Resolve to Support a Cause
Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis™
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Take Steps walks, offer a wonderful way for family, friends and the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) community to celebrate the hard work and dedication of their participants to raise funds toward their mission. These walk events are filled with live music, food, kids, entertainment and educational materials. By joining the Take Steps community, you will fundraise to support mission-critical research and patient support programs for the 1.6 million Americans living with IBD. Join them in 2017! Take Steps is a nationwide event in more than 120 communities across the country. Walk as an individual or gather your friends, family and coworkers to form a team. Register at cctakesteps.org.
Girls With Guts Retreat
Stay tuned for dates and location
The Girls With Guts 2017 Retreat is a weekend-long event providing opportunities for women ages 18+ with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and/or ostomies to foster friendships and learn ways to improve their lives emotionally, mentally and physically. The main focus is to help women create an in-person support network and find a “sister” that they will bond with and ideally maintain that relationship until the next retreat. Activities include presenters and participant-led groups. For more information and to sign up go to Girlswithguts.org.
Get Your Guts in Gear: The Ride for Crohn's & Colitis
Guts Across America
Get Your Guts in Gear (GYGIG) is an independent, national, nonprofit organization that raises awareness of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and related conditions through multi-day cycling events that benefit and support IBD organizations and patient advocacy groups. New this year are participant-led and participant-driven Regional Rides. Team captains will create these ride locations, dates and details, while GYGIG will be there every step of the way to provide resources to create and execute each Regional Ride. Also new for 2017 is Guts Across America comprised of Team Guts and Relay Ride Across America. Team Guts is powered by volunteers and riders who accept the challenge of biking across the country. Relay Ride Across America allows volunteers and riders to choose segments within the ride to join Team Guts and pass the baton to fellow riders and volunteers. More information, details and registration for Relay Ride Across America will be available soon. Join the excitement! For more information and to view the Regional Rides that have been created so far, go to igotguts.org.
UOAA 2017 National Conference
August 22-26, 2017
Irvine, California
Don’t miss the sixth national UOAA Conference in sunny California. Attend inspiring talks, educational workshops and exhibits. Lounge poolside under the palm trees while socializing with new friends from around the country, or explore all the area has to offer. Of course there is so much more the conference has in store, such as rap sessions, Tai Chi and even a sunset dinner cruise. Yachtswoman Pam Wall is slated as the opening night speaker and will regale attendees with stories of her time on the sea. Wound Ostomy Care Nurse Joanna Burgess-Stocks will finish the festivities, with her inspiring journey as a person with an ostomy. Go to ostomy.org for more information and to register.
Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K
October 7, 2017
Various locations from coast to coast
The fourth annual Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K race will take place on World Ostomy Day on October 7, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina, as well as other locations. The races educate, support and raise community awareness about people living with an ostomy. In fact, participants are given an ostomy pouch in their “Swag Bags” and are encouraged to wear it during the race! Interested in running the race but unable to physically attend the events? You can still sign up and run or walk your own virtual 5K race on October 7. All proceeds benefit the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). Go to ostomy5K.org for more information and to sign up!
Get Your Rear in Gear®
Walk, run or ride in the largest colon cancer-focused event series in the country. It’s a great way to become a part of the movement to prevent, treat and beat colon cancer. Get Your Rear in Gear Run/Walk and Tour de Tush Bike Ride are sponsored by The Colon Cancer Coalition, a nationally recognized partner in the fight against colon cancer. Funds raised are reinvested in the local community to promote awareness, education and screening. In 2016, the Colon Cancer Coalition hosted nearly 300 run/walk and bike events in 32 states. Below, you can review the events planned so far in 2017.
Tucson, AZ – March 25
Hampton Roads, VA – March 25
Tulsa, OK – March 25
Philadelphia, PA – March 26
Asheville, NC – March 26
Baton Rouge, LA – April 1
Mobile, AL – April 8
Oklahoma City, OK – April 22
Little Rock, AR – May 13
Orlando, FL – May 14
Denver, CO – May 15
Wichita, KS – May 28
Allentown, PA – June 10
Tinley Park, IL – July 23
Portland, OR – August 5
Victoria, MN – August 16
Winston-Salem, NC – September 16
Boston, MA – September 16
Kansas City, MO – September 17
Milwaukee, WI – October 14
West Palm Beach, FL – October 21
New York City, NY – October 22
Still nothing in your area? Check the website periodically or create your own event. Go to coloncancercoalition.org for more information.