THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US ON MAY 4TH!

The weather was rainy, but we had a great turnout of committed folks who were there to Take Steps and Be Heard!  Thank you to all who braved the rain - we hope you are dry and proud of yourselves for your commitment to the cause! 

If you have any additional donations to turn in, please mail them to:

Although our event is over we can continue to raise funds throughout the year to hit our goal!

REMEMBER the golden rule of fundraising: you can’t get donations if you don’t ask! 

Help us reach our $40,000 goal for 2013 to further the mission towards a CURE!

Your Take Steps fundraising page will be active throughout the rest of the year, OR you can mail in donations collected to CCFA Tennessee, 95 White Bridge Road Suite 209, Nashville, TN 37205.

Need a great idea for a post-walk fundraiser??  Call Janelle! 615-356-0444

Raise $500 in just five days:  you can do it!
Day 1:  Sponsor yourself for $25 or more and ask three family member to sponsor you for $25  =  $100 
(REMEMBER: you need to set the standard; how can you ask people to donate when you have not given)
Day 2:  Ask five friends for $10 each and ask 5 co-workers/neighbors for $10 each =  $100
Day 3:  Host a fundraising party (game night, garage sale, bake sale etc…  =  $100
Day 4 and 5:  Ask four businesses you frequent for $50 each =  $200           For a total of $500  in less than a week!
 Matching Gifts:  Remind your walkers and donors to submit matching gift forms from their companies.  This is a fast and easy way to double your fundraising dollars

Social Media Outreach:  Take advantage of the great network you have at your fingertips with our social media tools.  Share your story through Facebook, increase awareness with Twitter and highlight your involvement with CCFA on your LinkedIn profile.
Team Fundraising Events/Wrap Around Events:  As a team captain or individual walker, there are endless opportunities to raise extra funds that will be credited to your team goal.  Here are just a few examples:   Dress Down Days, Garage Sales, Bake/Book Sale, Car Wash, Coin Collections, Bingo Night, Raffles, Auctions; the ideas are endless!

The CCFA Take Steps Walks are our largest FUNDRAISING events that support our mission. 82 cents of every dollar raised through our Walk campaign goes directly to fund research and patient programs in the local community. The event not only raises funds and awareness throughout the year, but it’s a great way to come together to celebrate the steps that have been taken towards finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.  By signing up, you have made the commitment to support our mission and you should be proud.  So keep up the great work and know that YOU are making a difference in the lives of people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Announcing our 2013 Take Steps Knoxville Honored Hero

Faith Kropp

My name is Faith Kropp and I am eight years old and in second grade. I grew up watching my older brother Samuel deal with his Crohn’s disease by taking lots of different medications and going to the doctor all of the time. When I began having similar symptoms, my parents quickly took me to the pediatrician and then to Samuel’s GI Doctor, Dr. Cory Strobel.  

After my diagnosis, I have tried many different medications. Some days I felt like I was taking pills all day long instead of eating food. Then I began steroids and my face swelled up and I had trouble sleeping. I had blood work done all the time to see how my Crohn’s was doing. I spent most of last year in bed from the terrible stomach pain & tiredness or in the bathroom. I had to quit all of my activities because I just didn’t have the energy to go. Even though I am homeschooled, I could only do school on my good days.

 I started having terrible joint pain in my hips and knees that made even walking difficult. I had to go to pool therapy three times a week just to work out the stiffness. The joint pain was so bad at one point, that I had to use a wheelchair to get to my appointments, and had a very difficult time getting up and down the stairs in our home.

Finally, I am in remission with Remicade. I have to go the doctor’s office every eight weeks now for my infusions, but it is worth it. The nurses and doctor are so nice to me that I enjoy going. There are a lot of labs that have to be drawn, and that means even more needles in my arms.

 I have started back some of my activities, American Heritage Girls, even a dance class again. No matter how bad I feel, I get up and keep trying to live a normal life. I know I will have to deal with my Crohn’s for the rest of my life, but I will not allow it to define me.  I hope one day they find a cure for my brother and me and the rest of Crohn’s sufferers out there. Until then, I will be thankful to God for each day.

Faith E. Kropp