Heather Monych knows all about the importance of events Like the Gutsy Walk, but this is the first year she will be able to lend her legs to the cause.
Monych is the honorary chair of the 2017 Victoria Gutsy Walk, which gets underway at 10 a.m. Sunday from Gorge Park at 1070 Tillicum Road. The walk is held to raise funds and awareness for CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and colitis, with a goal to raise $34,900 this year in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭echnically this would be my third year but the last two years I ended up missing both walks. Last year I was there but I didnB次元官网网址檛 do the walk because I was still sick, and the year before I was in hospital,B次元官网网址� said Monych, an Oak Bay resident. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big step. It means IB次元官网网址檓 healthy enough to do it instead of just watching from the sidelines.B次元官网网址�
It was four years ago when Monych first discovered there was a problem with her health, suffering from a loss of appetite, waking up tired and finding blood in her stool. A scope determined that she had ulcerative colitis, resulting in a surgery to have her colon removed.
B次元官网网址淚 had 12 surgeries in three years and spent a total of 364 days in hospital,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut four years later IB次元官网网址檓 doing a lot better.B次元官网网址�
Monych said when she was first diagnosed she had never even heard of ulcerative colitis, and while she had heard of CrohnB次元官网网址檚 disease she didnB次元官网网址檛 understand what it was.
B次元官网网址淚 hope this helps let more people know what CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and colitis is, and those who are suffering know there is a community out there [to provide support],B次元官网网址� said the 25-year-old, adding when she was diagnosed she didnB次元官网网址檛 know there were others like herself.
B次元官网网址淚 found out that thereB次元官网网址檚 people my age and even younger. It hits everyone, there is no age barrier.B次元官网网址�
CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and Colitis Canada aims to raise $3.6 million nationally through the Gutsy Walk to support research, patient programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts to better the lives of children and adults affected by these chronic diseases.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fundraiser to support research and programs, but itB次元官网网址檚 also a way to raise awareness and educate people about the disease. Every time we do one of these events people realize we do exist,B次元官网网址� said Corinne MacDonald, community outreach volunteer for the Victoria walk.
Canada has some of the highest rates in the world for CrohnB次元官网网址檚 disease and ulcerative colitis, with one in 150 people living with the disease. And the rate of CrohnB次元官网网址檚 disease in Canadian children under 10 has doubled since 1995.
Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. June 4 with the opening ceremonies kicking off at 9:45. The Reynolds Secondary School Jazz Band will be part of the entertainment while the schoolB次元官网网址檚 drum line will lead the walk. There will also be a silent auction and 50/50 draw. Dogs are welcome on the walk.
Participants will be collecting pledges for the walk, but there will also be people accepting donations at the registration stations. People can also donate online at and entering Victoria for the location.
For more information about CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and Colitis Canada go to .
