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The 37th annual Ball, renamed the Got Guts Gala, that benefits Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients and their families will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012. The Gala, the premier fund raising event of the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), will be held at The Simeone Automotive Museum, Philadelphia. Warren and Diane Chaiken will serve as chairpersons. At the Gala, we will honor James Lewis, MD, MSCE, Associate Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, University of Pennsylvania and Chair Elect of the CCFA National Scientific Advisory Committee. Jim has played a major role in supporting the efforts to expand our research and support services.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the only national voluntary health organization that sponsors research into the cause of and cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Approximately 1.4 million people suffer from these often debilitating and potentially life-threatening chronic intestinal diseases. The diseases can change lives, halt plans and shatter families. For children, issues can include arrested growth, repeated surgeries, and severe psychosocial issues. For adults, these issues can mature into continued hospitalizations, ongoing lifestyle issues and medical complications such as arthritis, other autoimmune conditions, or an increased risk of cancer. While there have been tremendous strides in both therapies and surgical techniques over the last decade that have improved the quality of life for many patients, many others continue to face debilitating, demeaning medical journeys. |
