Saskatoon's Gutsy Walk aims to raise $115K for Crohn's and colitis

Like many people, ShannonBoklaschukdidn't know much about Crohn's and colitis until it became a major disruptorin her life.

"Before I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, I thought it was just, 'Oh, you get a bit of a tummy ache and maybe you run to the bathroom sometimes,'" she said.

"I didn't realize the severity of Crohn's and colitis, but truly they can cause some life-threatening and debilitating symptoms."

Boklaschukishonorary chair of this year's Gutsy Walk in Saskatoon, which hopes to raise $115,000forCrohn'sand Colitis Canada.

Crohn's and colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases, the difference being that colitis affects the large intestine only, while Crohn's is a "cheek to cheek" disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal system,Boklaschuktold CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

"It's hard to compare one person with Crohn's and colitis to another person," she said. "Everyone has a different lived experience with it."

A range of symptoms

The diseases affect about one in 150 Canadians, according to Crohn's and Colitis Canada. Symptoms include pain, bloating, fatigue, loss of appetite, and also skin and liver problems, and joint pain.

Boklaschuk said she suspects she has had the disease since childhood, but got her first tentative diagnosis after experiencing symptoms like severe abdominal cramps, difficulty eating and sore joints. A colonoscopyshowed she was in the early stages of the disease, but she began medication and her symptoms came under control.

After her first pregnancy, the disease became more severe and she began needing bimonthly treatments with medication administered by IV.

Baby health scare

Her scariest moment came near the end of her second pregnancy. During the second half of that pregnancy, she had to stop her medication and the disease flared up.

She became dehydrated and that affected her baby's heart rate. Doctors had to induce labour.

"He was ready to come out he was almost 10 pounds so we did have a successful healthy safe delivery and he's been fine," she said.

The Gutsy Walk is Sunday afternoon at North Kiwanis Park in Saskatoon. Registration is at noon and the two-kilometreand five-kilometre walks start at 2 p.m. CST.

There are also Gutsy Walk events being held Sunday in Regina, Prince Albertand Swift Current.