With the turning of the season, comes some great events for IBD warriors and caregivers. Join Northwest Chapter volunteers, community members, and staff in exciting opportunities to learn about breakthroughs in IBD research; advocating for yourself as a patient and for the IBD community as a whole; and raising awareness and funds for a cure.
Announcing Our Portland Take Steps Honored Hero:
Cash Hoffman!
We are very excited to announce Cash Hoffman as our Honored Hero for Portland Take Steps! We’ll be walking with Cash and his Take Steps team, Guts & Butts, on Saturday, May 13th.
Cash’s mom and Guts & Butts team member, Marney, shared Cash’s story with us:
"Cash was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2019 at 11 years old. His journey to diagnosis was tough, as he did not have “typical” symptoms. He was struggling with constipation and extreme abdominal pain. He had to miss out on so many activities.
"Despite his struggle to diagnosis, Cash is now in remission and living a “normal” teenage life thanks to his medical providers and to the
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for their programing support. Their help navigating the pandemic was instrumental to us as we were concerned with Cash’s immunity and how to navigate life. The research and emotional support were so valuable.
"One thing we have learned from this journey is to take one step at a time. We are looking forward to literally taking one step at a time at the Take Steps walk this year."
You can Take Steps with Cash and Guts & Butts on May 13th at Oaks Amusement Park by registering here.
Teresa MacDonald, of Tacoma, WA, opens up about her fight against Crohn's disease and why she became an advocate for step therapy reform. Step therapy is when a health insurer requires a patient to try and fail on a medication before providing coverage for treatment originally prescribed by the provider.
"I know all too well the debilitating effects of taking the wrong medication. I was a young mom of four when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease," explained Teresa. "My doctor put me on an oral steroid for a very long time, and the side effects from that were horrible. The medication often made me feel exhausted, rage-filled, and sleep deprived. After learning that I broke 14 bones in my feet because the steroid caused my bones to become brittle, I finally told my doctor I’d had enough."
Teresa joined the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation to advocate for step therapy reform and ultimately, to improve outlooks for future generations of patients. Read more about Teresa's story and learn how you can advocate for your own treatment with your insurance provider and for others on a state/national level today here!
Our MyIBD Learning Patient & Caregiver Education Conference brings you the latest in inflammatory bowel disease research, treatments, and therapies to share resources and improve quality of life at any stage of your IBD journey.
Learn about the microbiome and IBD; mental health resources for patients and caregivers both; diversity and inclusion in clinical trials; and much more from medical experts in the Northwest region! Check out the conference's agenda here.
For more information, please contact Aarushi Malhotra at amalhotra@chronscolitisfoundation.org.
This month, we welcome two new staff members to the Northwest Chapter: Gwen Hearn (she/her) and Marie Schlagel (she/they).
Gwen joins the Chapter as Manager, Fundraising Campaigns and Volunteer Engagement. She will lead the Take Steps Western Washington and logistics for Epicure.
Previously, Gwen was the Sr. Program Manager for Volunteer Engagement with Techbridge Girls, an organization that champions equity in STEM education. Gwen recently moved to Tacoma with her wife and two young daughters from the Washington, DC area. She is enjoying exploring what the PNW has to offer and is excited to get to know and be part of our community.
Marie steps into the Chapter as the Coordinator, Fundraising Campaigns & Volunteer Engagement. They support the team with event logistics and communications. Marie brings experience from various nonprofit organizations throughout the region. Prior to moving to Washington, they lived in Portland, OR and are now excited to work with their community across the PNW for a healthier tomorrow.
