprofit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)-Las Vegas Chapter. CCFA is currently funding 220 research projects to learn more about the diseases and how they can be treated and cured. Often they are referred to as “silent diseases” because many who suffer from them are embarrassed to talk about their condition.
In addition to the leisurely stroll through Exploration Park at the Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community, Take Steps activities include live music, food tent, kids entertainment, raffle with great prizes, vendor booths, wellness area, educational materials and more. The Kids Zone will have a bounce house, face painting, balloon artist, and games. Onsite registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk at 10 a.m. Exploration Park is located at 9700 South Buffalo Drive, just south of Blue Diamond Road.
The 2016 Take Steps Honored Hero is 10-year-old Ben Etter, who continues to inspire others with IBD. He was 6 when he began to have stomach aches and other symptoms, and after a number of doctor visits was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease a year later. This will be the third year Ben and his family are participating in the walk, naming their team “Ben’s Creepers” because of his love of the Minecraft game.
While no registration fee is required, a $25 per person donation is encouraged. Registered team members and attendees who donate will receive a wrist band for free food and other refreshments.
To register prior to the event, organize a team or get involved, please visit https://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/TakeSteps/Chapter-Southwest?pg=entry&fr_id=6026.
Take Steps is sponsored by Abbvie, Dignity Health – St. Rose Hospital, Ed Bernstein & Associates, Mountains Edge Master Planned Community, Shire and United Healthcare.
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, furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD, and providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccfafb and www.facebook.com/ccfatakesteps, or follow CCFA and Take Steps on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccfa and www.twitter.com/takesteps.
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