Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis Walk Program
gMed is excited to announce a new partnership with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) through its national Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis walk program.
CCFA is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, founded in 1967, dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Four decades ago, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation created the field of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis research. Today, the Foundation:
- funds cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions
- nurtures investigators at the early stages of their careers
- finances underdeveloped areas of research
- has contributed $136 million to fund over 1,100 research awards
- enables medical professionals to keep pace with this rapidly growing field through educational workshops, symposia, and our scientific journal, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is the nation's largest event dedicated to finding cures for digestive diseases. Participants in 100 communities will enjoy a casual 2-3 mile stroll and raise money for crucial research that wouldn't have been possible a few short years ago, bringing us closer to a future free from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Throughout the year, Take Steps enables patient families to join together with their local community to build visibility and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. While many of the over 1.4 million American children and adults affected by these diseases suffer in silence, Take Steps encourages these patients to make noise and be heard. The Take Steps program is on target to raise $10 million dollars in 2010 to fund vital research, support, and education programs. To achieve success, corporate partnerships are essential.
Why has gMed chosen to partner with the CCFA Take Steps walk?
- we share a common audience (doctors and patients)
- this is a cause important to the patients of our gastroenterologist clients
- it can increase our visibility to potential new clients
Why are we encouraging you, as a gastroenterology client of gMed, to participate in this partnership?
- it will increase your visibility to patients in the Crohn's and colitis community
- it provides an opportunity for doctors to connect with their patients outside of the office
- it is a cause important to your patient population
- you can exponentially increase awareness of CCFA, the available patient resources and Take Steps within your patient population
- dollars raised are invested in important research and education for medical professionals and patients
Why should your patients participate?
- it provides an informal opportunity for them to network and receive support from other patients
- they can learn more about the resources available to patients and caregivers
- it gives them an opportunity to make a difference and directly affect the mission of CCFA
The gMed partnership with Take Steps includes:
- two locations - Miami, on Saturday, May 15 in Crandon Park (www.cctakesteps.org/miami) and the National Capital Area, on Saturday, June 26 on the Washington Monument Grounds (www.cctakesteps.org/washingtondc)
- event sponsorship of $2,500 of each location
- creation of a fundraising team in each location
- building awareness of CCFA and the Take Steps events through you and your communication with your Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients
Join our efforts today:
- register as a team member for the gMed team in Miami or the National Capital Area (virtual membership is an option - you do not need to be present on walk day to help fundraise)
- create a fundraising team for your local Take Steps event (www.cctakesteps.org to find the event closest to you)
- invite your patients to join the gMed team, your local team, or create a team of their own
- contact Mike Callison (National Capital Area Take Steps Walk) or Lauren Morgenstern (Miami Take Steps Walk) with questions or for more information
We look forward to a successful first year with Take Steps and appreciate your participation!