Six hundred and twenty-one competitors. What a great turnout for Team Challenge at the Napa2Sonoma Half Marathon in mid-July!
And what a great day for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), the beneficiary of Team Challenge’s fund-raising efforts. Team Challenge, an endurance training and fundraising program for the CCFA, raised more than $2.4 million in Napa to support CCFA programs. (Team Challenge members represented about 20 percent of the 3,000-runner field.)
Medivo’s GI Monitor is proud to be a sponsor of the Team Challenge National Chapter during the 2012 summer season, which kicked off in Hawaii in June. The CCFA National Team sports the “GI Monitor by Medivo” logo on their race-day singlets and National Team shirts.
In Napa, Brett Segall, representing the New England Chapter of Team Challenge, raised $33,386 and ranked as the day’s top fund-raiser. It was also a good day for the National Chapter of Team Challenge, which included a contingent of 50 strong representing Abbott Laboratories and who raised $182,496.
In addition, nine of the nation’s top GI doctors (leaders in the IBD field) raised $81,523 in the half-marathon event, which began under a light fog that kept the temperatures pleasantly cool throughout the race.
Many of the competitors were participating under the Team Challenge training program, which is designed to help interested competitors train to run or walk 13.1 miles, or to train for triathlons and cycling events. The overall goal is to continue raising awareness while helping to support the effort to find a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
After the first two races on Team Challenge’s schedule this summer, the core group National team members has raised a grand total of $129,806 between the Kona and Napa races. In aggregate for the summer season Team Challenge had more than 1,200 participants who raised more than $4.8 million.
Team Challenge participants came away from the experience with great memories, as well as the personal satisfaction that comes with a tackling a difficult challenge. Here are just a few of the comments posted on the GI Monitor socialization thread:
Lisa B. of Cortlandt, N.Y., said: “Had a fantastic time running my first team challenge half marathon in wine country!”
James H. of Louisville, Ky., (see photo below, bottom row, right side): “I ran the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon for Team Challenge. It is with great pride to share with you that I was the top fundraiser for the National Team, raising over $7,000. Now for the fun part: with perfect weather conditions, training hard and beautiful scenery, I set a new personal record for my fastest half marathon with a time of 1:49:42. I was the first finisher on the National Team and finished the race with pride, emotion and a smile on my face.”
Next Half Marathon in Las Vegas
Team Challenge information meetings have begun taking place around the country. More information can be found at the website http://www.ccteamchallenge.org/hmtp.htm. There is still time to join a team and begin training for the Las Vegas Half Marathon (along The Strip under the stars) with Team Challenge/Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America as the title charity.
