This is a press release submitted to Vegas INC. It has not been verified or edited by Vegas INC.
Press Release
Fifteen Year Old Las Vegas Crohn’s Disease Patient to Support Local Runners & Walkers
Advertisement
Las Vegas, NV—March 6, 2012— In the fall of 2008, Brittany MacDonald started to become very ill, and was told by doctors that she had a sinus infection. After months of antibiotics, she became so weak she had to give up her extracurricular activities and missed a lot of school. On New Year’s Eve, Brittany was taken to Quick Care, and referred to a gastrointestinal doctor who diagnosed her with Crohn’s disease. Her story is, unfortunately, not unique. This chronic and often debilitating digestive disease that combined with a similar disease called ulcerative colitis, affects over 1.4 million American adults and children. Brittany is helping raise awareness about this cause by supporting the runners and walkers from the Las Vegas area training for the June 24th Kona Half Marathon and July 15th Napa-to-Sonoma Half Marathon with Team Challenge, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s endurance training and fundraising program.
Today, Brittany is now 15 years old, in high school, and successfully in remission. She went from taking 26 pills a day to now only 9, and is on a gluten free diet- a big contributor to helping her stay in remission. She is very active in color guard, acting, modeling, key club, pageantry, and staying very involved with CCFA as a part of the Youth Council, was Las Vegas’ 2011 Honored Hero for Take Steps Community Walk, and attends Camp Oasis every summer, a camp for Crohn’s and Colitis patients. Brittany’s motto is “just because you have a disease, doesn’t mean it should stop you from doing what you love; you can accomplish anything you put your mind too.”
Over the next few months, Team Challenge participants will raise critical dollars for Crohn’s and colitis research while being supported by Foundation staff and mentors. Since the program came to the Las Vegas-area, Team Challenge participants have raised over $465,000 for Crohn’s and colitis research, education, and support.
Professional coaches will hold group training sessions and clinics on proper shoes and equipment, injury prevention, nutrition, fueling and hydration, and other relevant topics, on evenings and weekends. Participants experience the excitement of participating in a destination endurance event, and form lasting and meaningful bonds while experiencing physical and mental growth. On race weekend, participants will run or walk through the hillside vineyards of California Wine Country (July 15) or the scenic beaches of Kona, Hawaii (June 24) with Team Challenge. These first-rate events are set in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Participants enjoy the personal satisfaction of helping patients, like Brittany, fighting Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Those interested in learning more about Team Challenge can attend an information meeting in March:
Saturday, March 10th at 10am, at Durango Hills YMCA, 3521 N. Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89129
Tuesday, March 13th at 7pm, at REI in Henderson, 2220 Village Walk Dr, Ste 150, Henderson, NV 89052
Thursday, March 15th at 7pm, at Total Wine & More, 501 N Stephanie St., Henderson, NV 89014
Tuesday, March 20th at 6pm, at Total Wine & More, 730 S. Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145
Or contact Brooke Allen-Burnstein of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at [email protected] or 646-276-0501.
About Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are 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.
About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America'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, with more than 79 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. Join CCFA on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/supportccfa/and follow CCFA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccfa.
Today, Brittany is now 15 years old, in high school, and successfully in remission. She went from taking 26 pills a day to now only 9, and is on a gluten free diet- a big contributor to helping her stay in remission. She is very active in color guard, acting, modeling, key club, pageantry, and staying very involved with CCFA as a part of the Youth Council, was Las Vegas’ 2011 Honored Hero for Take Steps Community Walk, and attends Camp Oasis every summer, a camp for Crohn’s and Colitis patients. Brittany’s motto is “just because you have a disease, doesn’t mean it should stop you from doing what you love; you can accomplish anything you put your mind too.”
Over the next few months, Team Challenge participants will raise critical dollars for Crohn’s and colitis research while being supported by Foundation staff and mentors. Since the program came to the Las Vegas-area, Team Challenge participants have raised over $465,000 for Crohn’s and colitis research, education, and support.
Professional coaches will hold group training sessions and clinics on proper shoes and equipment, injury prevention, nutrition, fueling and hydration, and other relevant topics, on evenings and weekends. Participants experience the excitement of participating in a destination endurance event, and form lasting and meaningful bonds while experiencing physical and mental growth. On race weekend, participants will run or walk through the hillside vineyards of California Wine Country (July 15) or the scenic beaches of Kona, Hawaii (June 24) with Team Challenge. These first-rate events are set in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Participants enjoy the personal satisfaction of helping patients, like Brittany, fighting Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Those interested in learning more about Team Challenge can attend an information meeting in March:
Saturday, March 10th at 10am, at Durango Hills YMCA, 3521 N. Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89129
Tuesday, March 13th at 7pm, at REI in Henderson, 2220 Village Walk Dr, Ste 150, Henderson, NV 89052
Thursday, March 15th at 7pm, at Total Wine & More, 501 N Stephanie St., Henderson, NV 89014
Tuesday, March 20th at 6pm, at Total Wine & More, 730 S. Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145
Or contact Brooke Allen-Burnstein of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at [email protected] or 646-276-0501.
About Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are 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.
About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America'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, with more than 79 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. Join CCFA on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/supportccfa/and follow CCFA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccfa.