Congratulations to our newest Miss Washington, Regan Gallo! Regan is an ulcerative colitis patient and longtime Northwest Chapter participant and volunteer.
Regan was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age four, and spent her fifth birthday in the hospital. She has experienced ups and downs along her disease journey, and struggled not knowing anyone else with a chronic illness as a teen. Learning about the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and attending Camp Oasis in high school was a turning point for Regan. It made a difference to see she was not alone in her disease and opened her eyes to the diversity of experiences within the IBD community.
Regan's social impact initiative in the Miss Washington competition is "Making the Invisible Visible: Advocating for those with Chronic Disease." Sixty percent of adult Americans have a chronic illness and Regan wants to use her platform to teach the general public how to be more aware and inclusive of those with chronic conditions. She also wants people with these diseases to learn to advocate for themselves in their daily lives.
As Miss Washington, Regan will travel around the state sharing resources and information to support the chronic illness community. She is also preparing for the Miss America competition in December. Please help us in congratulating Regan as she takes on this new role - and don't miss the chance to spin4 crohn's & colitis cures with her this year!
For the first time ever, the Epicure gala will be in person! On Friday, October 21, the local IBD community will gather for a night of inclusive (SCD) dining, musical entertainment, and the opportunity to support the mission of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Tables are now available!
spin4 crohn's & colitis cures with our Seattle community! Teams of 4 fundraise and bike together on Saturday, November 5. This year we'll bike at the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle. Join us for a family-friendly event for all fitness levels!
Join us for Foundation night at the Mariners game on Friday, August 26! Tickets are $23 and $35 - support the Foundation AND receive a special event shirt! Use the link below to purchase your tickets today.
On May 1st we held our annual MyIBD Learning Northwest Regional Patient and Caregiver Conference in Bellevue, WA. Expert faculty presented on the latest in IBD which included topics like COVID-19 & IBD, mental health, diet and nutrition, surgical management, clinical trials, and much more. Thank you to the Northwest Regional Education Committee for their help!
Greater Seattle Young Professionals: Getting the Group Back Together
From NW Board Member Patrick Erstad: We are the Seattle Young Professionals Group, and we’d like to welcome you to our support group! We are a group of patients, significant others, siblings, or close friends who are impacted by IBD. We’re aged 21-40 and we meet approximately six times per year for support and networking. This isn’t your typical support group though! Events include meeting at a local bar or brewery for socializing and revelry.
Our next event will be on Saturday, August 20th at Optimism Brewery on Capitol Hill at 3:00. Optimism has a great selection of beers, a gluten-free seltzer, and food trucks parked outside - you can also bring your own food and beverages.
Welcome Lauren Cullop to the Northwest Chapter Board!
The Northwest Chapter is excited to welcome Lauren Cullop to the Chapter's advisory Board. Lauren's son, Ravi, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age three, so she has experienced firsthand the ups and downs of raising a child with IBD. After multiple surgeries and years working to find the right medications, Lauren got connected with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Through Camp Oasis, Lauren saw the life-changing impact the program has on kids with IBD, and from then on was committed to helping others. Her family has been instrumental in the success of the Portland Take Steps walk, leading a team and serving on the event's committee. Lauren looks forward to working with the Foundation to increase engagement in the Oregon and Southwest Washington communities and is particularly interested in helping patients in rural communities gain access to resources. Lauren currently lives in Portland with her husband, Corey, and daughter, Elizabeth. Ravi is doing well and finishing his freshman year at the University of Oregon!
Chapter Contact Us Block
Jennifer O'Connor, Regional Director
joconnor@crohnscolitisfoundation.org
(646) 965-0891
