| Chris Adams #NY-36 Two years ago, I fulfilled a dream I had since high school –I started bike racing. I never thought I’d be able to do it because when I was 19 I began having stomach problems that kept me from being very active. None of the doctors I saw could give me any definite answers for what the problem was and I just continued to get worse.
Then in May of 2003, I had a particularly severe stomach ache and ended up in the hospital. That’s when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I was in the hospital 3 more times over the following 9 months, including once for surgery.
If you don’t know much about Crohn’s disease, you’re not alone. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) are dangerous, potentially incapacitating diseases. Despite the fact that over 1.4 million Americans have IBD, these diseases aren’t discussed very often. Here are some fast facts:
Ø IBD generally strikes children and young adults under 30. Children with IBD often experience malnutrition and stunted growth due to their inability to absorb nutrients.
Ø Depending on their drug therapies, many patients experience steroid dependency and loss of bone density. Some patients do not respond to therapy at all.
Ø Those who suffer from IBD are at increased risk of colon cancer.
Ø The cause of IBD is unknown, and as of yet there is no cure.
I’m very blessed – I responded well to a new drug which has made my quality of life since my surgery much better. I could not race – or be very active at all - without it.
Other Crohn’s patients aren’t so lucky. Many require multiple surgeries to remove damaged intestine and never find a medication that works well for them. In the severest cases, the entire intestine is removed. In all cases, Crohn’s can be painful, makes traveling difficult and some patients find it difficult to hold down a job or go to school.
So this year, June 6 – 8, 2008, I’ve made a commitment to ride my bike 210 miles over three days and raise $2,000 as part of Get Your Guts in Gear – The Ride for Crohn’s & Colitis (“GYGIG”).
This ride will provide vital funding for research into new drug therapies and help find a cure for this disease. Your donation will not only help me reach my goal, but you will be helping others like me who have been affected by IBD.
Please click on the link below to donate.
Thanks in advance for your support!  
 
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