Gutsy Walk, an event aimed at raising awareness and money to find the cause and cure of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is back in Muskoka on June 4, and it’s already nearing its fundraising goal of $10,000.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of IBD, which inflames the lining of a person’s gastrointestinal tract and limits their ability to process food and absorb nutrition. The local Gutsy Walk will be at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst on June 4. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. followed by a live band, a barbecue and door prizes. Michelle Robinson, chair of the Muskoka Gutsy Walk, has severe Crohn’s disease and knows the isolation of IBD firsthand, which is why she’s been involved in the walk for over 10 years.
“I know when I first was diagnosed, I always felt alone because nobody I knew had it, and who do you talk to?” Robinson said. “It’s different to talk to a doctor than it is to talk [to] a support system.”
Robinson has been chair of the walk for the last eight years. Though the pandemic posed a major challenge, she made sure to keep Gutsy Walk alive through the quiet time of quarantine because she’s passionate about its ability to spread understanding of IBD.
Last year’s event was the first in-person walk since 2019. Robinson said it was great to see people walking in downtown Gravenhurst again, so she and her team are hoping to build on that success and get more people out to Gutsy Walk this year.
“I decided that I’m going to stay in it and keep it going to raise awareness in Muskoka,” she said. “There’s not many places to go in Muskoka for support for this disease, so I want everybody to have more awareness of it.”
The walk is a family-friendly event, so participants are encouraged to bring their children, pets and other family members along. The route goes through downtown Gravenhurst, and while the entire length is about 5 kilometres, participants can walk whatever distance they’re comfortable with.
While the walk has helped with IBD awareness in Muskoka, Robinson said there’s still work to be done. To that end, Bracebridge Falls will be lit up with purple light on May 19 to bring more awareness to Crohn’s and colitis on World IBD Day.
Because it’s a disease that impacts digestion, it can be hard for those affected to talk about it with their peers, Robinson said. Many people probably know someone with IBD, whether or not that person decided to disclose it. Increasing the local awareness of the autoimmune diseases helps drive funding while also reducing the stigma.
“There’s so many people out there with this disease, and a lot of people feel it’s an embarrassing disease, so a lot of people don’t like to talk about it, or they don’t know where to go to talk about it or get help,” she said. “We want to make that more comfortable for people and to get our message out there.”
The team behind the walk is excited to see nearly $9,000 already raised because the money goes on to provide patient support along with funding research that can lead to more effective treatments and, hopefully, a cure.
Right now, most people with IBD rely on medications to control their symptoms. If they find the right treatments, they can go into remission where the disease is no longer active, but it’s not a permanent fix.
Robinson is currently in remission, but it took 10 years of surgeries, hospital visits and other disruptions to get there. She considers herself lucky to be in remission and to have the support she does from fellow people with IBD.
She encourages everyone to come out to Gutsy Walk and get involved. For people with IBD, it’s a chance to build community with others who have Crohn’s and colitis, and for those who don’t have it, it’s an opportunity to support members of their community who may be suffering in silence.
“It’s amazing the friendships I’ve built over the years with people that have the same disease and then we can share stories,” she said. “We get each other, so I would really really encourage people to come out, and it’s a really good way to support other people too.”
Though local resources like specialized doctors may be lacking, Robinson wants Muskoka residents with Crohn’s and colitis to know that they’re not alone. She urges anyone in need of support to reach out to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to find support groups and other resources.
The honorary chair for Muskoka’s Gutsy Walk this year is Lindsay Hurren, who died in 2018 after facing cancer and multiple autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s. She participated in many Gutsy Walks throughout her life, the last of which was just one month before she died.
She spent her last days in Muskoka, her happy place, and a memorial tree and plaque sit on the trail of Huckleberry Rock to commemorate one of her favourite spots. Lindsay’s mom Cathy McIvor will be attending the Gutsy Walk in Gravenhurst to share her daughter’s story and emphasize the seriousness of Crohn’s disease.
“If inflammation is not controlled in a timely manner, it can and does have fatal implications,” McIvor said in an online statement. “We must find the answers. Lindsay was determined to make an impact in this world, and she certainly exceeded her goal. It takes guts to make a difference.”
To register for the walk or make a donation, visit gutsywalk.ca.