Local resident Christina Southwell, along with herother Team Challenge participants, is training withCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CC FA) TeamChallenge for the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathonto raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s and ulcerativecolitis, two seldom–discussed painful and unpredictablediseases of the digestive tract. Christina and herfamily, Ronaldo Silva and Erica Trevino, are hosting Nightof Champions to help Christina and CC FA raise awarenessand funds to find a cure. As a member and sponsor ofmany charitable organizations, Alex Cabrera opened hisdoors to Suede Lounge to host the event. On September26, 2008 from 7 p.m. to 12a.m., many local celebritiesand media figures showedup to participate.
The evening featuredlive performances by DeniseMykels, Street Beatz DanceCompany and Samba SanAntonio. Latin Fusion TV host Brandy Lopez presentedand provided commentary for the event.
Appetizers were donated by Rio Rio Cantina andROC K SAN Thaï Restaurant & Sushi Bar, and SKYY &SKYY Infusions sponsored drink specials. The covercharge was a donation of $5, benefiting the Crohn’s &Colitis Foundation of America (CC FA). Anyone donatinga minimum of $30 was entered in a drawing for numerousgift certificates to local salons, bars and restaurants whodonated to the cause.
Dr. Carlo Taboada, aka “Dr. T” is also a Team Challengeparticipant who is very connected with CC FA andthe fight in finding a cure. As a research and patient doctorat Gastroenterology Research of San Antonio (GERSA),Dr T. said, “It’s very rewarding, while it’s a challenge.I greatly enjoy the gratification of working long–term tohelp patients return their lives to normalcy.”
CC FA Team Challenge is not only an inaugural eventfor San Antonio, but it is a huge step for our patients andthe organization by allowing people and the communityto get connected. Team Challenge volunteers commit toraise funds for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis researchwhile they receive professional training from certifiedrun and walk coaches.
Those wishing to join Cristina in her fight againstthese diseases trained over a 12– to 16–week period onthe weekends at a local venue. Ellison offered clinics onfitness, injury prevention, nutrition and other relevanttopics, training participantsto succeed on race day andbeyond.
The Crohn’s and ColitisFoundation of Americais a non–profit, volunteerdrivenorganization dedicatedto finding the cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerativecolitis. It was founded in 1967 by Irwin M. andSuzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, andHenry D. Janowitz, M.D.
Four decades ago, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundationcreated the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitisresearch. Today, the Foundation funds cutting–edge studiesat major medical institutions, nurtures investigatorsat the early stages of their careers, and finances underdevelopedareas of research. Educational workshops andsymposia, together with our scientific journal, InflammatoryBowel Diseases, enable medical professionals tokeep pace with this rapidly growing field.
