October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As October is coming to a close I just wanted to take this time to Honor those that have been affected by Breast Cancer. As Millions may now that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted to Honor those that I know personally that have been affected with this Condition, Weather you are a Mother, Daughter, Friend, Family Member, Sister, Aunt, Cousin these facts from the American Cancer Society is GREAT NEWS to hear. In 2013, an estimated 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed among US women, as well as an estimated 64,640 additional cases of in situ breast cancer. That year, approximately 39,620 US women were expected to die from breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer incidence rates are highest in non-Hispanic white women, followed by African American women and are lowest among Asian/Pacific Islander women. In contrast, breast cancer death rates are highest for African American women, followed by white women. Breast cancer death rates are lowest for Asian/Pacific Islander women. Breast cancer incidence and death rates also vary by state. Cancer statistics such as these are presented in this updated edition of the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Facts and Figures. This publication provides updated cancer research facts about breast cancer, including incidence, mortality, and survival trends for breast cancer, as well as information on early detection, treatment, and factors that influence risk and survival. www.cancer.org

Cuba le debe una fiesta a Celia Cruz/Google Doodle Goes Live Globally Honoring Celia Cruz’s 88th Birthday

Justo cuando terminan las festividades por el Día de la Cultura Cubana, una de las grandes de esta Isla estaría cumpliendo sus 88 años de vida. Hoy recibe uno de los homenajes más extendidos en lo que en materia de tecnología actual se permite: un doodle del rey universal de los buscadores en Internet, Google. En Cuba su nombre es historia, cultura silenciada en muchos diccionarios. Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad vio la luz un día como hoy en 1925. Un nombre imposible de pronunciar, pero que la cultura acuñó con un simple Celia Cruz. Sencillamente Celia para tres generaciones de cultores de la música cubana. Una cantante tan grande como su éxito, tan fresca como su música y tan tropical como su Isla. Un año después del triunfo de la revolución cubana y durante una gira de la orquesta Sonora Matancera, Celia “se quedó” en los Estados Unidos para convertirse en la voz del exilio cubano. Pero la Cruz fue más que eso. Dedicó toda su carrera a transformar la salsa junto a Tito Puente y las Fania All Star haciendo que su música viajara todo el mundo hasta convertirse en la Reina de la Salsa. Con su voz acampanada cultivó a todos los de por acá y por allá. La negra tuvo su tumbao a ritmo de guaracha y son montuno. Reconoció que esta vida es un carnaval y la vivió plenamente, siempre con la esperanza de volver, como ella misma dijera: “a su Cuba libre”. A pesar de los imposibles, la sonrisa nunca se borró de su rostro. Con su voz inconfundible, extrovertida, carismática y extravagante en el escenario, Celia fue mezcla de sonidos afrocubanos y jazz. Fue para el mundo la cara de una isla donde su música estaba prohibida, pero que se escuchaba con el volumen no muy alto en más de una casa. Su muy rítmico ¡Azúcar! acompañó a la Cruz como “grito de guerra” durante toda su carrera, en la que acumuló un total de cinco Grammys, dejó como huella una estrella en el paseo de la fama, recibió en tres universidades el premio Honoris Causa y el habitante de la Casa Blanca en 1994, Bill Clinton, le entregó el Premio Nacional de las Artes. En 2003 el cáncer terminó la carrera de la artista, pero no se detuvieron los premios póstumos y eventos en recuerdo de la que fue la cubana más querida y estimada por los “exiliados políticos”. A Celia la enterraron hace diez años con un puñado de tierra de su país que recogió por debajo de una cerca desde la Base naval en Guantánamo. Logró en vida casi todo lo que se propuso; sólo una cosa le faltó hacer: a Cuba nunca pudo volver desde su salida en 1960. Hoy Celia Cruz cumpliría años en esta tierra, pero la vida quiso que se fuera antes. Google hace homenaje póstumo a la diva en su 88 aniversario. Hoy es día de fiesta porque ella así lo hubiese querido. Día de salsa y de ¡azúcar! Día de unir sueños y olvidar rencores. Hoy es el día de Celia Cruz. Cuba le debe la fiesta. MIAMI (October 21, 2013) — Eventus, the leading multi-cultural experiential, sports and entertainment marketing company in the United States, and the Celia Cruz Estate, proudly honor the Queen of Salsa’s birthday today with a custom-designed Google Doodle celebrating her life and legacy. Google, Inc., the multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services and products, chose the music icon, who died in 2003, to grace their search engine’s home page today, on what would have been her 88th birthday. “Ten years after her passing, it is incredible how ‘alive’ she still is. Her voice and image are present everywhere and her impact on culture worldwide is immeasurable”, said Nelson Albareda, CEO of Eventus. “Celia continues to bring joy and enrich the lives of so many globally. We are grateful to Google for our collaboration in assuring that her legacy continues to reach new fans around the world.” Cuban-born Celia Cruz was internationally recognized as the “Queen of Salsa” and during her lifetime received countless awards and honors including three GRAMMY® Awards, four Latin GRAMMY®s, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Smithsonian Institution, among other accolades. In 1994, US President Bill Clinton awarded her the highest honor the country bestows upon an artist: the National Endowment for the Arts. Celia recorded over 78 albums, many of which obtained platinum status and have been distributed worldwide. The Smithsonian Museum hosted an exhibit called Azúcar: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, and in 2011, the United States Postal Service honored her invaluable contributions to the entertainment industry and international impact by placing her image on a US postage stamp as part of the Latin Music Legends Series. “There have been many posthumous tributes to Celia in these last ten years, but this one by Google is certainly one of the most important and far-reaching. The creation of her very own Google Doodle, an honor bestowed on a select few who have made special contributions to mankind, is a testament of her significance, not just musically, but culturally,” said Omer Pardillo-Cid, sole executor of the Celia Cruz Estate. “She would have loved it!” The Celia Cruz Estate and Eventus, the sole representative of the Celia Cruz Estate, continue to jointly develop a comprehensive global strategy to keep her legacy alive and to reach new generations with her timeless music.

