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Founded in 2010 - Team Intestinal Fortitude is a group of people that are raising money to support The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).
Team Intestinal Fortitude has focused its energies on raising money to help find a cure from Crohn’s for people like six year old Timmy.
The group members are:
Jake Marcus, Jonathan Adams, Ed Allcock, Janet Aronson, Carol Augustyniak, Raegan Avidon, Maria Benway, Kristen Brabants, Richard Brooks, Torrey Browne, Haley Byron, Brenda Contois, Wayne Dow, Matt Gaines, Sean Grover, David Howe, Stephen Ivanoski, Douglas King, Carol Lang, Alix Marcus, Arnold Marcus, Enid Marcus, Stephen Marcus, James Messinger, Walter Mirrione, David Mudd, George Nowack, David Rumrill, Loura Sanchez, Tim Savard, Jill Spatola, Brian Teague, Katie Mulcahy Wells and Peter Westhaver.
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I am writing on behalf of Team Intestinal Fortitude Incorporation which was initiated in December 2011. In roughly a year, we have $162,000 thanks to all of your support. We were honored at the Loudoun County Half Marathon in Virginia and the Napa Half Marathon in California as not only the top fundraiser for the year, but of all-time (and we were able to brag about raising more money than Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready).
Thanks to the Team Challenge CCFA running program, I have been able to complete my first (of three) marathon, hosted many events, made friends, observed close friends and family train to run a half-marathon, and most importantly be a part of Intestinal Fortitude’s formation. However, none of these accomplishments are as valuable as the true motive.
We started this organization shortly after my father, Stephen Marcus, was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn’s in May 2011. Due to many hospital trips this has been a rough time for everyone associated with my dad. However, he says “it’s been the worst and best year of his life; the worst because of Crohn’s disease and the best because of all the support through Intestinal Fortitude/Team Challenge.” He had another inflammatory bowel disease called colitis in his teen years which went into remission and is another reason this fundraising has been so satisfying.
There is no cure to these diseases and we have become close with our honoree, Timmy Wright. Timmy, now nine, who has Crohn’s disease, which has only allowed him to attend school on a limited basis. I can imagine the disease is tough enough as an adult, but in the stressful grade school years it can be very demoralizing. Timmy has been an inspiration to us all with his great adversity.
Needless to say, a cure needs to be found and we will not stop until one is found. We raised $162,000 in our efforts last year, and while we hope to beat that again, our goal is to raise $75,000 this year. There is proof that the contributions of Team Intestinal Fortitude and Team Challenge are leading to substantial advances in the Crohn’s and colitis diseases. Thank you for your wonderful support!
Best,
Jake Marcus
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I would appreciate just a minute of your time to tell you about a wonderful cause that I personally hold very dear to my heart. Last year my father, Stephen Marcus, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. After several months of suffering from the unforgiving symptoms associated with the disease, our friends and family rallied together no longer wanting to remain helpless on the sidelines. My brother, Jake Marcus, took the initiative and through Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America founded the organization Team Intestinal Fortitude, Inc.
What started back in December of 2010 as humble fundraising efforts for Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America has now, less than a year later, grown to be the most successful fundraising committee in CCFA history. My brother and the entire committee of Team Intestinal Fortitude have surpassed the modest expectations they had set for themselves just last year and have now become a fully incorporated organization. Not only has Team Intestinal Fortitude raised a record-breaking figure of an astounding $162,000 dollars, but they’ve shed light on and brought awareness to a dilapidating disease that is not openly nor widely discussed.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are known together as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the developed system. The cause of IBD remains unknown. However, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and steady advances in research brings us closer every day to finding the cause and probable cure of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
With the disease that claims over 1.4 million Americans, it is Team Intestinal Fortitude’s mission to continue with fundraising efforts where every dollar is directly donated to Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Team Intestinal Fortitude more importantly serves as a platform for the community in bringing together victims of the disease. I have watched my father find solitude and comfort with simply meeting and discussing his experience with other individuals plagued by IBD. As we pioneer different avenues to raise funds and awareness, we are one step closer to finding a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is our ultimate goal that Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis will be a thing of the past, merely something you read about in medical journals. Help our dreams come true by donating to Team Intestinal Fortitude today!
Warmest Regards,
Alix Marcus
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