What's all this running business about? Most of you probably already know that I've had Crohn's Disease for nineteen years. That's been more than enough time to meet scores --- nay, batallions! --- of other people with Crohn's Disease and Colitis. Not that I don't like them, but come on, that's way too many people. We're just a small part of the estimated 1.4 million people in the United States who have these illnesses. Most of those people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 35, which means that like me, they'll live with these diseases for their whole lives.

Part of the problem is that there's no cure for these diseases, and the treatments can be painful, dangerous, and costly. And part of the problem is that people don't know enough about these illnesses for awareness to spur sufficient further research. (FYI: Crohn's and Colitis are chronic autoimmune diseases of the intestinal tract. For more information about how they work, visit http://www.ccfa.org.)

For the past six years, I've been writing a day-in-the-life Crohn's "column" that some of you might read. (If you got here from there, thank you, gentle readers!) But now it's time for something a little different: I'm about to run --- probably extremely ungracefully --- 13.1 miles with Team Challenge. Along with a few other people with Crohn's and Colitis (and our remarkable friends!) I'll help raise funds and awareness for a cure. After training for three months, we'll complete the 13.1-mile Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on December 5. Crazy, I know. Crazy, but totally possible.

I would be so appreciative if you'd help me reach my goal of raising $3,800 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. A minimum of 82 cents per dollar raised by the CCFA goes directly to research and patient support, and your contribution is tax deductible. If your company matches charitable contributions, you can include matching forms with your donation. No amount is too small! Including a nickel! (Trust me, I'm a fiction writer. I totally understand.)

Thanks for your support. I think this is going to be pretty great.