My Story: An Honored Hero Takes Steps

Here is a Story about a little 4year old boy by the Name of Hayden. Hayden was your typical healthy, active 4 year-old-boy - he loved sports, playing with friends, and riding his scooter. In the summer of 2008, Hayden started having frequent bowel movements and loose stool. After a few weeks and multiple negative parasite tests, he could not make it more than 20 minutes without having to use the bathroom. We tried to go to the beach one Saturday afternoon and could not make it out of the neighborhood. That afternoon Hayden was admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). A few days later, after many IVs, endoscopies and colonoscopies, Hayden was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Our world was changed forever. We started with typical treatments but unlike a sinus infection and other illnesses we had encountered, nothing seemed to work. The despair as a parent of a sick child and not being able to cure it is indescribable. You feel your sole purpose in life is to protect your child, yet you are not able to. We finally hit rock bottom over the holiday season of 2011 when his diagnosis was changed to Crohn’s disease. Hayden was having a flare up and nothing was working. He was admitted to the hospital again over the holiday break. There is nothing more depressing than being hospitalized for Christmas. The emotional toll of watching your son wither away in front of you, fearing it was the last time you would hug him was almost too much. However Hayden is strong, possibly stronger than both of us. He continued to fight and he never lost his will. He pulled through and has been responding better to the recent combination of medicines. Still weighing in the 20th percentile and measuring in the 15th percentile in his age group, this hero continues to play lacrosse and basketball, in between trying daring skateboard maneuvers. He wakes up every day with a smile, eager to see what life brings. (As told by his mother Heather) Last year, Heather and her family's Take Steps team, dubbed team Haydee Hoo, placed second, raising more than $10,000 in just their first of participation. This is the family’s second year participating in the Mercer County Take Steps Walk for Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter. You can help children like Hayden overcome IBD when you join us at one of our many Take Steps Walks this season.

We did It- Thanks to you!

