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Gutsy Walk raises almost $20,000 for Crohn’s and colitis research

Jun 4, 2018 | 4:15 PM

One in every 150 Canadians has one of two forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), according to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

This past weekend, the Gutsy Walk was held in many cities across the country, including in Red Deer at McKenzie Trails.

The event raised just shy of $20,000 and attracted more participants than ever before.

 

 

Co-organizer Kate Latos said there continues to be a noticeable difference in how comfortable people are with talking about their disease.

“We have well over 100 people, 67 people actually fundraised money,” Latos, who has Crohn’s, said. “This is really exciting to see all of our volunterers hard work starting to pay off, and for people starting to get brave enough to come out and support their disease and their famiy members, and not hide behind what it means to have inflammatory bowel disease.”

Last year, rdnewsNOW spoke to now 14-year-old Evan Lee, who served as the event’s honourary chair in 2017. Lee was diagnosed with colitis at a young age, and was recently re-diagnosed with Crohn’s.

“It means the world. It means so much to me and everyone with this disease to know that everyone cares,” Lee said at this year’s Gutsy Walk of the high participation. “This is a serious issue. It needs to end and go away.”

Lee is now taking Imuran, which involves taking three tablets daily, and said he currently feels great.