Top Team Raises $40,000 for CCFA!!

Congratulations to Team Gestalt for being the top fundraising team in the country and raising over $40,000!!! WOW!

Team Captain, Norman Shub, had this to say about why he fundraises and his Take Steps experience:

“We are very proud to be the top team because we helped and WILL CONTINUE TO HELP CCFA! What was a SHOCK to me was my reaction to the walk. I am not a person who cries, but in the first half hour I ended up crying with three different families. Their courage , their pain  with the constant struggle with their disease and the support the families exhibited for their kids with Crohn’s or Colitis touched my heart and brought me to tears. By the time I was called up to the stage to be recognized for my efforts I was so choked up I could not speak. We loved being at the walk… We hated seeing the pain….we loved the feeling of support and encouragement ,,,,, we hated seeing kids talking about just coming out of the hospital, having another operation , not being able to go to school … We love that so many came out to support these amazing families of all ages!!!  Just know that we also appreciate ALL THAT ALL OF YOU DO TO HELP. OUR TEAM TAKES IT’S HATS OFF TO ALL THE CCFA STAFF ESPECIALLY THE COLUMBUS STAFF THAT ENCOURAGED US !!

Way to go Team Gestalt and all of the rest of the amazing teams that helped to raise over $8.2 million towards our mission.  It was amazing to see the community spirit that the over 50,000 Take Steps attendees brought to each and every event.  We look forward to seeing you all again either this fall or at one of the walks next spring!

Spring has ended…let’s Take Steps again this fall!

With 90 walks this past spring, Take Steps raised over $8.2 million for CCFA’s mission – to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We now have over 60 walks coming up this fall, and plan to end the campaign with more than $10 million collected! Many of these events are brand NEW Take Steps Walks. Want to know how YOU can help? Here are few, quick ways to make a BIG difference:

~Form a Walk Team at one of our fall Take Steps Walks

~Volunteer to assist with Take Steps marketing in your community (put up posters, table at a health fair or farmers market)

~Join the local Take Steps Walk Committee

~Visit your local grocery store or other retail locations and speak with the manager about selling Take Steps icons at the registers

There are many more ways you can help make a difference in the lives of those affected by IBD – contact your local chapter for more information on getting involved! There are many more ways you can help make a difference in the lives of those affected by IBD – contact your local chapter for more information on getting involved!

Take Steps starts with a BANG!!

Take Steps is off to a great start in 2011 with walks already taking place in places like Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Phoenix and Albany!  So far every walk has exceeded expectations in terms of participants and fundraising goals. 

Walk season is getting into full swing this weekend with over 20 walks being held and expectations to have thousands of walkers raise over $1.6 million!!  This is GREAT news for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as we continue our mission to cure digestive diseases!

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE MOMENTUM!

Keep up the good work with your fundraising by asking everyone, asking big, getting creative, reminding your donors who have yet to commit…and making it happen. YOU are our best asset in spreading awareness and gathering support, and together WE WILL find the cures!

Remember, all participants age 5+ must have a minimum of one donation in their fundraising account on walk day to receive a wristband and enjoy full access to our event benefits and activities such as food, beverages  and the Kid’s Zone. Be sure to let your teammates and fellow walkers know, and encourage anyone who isn’t signed up yet to register online today!

Here’s hoping to great weather, high energy and great spirits at all the walks this weekend!

Team Gestalt sets goal to be top team in country!

Team Gestalt in Columbus, Ohio has taken on the challenge of being the TOP Take Steps fundraising team in 2011! They heard that last year, the top team raised over $35,000. As psychotherapists and organizational consultants, they deal with families whose kids and parents have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other related diseases. They know firsthand why we need to go out and raise money for Crohn’s & colitis research, so the group decided that they were going to try to be the team that raised the most money to help Crohn’s & colitis families and to provide research money.

They are TRULY committed to that goal!! Their strategy is to help business leaders understand that these conditions don’t get the attention they deserve and the employees at Gestalt want to EDUCATE business leaders about these debilitating illnesses. Through education and discussion, they help companies see why they need to assist Gestalt in helping CCFA. THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY to try to be the BEST Take Steps team in AMERICA!

Team Gestalt’s team captain believes in this cause!

“We don’t know if we will reach that goal but the most important thing for us it to TRY. We are reaching out, having small meetings with business leaders and interested parties. We network every chance we get – at parties, at meetings, in airports and on planes, waiting at the car wash. Wherever and whenever someone expresses an interest, we talk to them. That’s how we are going to get to our goal! We will see after Take Steps how we did but it’s the TRYING that’s making us feel good and the knowledge that we are making a difference for those affected by Crohn’s & colitis”

In just a few short weeks, the team is already well on it’s way to achieving its goal by already raising $25,000!!  Great job and thank you so much for your amazing support!

Upcoming Teleconference on May 19

 

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America will be hosting an educational teleconference/webcast on pediatric Crohn’s disease for children living with Crohn’s disease, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals on:

 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

 

8:00 PM to 9:15 PM Eastern Time
7:00 PM to 8:15 PM Central Time
6:00 PM to 7:15 PM Mountain Time
5:00 PM to 6:15 PM Pacific Time

 

 

 

Register today at http://www.ccfa.org/webcasts/pediatriccd

 

Understanding what Crohn’s Disease (CD) is and how it can affect a young person’s health and life will better equip you to actively participate as a member of your healthcare team. Take an important step toward managing the disease rather than letting it manage you.