In the September issue of CCFA newsletter this is What is going on. Letter from Rick Geswell, CCFA President & CEO Rick Geswell, CCFA President and CEO I have some great news. We challenged you to double your impact in our matching gift campaign, and you rose to the occasion. Together, we reached our goal of raising $50,000, and it was matched! That's $100,000 to fund the groundbreaking research that will enable us to better treat IBD. Thank you! As you may have already discovered, the 2012 Annual Report is now available online. I encourage you to take a look – this comprehensive report is reader-friendly, organized for easy navigation and full of valuable information about CCFA. I'm proud of the incredible work we do together and so grateful for supporters like you who help make it happen. Newly Diagnosed? We can help. Newly Diagnosed IBD patient Getting diagnosed with a lifelong disease like Crohn's or colitis can be a lot to take in, but we're here to help. Our Patient Starter Kit is filled with information for you and your loved ones about IBD symptoms, treatment options, how best to manage your illness and details about support groups, online resources and a wide array of programs. The more you know about IBD, the more you and your family can be prepared to fight it. Let's get started. read more Remembering Lloyd Mayer, MD Lloyd Mayer, MD We are sad to share that Dr. Lloyd Mayer, a renowned researcher and CCFA leader, passed away earlier this month. This is a significant loss for us here at CCFA but also for the IBD community at large. Dr. Mayer brought his vision, dedication, leadership and brilliant mind to CCFA for almost 30 years, holding several key positions and contributing to some of our most significant achievements. His legacy includes research that profoundly shaped the development of highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs for IBD. Read more about what this dedicated teacher, mentor and colleague brought to the fight against IBD. SEPTEMBER 2013 ISSUE college students HEALTHY LIVING TIP School is back in full swing and CCFA is ready with all the resources college students need to successfully transition back to campus. Visit CCFA Campus Connection today! IS YOUR GI A MEMBER OF CCFA? Make sure your GI is getting the support and resources he or she needs to be the doctor you need. CCFA professional members are equipped with the most up-to-date tools and information so they can better serve their patients. Ask your doctor today! Take Steps group YOU ASKED, HE ANSWERED! Watch Dr. Leo Galland, an internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine, answer the questions you asked on Facebook about managing IBD. Watch the video here. IBD Clinical Trials & Other Studies CCFA provides a comprehensive database of IBD medical studies and clinical trials. Some of the recently added studies include: • A study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF-00547659 in subjects with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis being conducted by Pfizer. • A study to determine the safety and efficacy of intravenous infusion of human placenta-derived cells (PDA-001) for the treatment of Crohn's disease being conducted by Celgene. • A study to investigate the safety and efficacy of CP-690,550 for induction therapy in subjects with moderate to severe Crohn's disease being conducted by Pfizer. Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision, best made with a full understanding of the drug development process and a participant's role. doctors Learn More

Remembering September 11th

On this day 12 years ago the World came to a Stop when we saw an Airplane hit the Twin Towers in New York, The Pentagon and in a Field in Somerset Pennsylvania. I can't believe it's been 12years, I had just Graduate from High School about 4 month before this tragedy struck the United State Of America. So on this day I am constantly reminded just how Life is so precious to us. I am Reflecting and Remembering those we have lost on this Day 12 years ago. To ALL those that have been affected by this tragedy just know this We have NOT FORGOTTEN ALL the Families, Service Men and Women we have LOST. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Remembering Renowned Researcher and CCFA Leader Lloyd Mayer, MD

It is with great sadness that the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) announces the passing of immediate past Chairman of their National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC) Lloyd Mayer, MD. Dr. Mayer was also Professor and Co-Director of the Immunology Institute, the Dorothy and David Merksamer Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Microbiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. “Lloyd was a visionary leader and a brilliant researcher who was involved with CCFA for almost 30 years,” said Richard Geswell, President & CEO of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. “He was fundamental in helping us set our research agenda. His passion, leadership, scientific expertise, and commitment to improving the lives of patients, will be his legacy here at CCFA.” Dr. Mayer’s research focused on mucosal immunoregulation, inflammatory bowel disease and cytokine regulation of human B-cell differentiation with special attention on the role of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in regulatory T-cell responses in the gut. He and his team were the first to show that the epithelial lining cells of the intestine are active regulators of mucosal immune responses that are distinct from those that regulate systemic immunity. These findings had a profound significance in the development of highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs for IBD. Dr. Mayer had been a part of CCFA’s research programs since the mid 1980s and he held several key leadership positions including Chair of the Research Training Awards Committee, Chair of the Grants Review Committee, a member of the Research Initiative Committee and most recently Chair of the National Scientific Advisory Committee. As Chair, Dr. Mayer revived CCFA’s Clinical Research Alliance, was a force in the Microbiome initiative and laid the foundation for the CCFA Partners in Research Program (ccfapartners.org) which is a groundbreaking, online research database. “Lloyd always said that he grew up scientifically with CCFA and he was particularly committed to sharing his expertise by training the next generation of young IBD investigators,” said Marjorie Merrick, Vice President of Research & Scientific Programs. “He was a dedicated and awe-inspiring teacher, mentor and colleague to IBD researchers worldwide and a staunch friend to all he knew. He will be sorely missed.” Dr. Mayer graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 1976 and received the Mosby Award for Clinical Excellence at that time. From 1980 through 1984, Dr. Mayer held joint appointments at Rockefeller University and Mount Sinai. He pursued his immunology interests in the laboratory of the late Dr. Henry Kunkel. In 1985, he became Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at Mount Sinai. In 1986, he became the Director of the Division of Clinical Immunology. Shortly after achieving full Professorships in Medicine and Microbiology in 1990, Dr. Mayer became Vice Chair of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. He also received the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1994, Dr. Mayer was named the David and Dorothy Merksamer Chair of Medicine and in 1997 became Professor of Immunobiology and Chair of the Immunobiology Center at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. In 2007, he became Professor and Co-Director of the Immunology Institute. He was also the Director of the Division of Gastroenterology (2003-2010). Dr. Mayer received many awards for a life time of outstanding work including the Saul Horowitz Award and the Irma T. Hirschl Trust Career Development Award, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute Award for Scientific Excellence, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Scientific Achievement Award in Basic IBD Research. He spoke and published widely, and his research was consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health. He also leaves behind multiple generations of physicians who trained with and were mentored by him. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Staff and volunteers extend our deepest sympathy to the Mayer family. He is survived by his wife Dr. Jill Fishbane-Mayer and three children, Sara, Marisa and Josh.

