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Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and true to form, it snowed here today. Personally, I’m pretty much over winter and ready for spring time (or at the very least, temperatures above 25F on a regular basis).
It’s Groundhog Day, and while I’m not stuck in a time warp like Bill Murray, I am going to write about a topic I’ve mentioned before, because it’s a topic worth mentioning again and again.
For the fourth year in a row, I am fundraising for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Western PA/West Virginia as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon’s Run for a Reason program.
The concept is pretty simple: runners can choose their race (5k, Half, Full, or Relay) and the charity of their choice (there are SO many wonderful organizations who participate!). They set you up with a fundraising page and as long as you meet your minimum fundraising requirement, your race registration is FREE!
Something in particular that I really love about the Run for a Reason program is that the funds raised stay local. Even though many of the charities are national organizations, the money raised stays within their local chapter or branch, benefitting people right here in PIttsburgh!
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is an awesome organization nationally, and the local chapter certainly holds a very special place in my heart. I have found such a great community of friends who are also affected by Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. We support one another, cheer each other on, and even star in each other’s documentaries! For real, my talented friend Carey filmed a documentary in the fall that I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE. Sure, it’s probably vain to be excited about a documentary you are a subject in, but my friends have some amazing stories to tell, and I can’t wait to share them with the world. Here’s the trailer:
The Stool: Pittsburgh TC Friends Trailer from Carey McKelvey on Vimeo.
The Crohn’s & Colitis does so much for patients and their families. They provide support groups, clinical research trials, news and information about treatment options, camps for kids, research grants, and so much more. There is NO cure for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, but each day doctors and scientists get closer to discovering what causes these awful diseases and how to prevent it. Thanks to this important work, I hope to someday be able to say “I HAD Crohn’s Disease, but I’m cured and healthy now!”.
I’ve set a goal to raise $1000 this year. Currently, I’ve raised $300 and am committed to doubling that by the end of February. Sometimes people think small donations don’t really matter, that they aren’t enough to make a difference. THAT IS BANANAS. Every dollar counts, and everyone’s “small” donations add up to make a big difference. If your company offers corporate matching (hey, PNC employees!), now is a great time to take advantage of that! So what are you waiting for? Make your donation today!
Do you have questions about Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis that you’ve always wanted to ask me? Comment below or send me a message on the Contact page!