'Gutsy Walk' back for second year in Sault Ste. Marie

An estimated 700 Saultites will be among the more than 4,600 Canadians participating the Gutsy Walk, a fundraiser for Crohn's and Colitis Canada, in early-June.

The walk, which hopes to raise over $3 million nationally, is slated for June 2. The local walk begins at the Machine Shop, with registration beginning at 10 a.m.

Anyone can create a team of family, friends, or colleagues, or walk individually. You can sign up here.

A total of 12,000 people are expected to be diagnosed this year, a number that is driven by rising numbers among children, particularly those up to the age of 6. Canada has among the highest rates of pediatric Crohn’s and colitis in the world.

The disease causes the body to attack itself, inflaming the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and disrupting the body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrition and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. They are lifelong diseases, often called invisible, as many people living with them look ‘normal’ while facing excruciating pain, exhaustion, and other conditions.

“Crohn’s and colitis are lonely diseases, with stigma and isolation added onto the physical symptoms, which are painful and disruptive to daily life. Gutsy Walk is a time to celebrate our resilience as we come together to find a cure and improve the lives of those with Crohn’s and colitis,” says Rob Trembinski. “This is also the 50th anniversary of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, so we’re celebrating the remarkable impact and progress we’ve achieved.”