Jennifer for CCFA

Over $2 Million Raised by Team Challenge!

2008-07-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Can you believe that we are part of such an impressive effort? CCFA's 2008 Team Challenge, with just 509 volunteer fundraisers, raised $2,028,000 to fight Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Thank you for helping me help CCFA who with necessary and innovative research programs and services is changing lives and supporting the race for a cure.

My 60, LA-based teammates for 2008 were as diverse as they were fabulous. For many it was their first 1/2 marathon and what an honor it was to support them over the three months of training and on the race course--learning from their challenges and successes with Crohn's and UC and becoming friends.

A few weeks before the race, I reconnected with a college friend, Dan Berman. He was diagnosed with Crohn's shortly after we met in 1996. Dan wrote a funny, frank, moving article (warning: with a few 4-letter words) about living with Crohn's that I want to share. Unless you are very close to someone with Crohn's, it is difficult to understand how it impacts lives. Dan's story is important as it underscores how vital passion, creativity, and a positive attitude are to living the life you want...no matter what cards are stacked against you.

I admire Dan tremendously. This race was for him.

Love,

Jennifer

Woah! Running and Fundraising Goals Reached!

2008-07-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

With the help of many kind and generous people, we raised over $2,700! Thank you so much for making my role in the 2008 CCFA Team Challenge significant. Many people living with Crohn's will benefit from the dollars you contributed. From the bottom of my heart: Thank you!

Also this week, I completed my longest training run (10.5 miles). Things are looking very good for the July 20th race!

Please look out for the next post featuring my friend Dan Berman who also lives with Crohn's Disease. I recently reconnected with Dan and look forward to sharing his story.

Happier, healthier, and moving right along!

2008-06-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Twelve months ago, I began running with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Through their endurance training program, Team Challenge, I received coaching and support to complete a half marathon (13.1 miles) and in turn I raised funds to support the Crohn's community--education, support services, and research for a cure. For sure I expected to get healthier from the running; but, I was surprised by the other benefits of joining the CCFA family.

Because of my relationship with CCFA, I now better understand and manage my Crohn's disease. Through CCFA I attended an educational seminar where top medical researchers and practitioners from across the country outlined

a more modern understanding of What is Crohn's Disease
what alternative therapies might best compliment my drug regimen and why they work
the state of clinical trials and finding a cure: what is and isn't known today

The big eye opener was: how women with Crohn's can prepare for pregnancy. The statistics, guidance, and case studies provided in this session dramatically changed what I saw as my family planning options. I don't know how to tell you how valuable this was to me...and to Jeff.

I deeply believe that CCFA is impacting lives and transforming the future of Crohn's medicine. I am honored to again raise funds for CCFA while I train for my second half marathon with Team Challenge.

I want to raise $2,400 for CCFA by July 2, 2008. (link no longer active)

This sum is more modest, less than half, of what was most generously donated by my dear friends and family in 2007.

Please support me and CCFA's mission by contributing! It is easy; you can make a donation online (link no longer active). A minimum of 80¢ per dollar donated to CCFA goes directly to research, patient support and education, and your contribution is tax deductible.

I am committed to helping CCFA help all of us who live with Crohn's and colitis. Will you please join me on this year's running and fundraising adventure? I would appreciate your support more than I can say.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

2007 Results: Thank you!!

2007-10-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am totally over-the-moon with the race and the financial support my friends and family provided to CCFA. Over $5,500 in donations came in, giving me the honor of the highest individual fundraiser of the 80 people participating for CCFA. Thank you so much for making my participation significant to the cause.

I never expected the race, the San Jose Rock n' Roll Half Marathon, to be as wonderful or as painful as it turned out. My teammates and coaches helped me finish strong and very satisfied even though I only placed 7,440th out of the 8,792 who finished.

I will never forget the kindness, care, and encouragement Janis, Coach Murray, and our dear CCFA coordinator, Ashley, gave me on the course. My left knee, which in training had troubled me after 75 or 80 minutes, went berserk just after the three mile marker--within 35 minutes of the start. I was disappointed, to say the least.

I ran/walked the next 8 miles with what felt like a little knife wedged in the side of my knee. Janis kept my spirits high as we indulged in the bands that were stationed every 1.5-2 miles. Our favorite band played "She's a Brick House" and we discussed for at least a mile or two exactly what that meant.

Coach Murray, bless him, ran the final 2 miles with me, helping me pick up my pace and finish stronger than I might have started.

Stay tuned, as this is not my last half marathon but a very, very memorable and humbling first!

14 weeks, 51 runs, 200 miles, and $4,055 later...

2007-10-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm in great shape! The running and the fundraising have both been easier, more rewarding, and more fun than I expected. With one week before the race, I am happy to report that my Crohn's hasn't gotten in the way once and, thanks to very generous supporters, I'm only $945 from my $5000 goal.

For the last 14 weeks, my longest run each week was with the CCFA team on Sunday mornings. Janice (pictured with me) is my running partner; she's running and fundraising in honor of her college-aged daughter who was recently diagnosed with Crohn's. Today was my 51st run, completing approximately 200 training miles!

The only serious hiccup has been my left knee which likes to get tired after about 80 minutes of jogging. Luckily, it is under the tender loving care of my friends at Blake Physical Therapy.

So many wonderful people spurred my participation with CCFA's Team Challenge in significant ways. Mark Grinblatt is at the top of that list. He started a conversation which changed how I was treating my Crohn's and which made me healthier than I've been in years.

A series of friends inspired me to run beginning with Marshall Akers and Paige Otwell in Athens, GA; then, there was an awesome photo I saw of Jenny Allen after running a race; and there's my friend Marx Cazenave who talks about running in such a practical and spiritual way. They convinced me that maybe I, too, could get out there and enjoy running.

Yet, if it wasn't for my twelve year old girlfriend, Talia Gergely, who helped me brave the first CCFA Team Challenge info session, I would never have started this adventure.

To each of you who sent cheerleading emails and to those who have contributed to my fundraising, thank you. I'm such a lucky girl to know each of you. My life is much more beautiful because you are in it.

Thank you and xoxo,

-- Jennifer

Running to Raise Money for Crohn's Disease

2007-07-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

I am one of over a million Americans living with Crohn's disease. There is, currently, no cure for Crohn's. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is on a mission to cure and prevent Crohn's disease. CCFA is an organization with an impressive track record of

funding cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions
nurturing investigators at the early stages of their careers
financing underdeveloped areas of research
educating and publishing materials that enable medical professionals to stay current with the ever-developing landscape

I am helping CCFA raise money.

Unlike this time last year, my Crohn's is manageable, and I'm feeling good, strong, capable. Living with Crohn's means learning the importance of taking advantage of these periods of good health; I never know how long it will last.

I'm scared/honored/excited to participate in CCFA's Team Challenge, a fundraising and endurance training program. Team Challenge will train me to run or walk a half marathon (13.1 miles) while I help the Foundation raise funds to find a cure for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

I want to raise $5,000 for CCFA.

Please support me and CCFA by giving generously! It's easy; you can make a donation online. A minimum of 80¢ per dollar donated to CCFA goes directly to research and patient support, and your contribution is tax deductible.

Also graciously accepted are your good wishes and positive energy as I attempt to train and successfully complete Team Challenge's 13.1 miles on October 14, 2007 (one day before my 31st birthday). I am committed--fingers crossed that my Crohn's won't get in the way--to crossing the finish line and at the same time ushering a big chunk of money to CCFA.

My sincerest thanks for your support,

Jennifer Maldonado Tooley