Team Challenge Honoree

I have been asked by TEAM CHALLENGE ILLINOIS to be an honoree. Team Challenge is a group of people that will be training for a half Marathon in July. They will be part of this team and will be fundraising to raise money to further the research that may lead one day to a cure for Chron's and Colitis.

As most of you know I was diagnosed with Chron's disease in October. It took me until the end of December to be ok with that. I was in denial. I wanted to go back to eating what I wanted and working out how I wanted. I didn't want to have to worry about my stomach. I didn't want to be different. Once I moved beyond my diagnosis I started looking for answers and The Chron's and Colitis Foundation of America is a great website that I found. They have lots of information and lots of help on there. That is also where I found info about Team Challenge.

I really wanted to train for the 1/2 marathon with the team, but realized with me moving in June it would not be a possibility, so I told Junnie that maybe I could be part of Team Challenge New England when I move and that is when she asked if I would like to be an honoree and share my story at the Team Challenge Illinois informational meetings. I didn't think that I would have much to offer since I was just at the beginning of my journey,but she assured me I could help encourage others with my story, so I said yes.

Here is the write up they have on their website:

Melissa Black has had stomach problems since her late teens, however, she brushed off stomach pains thinking they were the result of poor eating habits. She never sought out doctors care because she was afraid they would just tell her she was overweight.

In 2008, after watching her mother die of cancer, Melissa finally decided to change her lifestyle and set up a doctor's appointment. She worked hard to lose 106 pounds, but Melissa's stomach pains became unbearably worse. Finally, she was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 2010.

After a slow period of acceptance, Melissa has decided to share her story with the world. She is training for her first Iron Man in August 2011 and inspiring Team Illinois and many others who suffer from Crohn's or colitis!

I look forward to speaking at these informational meetings this month and look forward to being part of Team Challenge Illinois. I hope that through my story I can encourage others with Chron's to stay active and do and be all that can be even with the challenges that having Chron's presents.

Even though I will not be running the 1/2 marathon with them in July I will be running my own 1/2 Marathon with my brother in Ohio. I will be wearing my TEAM CHALLENGE jersey and will be doing this race to raise awareness about Chron's and Colitis and raise money to help in researching for a cure. Stay tuned for another post about giving to my fundraising efforts for such a great cause.

Here are all the informational meetings if you would like to come here me speak or get info on joining the team.

11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5,2011
Fleet Feet Sports- Pipers Alley
1620 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60614

6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2011
REI - Chicago
1466 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60642

6:30p.m. Monday, March 14, 2011
Whole Foods-Naperville
2607 W. 75th Street, Naperville, IL 60540

6:00p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011
REI - Schaumburg
1209 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173

11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 26, 2011
Fleet Feet Sports - Lincoln Square
4762 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625