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    Local Lady Raising Funds and Awareness for Crohn’s Disease

    Kelly Cousins, running her first half marathon this Sunday.

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    Crohn’s Disease is something that Kelly Cousins has been aware of on a personal level for quite some time. Her dad has dealt with the disease since he was a teenager and she herself was diagnosed when she was 17. Her dad has been through multiple surgeries, a liver transplant and is now waiting on a kidney transplant. This past spring, Kelly had a large section of her small intestine removed due to scarring caused by extreme inflammation. The surgery has allowed her to regain an active lifestyle.

    This Sunday, December 4th in Las Vegas, NV, she is running in her first half marathon. She’s very excited. “It’s part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series,” shared Kelly. “Not only is it one of the only times they completely shut the Vegas Strip down for a few hours to traffic- it’s one of the few races done in the evening, so the strip will be completely lit up!”

    The race is put on by Team Challenge, an endurance training and fundraising program put on by The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Once she had her surgery, her doctor informed her that Team Challenge would be starting up a chapter in Central Ohio. “As soon as I found out about it I signed up,” she said.

    She has been raising funds for her race to raise awareness and help find a cure. Currently the disease has no cure but can sometimes be managed.

    Kelly’s reasons for running this race: “I am running for Team Challenge to honor my father and his life’s struggle with a disease that has no cure. I am running for my mother who has been incredibly supportive and given so much to my father and myself. I am running to raise money and awareness for the thousands of other people struggling to lead normal lives because of their disease. I am running to challenge my body and to prove that I still have some control over it.

    Working with Team Challenge has been a great experience for Kelly. “I’ve never run a marathon or race of this length before, so training was critical. Team Challenge provided great training programs so that beginners or experienced runners could prepare for the race,” she said. “Training was slow at first- a few miles three times a week, and then we added distance over the last three months. We had coaches and mentors who were incredibly helpful with both training and fundraising, and every Saturday morning the entire team got together at different locations around the city for our long run.”

    Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis are digestive diseases impacting more than 1.4 million Americans. These chronic inflammatory disorders can cause a number of different symptoms for individuals, but the most common (and irritating) symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Many people may be too embarrassed to seek proper care. For Kelly, she feels that by being more honest and open with others about her experiences, she is helping to weaken the stigma associated with digestive issues.

    A few local businesses have supported Kelly with her goal- Mikey’s Late Night Slice donated a percentage of all sales a few weeks ago, and Body Pure Pilates in Gahanna sponsored her.

    She has currently raised $2,235 of her $2,400 goal. If you’d like to help her reach it, please click here to donate.

    To read more about Team Challenge and perhaps join the team for the next event, please visit their website. You can also contact Sean Carter, the Central Ohio Chapter Team Manager at [email protected].

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    Anne Evans
    Anne Evanshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evans/
    Anne Evans is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for The Metropreneur and Columbus Underground. She regularly contributes feature stories on both sites, as well as Mega Weekend each week. She has started and grown businesses, created experiences, forged community partnerships, and worked to create opportunities for others. She loves meeting new neighbors and those making an impact in our community. Want to connect?
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