Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation kicks off annual fundraiser

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s northwest chapter is kicking off its annual fundraising walk scheduled for May 15.

The Take Steps walk will begin at 2 p.m. May 15 at Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way. To register for the event, either as an individual or with a team, visit the website, www.cctakesteps.org.

The event raises money for the nonprofit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, debilitating digestive diseases that affect 1 in 200 Americans, including 80,000 children, according to the foundation.

Each year, the event has an Honored Hero to represent those living with Crohn’s and colitis. This year’s Honored Hero is 11-year-old John Charles of Hockinson. John was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in the summer of 2014, when he was 9 years old.

“(John) is walking in the hopes that others will be inspired that while John has Crohn’s disease, he is still a normal kid, even one that likes to get outside and go for a walk,” John’s mom, Mary Charles, said in a news release.

Take Steps Portland has raised more than $500,000 in its seven years. This year, organizers set a goal to raise $85,000.