Monday, March 26, 2012

CCFA March Issue



Letter from Rick Geswell, CCFA President
Rick Geswell, CCFA President


Spring is almost here, and we're excited to bring you new programs to help you with disease management. I hope you'll register for our teleconference tomorrow, Transitions in IBD: Graduating to Young Adult Care. Experts Laurie Fishman, MD, and Maureen Kelly, MS, RN, CPNP will discuss what is needed for a successful changeover and improved quality of life in young adulthood. Nurses will be eligible to receive 1.25 contact hours by participating in this activity. Join us tomorrow, March 15 at 8:00 pm ET!

We’re also rolling out a new local education event this spring, Treatment Approaches in IBD: Options to Consider. At this free presentation, local experts will provide up-to-date information on different treatment strategies in IBD, including medications, surgery, and complementary and alternative approaches. Check our local patient education event page as more dates are added!

Take Steps Honored Hero: Inanna Liaw
Inanna Liaw, Seattle Take Steps' local Honored Hero


Inanna is one seven year old who is not shy about her enthusiasm for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation!

Shortly after her fifth birthday, Inanna was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Last year, she was excited to participate in her first Take Steps walk, supported by more than 30 friends and family members. Inanna is this year's local "honored hero" for the Take Steps event in Western Washington. Despite the ups and downs of living with colitis, Inanna remains full of laughter and hope. She can't wait for Take Steps 2012!

Watch Inanna talk about her experiences with CCFA and Take Steps, and check out other important resources here.

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Answers about Colorectal Cancer and IBD

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Each year in the United States, 147,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed and more than 57,000 people die from the disease – making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

If you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you are at a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer than the general population. We asked CCFA's Chair of Professional Education, Tom Ullman, MD, to address the most frequently asked questions you have about colorectal cancer and IBD. Check out Dr. Ullman's responses here.

Your Generosity at Work: New Research Grants from CCFA
Researcher


You may know that CCFA financially supports the best and brightest scientists in the field of IBD research, but did you know that your generosity also provides assistance to both young investigators and established researchers? These awards provide them with enough funds to generate sufficient preliminary data and eventually become competitive for grants from other sources, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In our search for better treatments and cures, we regularly update our list of funded awards. If you want to see how we put your donations to work, you can check out currently funded grants on our site.

MARCH 2012 ISSUE

Support Research for Happier Lives
As the leader in IBD research, CCFA needs your support to find a cure for IBD. Your gift can help improve the quality of life of many IBD patients.
Donate Now
Healthy Living Tip doctors

HEALTHY LIVING TIP
Getting regular screenings and understanding the signs of colorectal cancer go a long way toward healthier living. Healthy starts here!
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Join Team Challenge 2012

Join Team Challenge 2012 Today!
Challenge yourself and change lives! Through Team Challenge, CCFA's endurance training and fundraising program, you can run or walk 13.1 miles or train for a triathlon or cycling event while helping raise funds for our critical research for the millions of Americans living with IBD. Get ready for the experience of a lifetime. Join Team Challenge today!
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Need Help? | Team Challenge | Take Steps | Chapter Events

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America | www.ccfa.org
888.MY.GUT.PAIN (888.694.8872)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

February Issue from CCFA


Since we had 29 days in February I would like to share with you information on the February Issue of CCFA.


Letter from Rick Geswell, CCFA President
Rick Geswell, CCFA President


Our biggest events of the year are just around the corner!

We hope you'll join us for our live online Take Steps launch tomorrow (2/15) at 7:00pm Eastern. RSVP to the web conference today – and join our National Scientific Advisory Chair-Elect Dr. Jim Lewis, leaders from the field, and me to learn about the exciting new advances in IBD research, developments in our Take Steps walk campaign, and celebrate some of our successes from the past four years. Register to walk today!

We also welcome new team members for Team Challenge – where you can run or walk 13.1 miles, train for a triathlon, or participate in cycling event while raising vital funds for IBD research and support programs.

Whichever way you participate, I hope you'll join CCFA in celebrating our progress towards better IBD treatments and cures. Let's make our voices heard!

Running For a Cure: Tyler's Story
Tyler triumphantly running Team Challenge half marathon


Just two years after his IBD symptoms left him so incapacitated he was barely able to make it out of bed, Tyler ran his first Team Challenge half marathon – 13.1 miles non-stop in 2 hours. Ever since then, Team Challenge has provided Tyler with an outlet for his frustrations and energy, and a close-knit support group.

"I haven't felt this good since my days on the basketball team in high school," says Tyler. "And none of it would have been possible without CCFA and Team Challenge!" Read Tyler's story in his own words.

Join our New Teleconference on March 15!

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis need lifelong management. A smooth transition between pediatric and adult IBD care is crucial. In our new teleconference, Transitions in IBD: Graduating to Young Adult Care, experts Laurie Fishman, MD, and Maureen Kelly, MS, RN, CPNP will discuss what is needed for a successful changeover and improved quality of life in young adulthood. Young patients and their families will learn steps to take throughout childhood and adolescence to ensure a successful transition. Nurses will also be eligible to receive continuing education credit.

Register today for this teleconference on March 15 at 8:00 pm ET.

CCFA Advocacy Accomplishments in 2011



As we gear up our advocacy and legislative efforts for 2012, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments in 2011. We are exceptionally proud of successfully restoring $680,000 for the IBD Epidemiology Program at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), yielding invaluable information about the prevalence of IBD in the U.S. We also celebrated the establishment of the Crohn's and Colitis Congressional Caucus, and a unanimously passed Senate resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week. Join our growing advocacy network today and stay updated on future legislative issues!

FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE

Support Research for Happier Lives
With a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, CCFA ensures your donation funds cutting-edge research to treat and cure IBD. Your gift can help improve the quality of life of many patients.
Donate Now

HEALTHY LIVING TIP
Take charge of your health by attending a local patient education program. Learn more about the role of diet and nutrition in IBD at our free event, Nutrition & IBD: Choices for Adults and Kids. Check our website for details on events in your area this spring .
Take Steps Be Heard for Chrohn's and Colitis

Take Steps And Make a Difference!
CCFA's largest fundraising event, Take Steps, has officially begun! Form a team and recruit family, friends, and coworkers or join an existing team and enhance your Take Steps experience. Join us in our quest to raise $11 million for IBD research and support programs. Register for Take Steps today!
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Need Help? | Team Challenge | Take Steps | Chapter Events

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America | www.ccfa.org
888.MY.GUT.PAIN (888.694.8872)