For years, I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference in the IBD world. I thought about what options there are out there, but I soon found that there aren’t a lot of them. Let’s be honest here, I’m not a doctor and I’m not a nurse. I have some good friends who have gone into the nursing field, and I have so much respect for them, but in my experience has a hospital patient, I’ve realized that it’s not the path for me.
Then there’s the pharmaceutical path, where you are doing drug tests or promoting new medications. But I’m not a science person. I am a writer and I enjoy creativity and projects. I knew I would not be happy in this type of position.
So I’m left with the question: how can I help? That’s what lead me to get involved with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. I have been a supporter of the CCFA for a long time and have attended several events, but I had never actually gotten involved in a volunteer capacity. Last year, when the realization of how sick I was truly manifested in front of me, I decided to get involved.
I was a last-minute addition to the Triangle Take Steps Walk last April (and I wrote about it in one of my very first blog posts on The Stolen Colon: Taking steps). I did a couple of other events, as well, last year and ultimately got involved in Team Challenge, but I wanted to do more. So I signed up to be a part of this year’s Take Steps Walk committee.
We’ve had a couple of meetings, so far, and just had another last night. This is a really great group of people who I am so excited to work with. Some have done a number of walks in the past, others are brand new like me. But I am looking forward to getting to know all of them and helping put on this year’s walk. I was also named the Publicity Chair, which means that I get to work with the media stations and newspapers and write press releases and interest pieces. I’m doing what I love and doing it for a cause I believe in! I can’t ask for anything more.