Cassie Wolff has struggled with Crohn's Disease since she was diagnosed as a Fox Chapel Area high school freshman in 2012.
Now 19, Cassie tries to be an example for her seven-year-old neighbor, Josh, who was diagnosed with the same disease less than a year ago.
Despite lifelong difficulties, the two are teaming up to raise awareness.
On June 10, the pair will walk with family members and a group of their Fox Chapel neighbors in the Take Steps For Crohn's and Colitis event at Hartwood Acres in Indiana Township.
“I think a walk like this raises awareness and I think it's awesome that they created something where you can show others that its possible to live a normal life,” Wolff said.
Run by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, the local walk is part of a nationwide effort to provide funding and research towards finding a cure. The goal is to raise more than $11 million this year with walks across the country.
Crohn's causes inflammation of the digestive tract which leads to severe symptoms, including abdominal pain and weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.
For Wolff, that meant two endoscopies, 4 MREs and six colonoscopies before her 18th birthday.
In 2016, the foundation raised $10.6 million from 122 cities across the U.S., donating to IBD research and programs. The foundation most recently identified predictors of the disease in pediatric Crohn's patients after funding the Pediatric RISK Stratification Study.
Stemming from success, the group hopes to raise even more money this year.
“This year we are hoping to grow the participation and have a really aggressive goal to raise $11.6 million,” said Crystal Ware, national marketing manager for the foundation. “And Pittsburgh is a major city and a major event to help do that.”
More than 600 walkers are expected to stride through the Allegheny County park, joining the 40,000 people who walk in 100 cities annually.
Wolff and her 12-person team, the “Neighborhood Crohnies,” have raised more than $1,000 through the foundation's website and personal bake sales.
But despite fundraising for cures, national Walk Manager Mona Hover appreciates the aspect of the program that connects a certain type of community.
“We are the gateway into the foundation,” Hover said. “A lot of times we have people walking for the first time because the have been recently diagnosed… this surrounds them with a safe and supportive environment that allows them to understand their disease and be comfortable with learning about it.”
Wolff, although it took years, has accepted the disease as reality, and wants most of all to educate the public.
“When I was diagnosed, It was the last thing in the world that I thought the doctors would say I had,” Wolff said. “I want to share my story to educate the community about how difficult growing up with Crohn's Disease can really be.”
For more about the event, visit Crohns and Colitis Foundation website.
Christine Manganas is a Tribune- Review contributor.
