Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is inviting Muskoka residents to come together for the Gutsy Walk on June 2 as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are the two primary forms of irritable bowel disease (IBD), a range of conditions that impact the gastrointestinal tract. IBD can impede nutrition and cause pain, fatigue and an array of other symptoms. The annual Gutsy Walk raises money and awareness to help work toward a cure. This year’s local walk is happening in Gravenhurst’s Gull Lake Rotary Park on June 2. Registration begins at 9 a.m. alongside a warm-up Zoomba session before the walk starts at 9:30. After the walk, the event will continue with a free barbeque lunch, live music from the Hounds of Barkway and a selection of door prizes.
“It’s exciting that we’re celebrating 50 years,” said Michelle Robinson, chair of the Muskoka Gutsy Walk. “It’s a disease that a lot of people don’t talk about and don’t even know about and so I’m pretty excited to be part of it.”
Robinson has volunteered as the chair of the local walk for nine years and has been involved in the walk for more than a decade. She has Crohn’s disease, so she knows what it’s like to suffer in silence while dealing with IBD. It can be a hard topic to discuss, but with roughly 344,000 people in Canada affected by the condition, it’s essential.
That’s why Robinson is so passionate about advocating for people with Crohn’s and colitis. Though the condition is different for each person who has it, fostering a community can help people feel less alone. A group meets in Simcoe County, but the resources in Muskoka are limited.
“There’s nothing in Muskoka that I know of and even medically, there’s a [few] more doctors focusing on it, but not as much as we need,” Robinson said. “We need more specialists up here, and we still haven’t got that yet.”
All of the money raised from the walk goes to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. The organization uses the money to raise awareness, do advocacy work, fund research, and provide help to people with IBD and their families. The Muskoka Gutsy Walk is looking to raise $18,000 after blowing its goal out of the water last year, and the fundraiser is already over halfway there.
Robinson urges locals to come and be a part of the Gutsy Walk to show support for people with Crohn’s and colitis. They need more support in Muskoka, she said, and it’s a great chance to walk, eat and share in community.
“It’s a day just to come out and speak up about the realities of life with Crohn’s and colitis disease,” she said. “Hopefully that will bring more doctors or interest in Muskoka so that we have those avenues to take.”
To make a donation or to sign up for the walk, click here.
