The annual Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis is taking place on Sunday.
The Gutsy Walk has been taking place since 1996, and has raised over $35M in Canada for research and patient programs.
Local organizer Dave Moore spoke to Arctic Radio News, and said more education is needed on Crohn’s and Colitis as many people don’t like talking about them due to their nature.
Crohn’s and Colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They are autoimmune diseases that cause the body to attack itself, leading to inflammation of all or part of the gastrointestinal tract. Those with IBD experience abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, fatigue, frequent and urgent bowel movements, internal bleeding and unintended weight loss.
When it comes to what happens to the money raised, he said that 65% of goes towards research, with 20% going to education and the final 15% to administration costs.
If you’d like to take part in the walk but haven’t signed, Moore asks that you give him a call at 204-679-5732 either today or tomorrow.
The walk has been going on here in Thompson for many years, and has started to be recognized across the country. The 2016 Thompson Gutsy Walk was the best per-capita in Manitoba (in terms of funds raised), while the 2017 walk was the best per-capita in Canada.
Over 250,000 people have IBD here in Canada, with an estimated one person being diagnosed with either Crohn’s or Colitis every hour.
