I bet you know someone  with Crohn’s or Colitis?  My cousin died from

colitis when he was just 13 years old.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It causes breaks in the lining of the small and large intestines and can affect the digestive system from mouth to anus. The cause of Crohn’s, which isn’t contagious, is unknown, though some scientists speculate that certain bacteria can cause infection. Diet may affect symptoms. Ulcerative colitis, which is closely related to Crohn’s disease, causes inflammation only in the colon and/or the rectum. Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease.

People who suffer with inflammatory bowel disease have it for the rest of their lives. Commonly, it begins in adolescence or young adulthood, between the ages of 15 and 35. While it can be managed, there is no medical cure. Currently, inflammatory bowel disease affects between 500,000 and two million people in the United States, with men and women equally afflicted, according to medicine.net.

Educating people about Crohn’s and colitis is part of the process.

 
Meet Glenn

Click on this picture to donate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many of you know that I have been living with Crohn’s for quite some time. Earlier this summer I experienced a bad scare when my colon was perforated which required a lengthy hospital stay and massive doses of medications. My Doctors tell me that I need to have another surgery by the end of the year. It is my goal to stay healthy enough to run the Las Vegas, Rock & Roll Half Marathon on December 4th. Yup..I signed up to run a half marathon..Well, perhaps run half of a half marathon. I hope to better my time of 2 years ago when I ran in the Miami Half Marathon. Many of you helped me out then..I thank you so much. Of course, I will be calling on your generosity to help me out once more. I am running as part of Team Challenge in support of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Over the next 3 months I will be training and raising funds in hope of finding a cure for these diseases from which over 1.4 million Americans suffer. Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis are known together as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. The funds raised through Team Challenge directly benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in support of its mission to find a cure and improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Help me help them! More than 80 cents of every dollar raised goes directly toward research, education, and support services. Many of you know that I have been living with Crohn’s for quite some time. I hope to one day live in a world without Crohn’s & Colitis.