'Takes Steps' to fight digestive diseases

Madeline O'Dowd of Stroudsburg is asking people in the Lehigh Valley area to participate in the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Lehigh Valley Take Steps Walk at 3:30 p.m. May 17 at the ArtsQuest Center, Bethlehem.

Madeline has ulcerative colitis, which combined with Crohn's disease, are painful, debilitating digestive diseases impacting over 1.6 million American adults and children.

Madeline was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the third grade. She has encountered many complications from this chronic, autoimmune disease, but she has battled through and is an active 16- year-old.

"I'm excited to be the Honored Hero for the Lehigh Valley Take Steps walk this year," says O'Dowd.

"I'm here to let other children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis know that they can get back to being a kid. You can go to camp, do school activities and travel. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you and thank you for your support. It means the world to me and all patients who suffer."

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affects 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon).

Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

Thousands of people will gather this spring at nearly 80 walk sites across the country to join the fight against Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The Lehigh Valley walk is a family friendly festival with activities for everyone including music, games, food and a leisurely walk along the riverfront.

Nationally, Take Steps has raised over $60 million for research and patient support services and is committed to transforming the lives of those impacted by these diseases and leading them to a brighter future through well-funded, cutting-edge scientific research.

Take Steps is the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's national walk program. These walks raise funds for critical research and increase awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, painful and unpredictable digestive diseases.

For more information on how to get involved with Take Steps, visit www.cctakesteps.org or contact Cassie Dramis at 609-605-4578 or cdramis@ccfa.org.