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w w w .insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 2 , 2 0 1 7 | 8 Glepburnie School Sxeeilm ce in S d u c a tiw OPEN HOUSE Wednesdays 9 am 2035 Upper Middle Rd. East at Ford Dr., Oakville www.GlenburnieSchool.com (905) 338-6236 Ybuth in Gutsy Walk to support strides against Crohn's and colitis by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff Jack Comerford will be walking Sunday, June 4 to find a cure for Crohn's disease. The 13-year-old Oakville youth has Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that disrupts the body's ability to digest food, absorb nutrition and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Many people with Crohn's tend to experience multiple symptoms, including: $2,000 last year and has $5,100 for Sunday's walk as of this week, but is still fundraising. "I'm hoping to, not only push for a cure or better treatment, but raise awareness for these kinds of diseases, so people can understand what these people are going through," said Jack. It took 10 months for Jack to be diagnosed with Crohn' s in the fall of 2014 after numerous visits with his doctor, specialists and the hospital. Jack said he's faced challenges at school, with friends, places he visits and food he eats, but he's adapted. "Certainly, at the start of all this, it was more difficult," he said. "I have to be very conscious and know if there's a bathroom nearby, at all times." W hile his health had improved since last year, it's been a different story more recently after switching in the 22nd abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Jack and his parents are participating annual Gutsy Walk for Crohn's and Colitis Canada at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. "I know firsthand how a lot of other kids are feeling. The more people that participate, the higher the chances a lot of people won't have to deal with this in the future," said Jack. The five-kilometre walk, Jack's second, is one of more than 60 taking place across Canada, with the aim of collectively raising $3.6 million to support research, advocacy patient and programs, to medications, Jack said, which is why he wants to raise even more money Sunday Jack's father, Hugh Comerford, noted his son was on a drug for a couple years, but his symptoms returned, despite it being a "very heavy immunosuppressant. " "His symptoms started to come back, and very recendy, within two months, we've said new been had to switch to a different immunosuppressant," Hugh. Because medication, of Jack the has Jack Comerford | submitted photos Open Your Hearts and Homes this July S p a n i s h s tu d e n ts a r e c o m i n g to B u rlin g to n a n d O a k v i l l e a n d w e n e e d f a m i li e s to h o s t ! T h is is a w o n d e r f u l o p p o r t u n i t y fo r cu ltu ra l e x c h a n g e . S t u d e n ts a tt e n d c l a s s e s a n d a c t iv it ie s M o n d a y t o F r id a y . R e m u n e r a t io n o f $ 8 6 4 to o f f s e t c o s t s . absent from school almost half the time during the last three months, Hugh noted. "It was 10 months of uncertainty and fear until we hit the diagnosis. Since then, it's been an unsuccessful journey of trying to ignore it and pretend it's not there. It is there and it rears its ugly head from time to time," said Hugh. "He looks fine, but he is suffering quite a lot. That's the biggest challenge." The Gutsy Walk takes place Sunday, June 4 at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, 2340 Ontario St. Registration is at 10 a.m., warm up 11:15 a.m. and the walk starts at 11:30 a.m. To donate to Jack, visit www. jackschitt.ca/ For more information about the walk, visit www.gutsywalk. ca. F o r in fo rm a tio n please con tact V eron ica 905-637-0879 It's T i m e 29th Annual Mayor's Invitational Glen Abbey Golf Club, Oakville Wednesday, June 21st -1 1 :30 a.m. Shotgun Start awareness improve the lives of affected by the chronic diseases. The walk begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes a lunch, raised approximately family activities and live music. Jack Garden Accessories and Bird Baths MW United Way H a lto n & H a m ilto n N o w u n t i l J u n e 1 8»th B u r lin g t o n lo c a tio n o n ly C o n ta c t Laura H e n d re n to b o o k y o u r s p o t L H e n d re n @ u w h h .c a o r 9 0 5 -6 3 5 -3 1 3 1 E x t. 3 1 7 u w h h .c a /e v e n ts c = B tA ffc Q.W m tfeoT Nature Shop HNH j 3 3 5 0 F A IR V IE W S T R E E T , B U R L IN G T O N 9 0 5 - 6 3 4 - 7 7 0 0 · E M A I L : w b u 1 @ b e lln e t . c a W E B R IN G P E O P L E & N A T U R E T O G E T H E R >