​'Take Steps' for Crohn's & Colitis Kicks off Local Walk Event

From the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: More than 600 will walk for cures in the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Hartford’s Take Steps Walk on Sunday, May 21, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Take Steps is a family friendly community celebration dedicated to raising mission critical funds and awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two painful, debilitating digestive diseases that affect 1 in 200 Americans, including 80,000 children nationwide.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m., during festival and registration, participants will enjoy entertainment by the band Sonic Theory and DJ, Chris Hatcher from Magic Moments Entertainment. Dave & Buster’s will host a prize wheel and there will also be a bounce house, crafts, and games – including a Ga-ga ball pit available. Participants can also participate in a banner making station and a mission passport activity. Participants are invited to sign the Wall of Hope banner and to display poems, quotes, photographs, and other mementos on the Honor Wall to inspire their friends and loved ones living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has teamed up with Hartsprings Foundation to host a clothing drive at the walk. The Foundation will receive $0.20 for every pound of clothing donated.

The opening ceremony will begin at 11:15 a.m. and will include patient recognition and testimonials. Dave Roberts from Suffield will be the featured speaker sharing his story of living with ulcerative colitis. Dave first started experiencing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms four years ago. At the time, he didn’t understand what was happening or why he was feeling the way he did. After a doctor’s visit and a colonoscopy in February 2014, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The struggles that Dave has endured taught him that worrying about the little things in life aren’t worth the stress that can take a toll on the body. Dave makes the best of his situation and, for this, he is an inspiration to others. To read more about Dave or to donate to his fundraising efforts please visit http://online.ccfa.org/goto/droberts.

The walk will begin at 11:30 a.m. The walk route is a flat, two-thirds of a mile loop which is stroller and wagon friendly. Participants are invited to walk as many or as few laps as they wish. Dogs on a leash are allowed and owners must provide cleanup bags and water bowls.

“This is a wonderful event,” states Julie Merritt, planning committee member and captain and inspiration behind the fundraising team, Gut Busters. “It provides patients, families and friends with support, education and hope.” Julie goes on to state, “It also allows people to learn about IBD and show what a strong network of support we have in the Greater Hartford area. And most importantly it gives us the opportunity to raise awareness, and money, towards our ultimate goal of finding cures.”

Thousands of people will gather this year at more than 100 walk sites in local communities across the country. Greater Hartford Take Steps has raised more than $60,000 toward their goal of $100,000 to fund research and patient support services.

Funds raised through Take Steps will directly impact vital treatment, research, and life-giving patient programs for 1.6 million Americans who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Walks are family-friendly festivals dedicated to patients and their families and serves as a celebration for all the hard work and dedication of the community. Participants connect with other patients, families, and caregivers throughout the community, creating a web of support for IBD patients in the local area.

For more information on how to get involved with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Greater Hartford Take Steps Walk please visit www.cctakesteps.org/greaterhartford2017 or contact Mary Kate Doherty at

203-376-4336 or mkdoherty@crohnscolitisfoundation.org. The Greater Hartford Take Steps walk is supported by the presenting sponsor, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and by AbbVie, Takeda, UCB, Connecticut GI, and Shipman & Goodwin.

Photos courtesy of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation