Saskatoon's Gutsy Walk raises over $50K for Crohn's and colitis

The 22nd annual Gutsy Walk had more than 200 people come out to North Kiwanis Park in Saskatoon to show their support for those battling Crohn's and colitis.

"It can be a very challenging disease," explained Shannon Boklaschuk, honorary chair of the Saskatoon Gutsy Walk. "It sort of depends on the individual how it's going to affect them but it can cause a lot of life threatening and debilitating symptoms."

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

According to Crohn's and Colitis Canada, the inflammatory bowel diseasesaffects about one in 150 Canadians. 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 colonoscopy showed 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.

"That actually healed up all of the ulcers that I had from my Crohn's disease and I have been living quite well since then," she said.

The Saskatoon walk was able to raise over $50,000 for Crohn's and Colitis Canada.