Team Challenge Clearwater Running Festival 2023: Mr. Tim Goedeker

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In my travels across the US to complete the 50 state half marathons, numerous conversations started when someone impacted by crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis saw my Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Team Challenge shirt. In these conversations I heard the painful stories of individuals dealing with crohn’s or colitis. Many of these stories are of kids in their late teens or young adults. These are brutal autoimmune diseases that take an unfair toll on our kids. We must find cures!

My son, 4 years ago, chose to have ileostomy surgery to temporarily bypass his colon and improve his health and quality of life. Bypassing his colon is allowing the diseased portions of the colon to be treated while he has a temporary ostomy. While this has provided much needed relief and greatly improved his quality of life, he is not cured of the disease. There are currently no cures. He continues receiving monthly 4-5 hour infusions to help him maintain his health. I believe the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is on track to find cures. And I will run, fundraise and advocate until my son and the 1 in 100 in the U.S. with Crohn’s or Colitis are cured.

In 2022 I completed 18 half marathons and completing my goal of running a half in all 50 states. While I met the 50 state goal, there is still work to be done to advocate, educate and fundraise to defeat the currently incurable, autoimmune diseases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

In 2023 I will run 3-5 half marathons and plan to raise ~$10-15K for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation to fund research, provide support and education to patients and care givers.

Please help make a difference for my son and many others with Crohn's or Colitis by making a donation today. And if interested, come join me for a short ~2 ½ hour half marathon jog too.

Thanks for your consideration.

My tentative 2023 half marathons:
1Q - Jan – 15-Houston(?), 29-Clearwater, FL (Team Challenge event)
2Q - May – 21-Billings, MT
3Q – TBD –
4Q - Nov – 12-Nashville, TN (Team Challenge event)

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation:
Mission / Core Values: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/about/mission
Strategic Plan: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/about/strategic-plan
Annual Report: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/annual-report
Foundation South Texas Chapter: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/chapters/southtexas

About Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect millions of Americans. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the largest non-profit, voluntary, health organization dedicated to finding cures for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The Foundation’s mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who are affected by these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research; providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public; and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD.

Achievements

Make your own gift

Recognition of the participant making their own gift to support their efforts

Personal Progress:

of Goal

$3,100 Raised

$3,000.00

Fundraising Honor Roll

Supporting my son and many others

Tim Goedeker - Supporting my son and may others w/ IBD

$1,000

Finished 50 state half marathons, but still running to find cures for my son and many more