My name is Vera. After A LOT of back and forth, I have finally decided to run 13.1 miles in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas on December 5th this year. I have even talked my husband (Brett) into running the race with me, which is an amazing accomplishment by itself! Anything to go to Vegas, right? Our goal is to raise $20,000 by November 23rd for Team Challenge and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Neither of us have ever run a race nor raised such a huge amount of money, but we believe in this cause and this organization, and we want to prove to everyone fighting these diseases that you CAN do anything!

You may not know this, but I am one of the 1.4 million Americans that suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), specifically Ulcerative Colitis (UC). This destructive digestive disorder has often stopped me in my tracks and keeps me from living my life the way I would like to. These diseases are painful, with humiliating symptoms, and often the treatments seem worse than the disease. And at this time, there is NO CURE.

I was diagnosed nine years ago with UC at 23 and it knocked me off my feet. My body was at war with itself every day and I could do little to stop it. With the help of my amazing husband, compassionate parents, friends, coworkers, and very patient doctors I have been able to cope with this disease and live a pretty normal life compared to the many who are not so fortunate.

Thanks to the work funded by CCFA, largely through generous donations, vast strides have been made in treating (and hopefully one day curing) IBD. After surgery in January of this year and new medication therapy, I am in remission for the first time since my initial diagnosis. I have more freedom, strength, and I can finally consider children as a possibility in our marriage. Though this isn’t a cure and I will continue to battle with this disease for the rest of my life, I am hopeful. The cruel reality is that my symptoms will most likely return and I will have to syat strong and not let this disease pull me down. Despite the endless struggles with this disease, I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know that without the hard work and dedication of the CCFA and its benevolent donors I would not be able to enjoy my life as I do now and the promise of a healthier and happier future. Now it is my turn to give back! I am running for all of those that can't, but should be able to.

In addition to a lot more carbs (woo-hoo!), ice packs, some prayer, and really rocking tunes on our MP3s, we need your help to reach our goals. Every contribution helps and spreading the word about not only this race, but about the cause can really make a difference in the long run. Over 80% of your tax-deductible donation to the CCFA goes directly toward research, education, and support services. This website is secure, easy-to-use, and you will be emailed a receipt of your donation for this year's taxes.

We have some fun events planned and we hope that you will particiapte in all of them with us. These events are a great way to educate the community about these diseases and our organization, but just as important they are a fun way to raise the critical dollars we need yo fight these diseases through the work of CCFA. First is our Pocket Aces No Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament in Palm Beach Gardens on September 25th and our Double Eagle Golf Tournament on November 20th at the Fountains Golf & Country Club. Please check out our website, www.ccfagolf.com, for more details.

To commemorate your extreme generosity for donating directly on our website, www.BrettandVera.com, we would like to offer you one of our custom designed shirts for donations of $200 or greater. For donations of $1,000 or greater, we have some fantastic golf shirts and it would be our honor to take you and a guest out to dinner with us the week before the race at a venue fitting your munificent donation. We might even get Brett to wear a tie!

Our fundraising deadline is November 23rd, so please forward our website to as many people as possible, post it on Facebook, or just tell everyone you know about it. Dig deep and know that your donation is bringing us closer to a cure. We want this race to be not just about finishing with respectable time (though that would be awesome), but helping find a cure for IBD and improving the quality of life for everyone who suffers from these diseases. Everyone knows someone with Crohn's or UC, whether you know it or not.

We thank you in advance for your kindness and support. Please feel free to email us with any questions, flyer requests, event registration requests, or encouragements at BrettandVera@aol.com. To make an offline donation, please remit a check or money order to CCFA/Team Challenge Florida, P.O. Box 2776, Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

Join the fight with us against these diseases and donate today!