Finding a Cure - Round 2

I had one of my friends from my Miami 1/2 marathon race ask me this weekend if I was going to blog about my second round of fundraising and training as a mentor. My initial reaction was no because I have already told my story. However, over the last few days I realized that other people's stories need to be told, as well as, why I would like people to support the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.

Today one of my bosses asked if I raise money because I felt passionate about it or obligated. My first thought was, well I tell everyone in my donation letters that this is my passion, is this really how I feel? My answer to her was, I have a passion for this cause out of obligation. If I did not have Crohn's Disease, I highly doubt I would be participating in my third Team Challenge program in over a year and a half. Because I do have the disease I do feel some obligation to raise funds. However, I do have the option of just raising money for strictly the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. That being said, it is in CCFA's Team Challenge program that I really find my passion. My passion is inspiring and pushing participants to meet both their fund raising and training goals.

I want to inspire people to set a physical goal. I want participants to see me run because I can run. Through this program I realize that people my age have died from complications caused by Crohns; or are currently in the hospital because they are flaring; or simply can't even walk up a flight of stairs because they don't have the energy. I was one of those people at one point, and might some day be back in that position. I think about that often on days I don't want to run, because that is what I use to force myself to get out and run. I have been given this gift and I am going to take full advantage of it and want the other participants to do so as well.

I want others to feel passionate about this cause. You are not going to get very far with fund raising if you don't believe in the cause. Last Thursday I was the keynote speaker at the Team Challenge Kick-Off party. Usually I can talk about anything, but for some reason it was really hard to talk about how Crohn's has affected my life. But I pushed myself to speak because I wanted people to realize that even though I seem "normal", I will never again have a normal life until there is a cure. Everyone deserves to feel normal and healthy, no one should have to feel the way I felt when I was told I have an incurable disease. That is why I am fighting back against IBD and will continue to raise funds to find a cure. I just hope that the participants got that same message and will feel the same way I feel.

Over the next few months I plan to share my experiences with this new group of Team Challenge participants as I mentor them. I will also continue to post on my running and my large event I have planned for April 20th. I hope that you all will continue to follow my progress and will attend my event.