 

This event is available at no cost to participants and will explain the unique medical and psychosocial needs of children with CD including:

 

• Important differences between pediatric and adult Crohn’s disease
• The medical management of pediatric CD
• The critical role of nutrition
• Growth and development of the pediatric Crohn’s patient
• Quality of life and support systems

 

The teleconference/webcast is led by Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Sandra Kim from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and clinical social worker Janis Arnold from Children’s Hospital Boston

.To learn more and register, visit: http://www.ccfa.org/webcasts/pediatriccd

Pearl Jam Lead Guitarist Speaks Out to Lead Charge to Cure Digestive Diseases

We are so excited that Mike McCready, guitarist and founding member of the American rock band, Pearl Jam, recently donated his time to create a radio public service announcement (PSA) series on behalf of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation to raise critical awareness for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The  PSAs will encourage Americans to register for one of over 130 Take Steps Walks in 2011 in communities around the country.

McCready understands the ups-and-downs of living with an incurable digestive disease because he has Crohn’s disease. In the PSAs, he explains the chronic and debilitating pain of Crohn’s and colitis and the Foundation’s mission to find a cure for these digestive diseases and improve the quality of life for patients. He goes on to urge listeners to join him to end the suffering by signing up for a Take Steps Walk.

“I have been living with Crohn’s Disease for over 24 years,” says McCready. “Luckily, my disease is now under control. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many of the 1 million plus Americans suffering from IBD. I know first hand the tremendous impact CCFA’s programs can have on improving Crohn’s and colitis patients’ lives. I encourage anyone inflicted or affected by these diseases to sign up for the Take Steps Walk program.”

The number of people with newly diagnosed IBD has exploded in recent years and there is no known cure. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has defined the field of Crohn’s and colitis research for nearly a half-century, enabling the best scientists to discover better therapies and ultimately, a cure. The funds raised by the thousands of people around the country who sign-up to participate in a Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis Walk in 2011 will help CCFA achieve this vision.

In the past three years alone, over 100,000 Americans participated in Take Steps, raising over $20 million to help the Foundation fund research, education, and support initiatives. Visit www.cctakesteps.org today to find a Take Steps walk in your community.

Click here to listen to the PSA’s:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/broadcast/48997/press.html

I’ll Be Determined!

I’ll Be Determined is the latest patient website from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. The site is designed to help patients take a closer look at how they are living with IBD and learn about their IBD management choices.

Users can navigate through four journeys – Treatment, Diet, Complications, and Quality of Life – and receive a virtual badge after successfully completing each one. Each journey is highly interactive, with engaging questions and video-based tutorials.

The site also features a section called THE WALL for participants to submit personal empowering declarations and share their thoughts on how they take charge of their IBD.

Visit www.IBDetermined.org to learn more!

Walk Season has begun!!

Congratulations to Ft. Lauderdale who hosted the first Take Steps of the season!  Over 1,500 people came out on Saturday night to enjoy the walk and raised over $200,000!!  The top team, Jacob’s Colitis Crushers, raised over $23,000!  WOW!

We are so excited for the rest of the upcoming walks and hope that you have registered to participate in your local walk!  Visit cctakesteps.org to register today.   

We also have a great new Facebook page where you can share your stories and fundraising tips…visit and click “like” http://www.facebook.com/ccfatakesteps.

March Spirit Week

Join the national movement and help spread the word and get more people registered for Take Steps!  Did you know that you are participating in one of 140 walks across the country?  Did you know that you are one of over 70,000 people to participate in one of our Take Steps Walks?

We are pumping up the energy across the nation and challenge you to send out as many fundraising emails as possible !  Last year, We are even making it a contest the week of March 14!

Its Simple!

Step 1) customize your personal page with a great story or picture.

Step 2) Upload your contacts.

Step 3 and 4 ) Write a email letting people know why you are fundraising and push SEND! The link to your personal fundraising page will be automatically put into this email and anyone who donates will be directed to this page. this page.

March Madness!!

 

March Maddness is upon us! (March 15-April 2) Take advantage of this fun tournament to raise funds for Take Steps. Invite friends and family to set up their own brackets, make a donation to your Take Steps efforts and come up with a fun prize for the winner. Setting this up is easy!

1) Come up with a prize for the winner. Here are a few ideas:

a. Dinner prepared by you

b. Custom car cleaning by the friend who’s bracket ranks last

c. Gift certificate you get donated

2) Email friends, family and co-workers asking them to join your March Maddness bracket to benefit Take Steps

3) Have everyone make a donation ($5, $10, $20, $25 – you choose) to your Take Steps webpage to participate

4) Email all participants a bracket to make their selections (you can use the NCAA official March Maddness bracket – or the Yahoo Fantasy Sports! Bracket ) Brackets should be filled out before March 17th

And wahla! You have set up an easy and fun way to raise funds. Enjoy routing for your team to win at each game!