Kids & Teens: Our New Partners for Cures

Here is the August Newsletter from CCFA. Have you ever wished you could do something more to find treatments and cures for IBD? I know sometimes I feel like there's only so much one person can do. But I have some good news! For a limited time, you can do something more. Thanks to a generous donor, every gift we receive through September 15th will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $50,000. That means your gift will automatically double! So you'll be doing twice as much in the fight to find cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Working together, we have the power to create a future free from IBD. I hope you'll take advantage of this wonderful opportunity with a special donation to CCFA today. Personal Story: Marc Gillman Marc Gillman and family For Marc Gillman, what started as a dare turned into a life-changing opportunity to help people suffering with IBD. This week, Marc and his brother-in-law Brian, who has Crohn's disease, will take a 17-plus-hour flight from Newark, NJ to Nairobi, Africa. There, they will climb Mount Kilimanjaro – the world's highest free-standing mountain. And they're doing it for IBD treatments and cures! So how does one prepare to climb for the tallest mountain in the world? Read on to find out how Marc and Brian are training and what inspired them to do this incredible feat for the millions of Americans living with IBD. read more Join our Pain Management Webcast on September 17 Pain in IBD webcast One of the most common symptoms among people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is pain, but there is limited research on pain therapy in this population. Pain in IBD: Causes & Treatment Options will provide patients and loved ones with information on the causes of pain in IBD and the various therapies that may provide relief. Presented by pain and IBD expert Eva Szigethy, MD, PhD, the webcast will also discuss the overlap between IBD and IBS, and how research on IBS may inform treatment of pain in IBD. Space is limited – register today! Kids & Teens: Our New Partners for Cures CCFA Partners Kids & Teens is a groundbreaking new research initiative designed to improve the quality of life for children with IBD. Following the success of CCFA Partners – which has more than 12,000 adults with IBD enrolled – we're now expanding our study to include the pediatric population. Children of all ages are invited to join this long-term research project focusing on the aspects of IBD that are most important to patients and their parents, including health behaviors, disease symptoms and quality of life. Learn more about the free, comprehensive internet-based study and enroll your child today! AUGUST 2013 ISSUE college student ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS Are you an exceptional and highly-motivated student leader in your freshman or sophomore of college? New member applications for CCFA's National Council of College Leaders are available now! DOUBLE DOWN ON DONATIONS FOR IBD CURES Until September 15th, your generous donation to help fund crucial research and one-of-a-kind programs for IBD patients will be matched, dollar for dollar. Double your impact today! Take Steps group FALL WALK SEASON If you have never experienced a Take Steps Walk before, they provide a unique sense of community, solidarity and celebration. If you walked with us this spring, thank you for your participation! If you weren't able to join us, there is still time to join a fall walk near you. IBD Clinical Trials & Other Studies CCFA provides a comprehensive database of IBD medical studies and clinical trials. Some of the recently added studies include: • MEthotrexate Response in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis study being conducted by CCFA Clinical Alliance Members. • Assessing Chronically Ill Youth's Access to Education online study being conducted by Stanford University Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision, best made with a full understanding of the drug development process and a participant's role.