2011’s Gutsiest Canadians
November is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, when we celebrate those gutsy members of the IBD community who are making a difference in the lives of others. It gets more difficult each year to choose who stands out among the tens of thousands of courageous Canadians living with IBD and channeling their energies to help others.
CCFC is indeed fortunate that so many Canadians are working to improve the lives of people with IBD, and we’re delighted to introduce you to this year’s Gutsiest Canadians. Winners are determined by region, with one winner becoming the overall Gutsiest Canadian.
OVERALL GUTSIEST CANADIAN
Lori Ann Frey – Gutsiest Canadian — Watrous, Saskatchewan
Lori Ann has had ulcerative colitis for many years, and has maintained good health after a total colectomy – including giving birth to her third child. Her husband Murray has Crohn’s disease, so she knows more than most about both diseases and how hard life can be for those living with them.
In addition to her commitment to her family, her dedication to raising funds for IBD research is without parallel. She has been a Top Pledge Earner (TPE), raising $1,000 or more for almost all of the 16 annual Saskatoon Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon events. She has instilled this value in her children, as she has supported them in creating their own HNW legacy as The Bikini Boys. As a family, the Freys have been Saskatoon’s top pledge raising team for at least the past four years, raising more than $40,000 while raising awareness through their outlandish team outfits. They have been the honorary chairs for the Saskatoon HNW, have spoken at several events and reporters seem to love interviewing them! Lori Ann has been the driving force behind these incredible accomplishments and continually redefines the term “Gutsy!”
Ashtyn Lively — Nanaimo, British Columbia
Twelve-year-old Ashtyn Lively was diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of eight, and since that time she has endured countless painful medical procedures and hospital stays. Ashtyn’s journey to
becoming one of Canada’s gutsiest citizens began when she attended a kid’s craft fair just after being released from the hospital for a bowel blockage. Even though she had not eaten in almost two weeks, she raised $60 for IBD research by selling cookies and handing out information on IBD. She ended up in the hospital the next morning, where nine centimeters of her small intestine was removed.
When she had recovered enough, Ashtyn decided to go door to door in her community with a pamphlet on IBD, collecting donations for CCFC. She raised almost $2,000 by herself! An inspiration to friends and family, she never feels sorry for herself, maintains a strong positive attitude and is determined to help find a cure by raising money for CCFC while educating people about her disease.
Greg Ronne — Lethbridge, Alberta
Greg has been living with Crohn’s disease for all his adult life. He has had four resection surgeries over the years and too many flare-ups to count. It may seem this would be all-consuming, but Greg
still finds the will, determination, and courage to enjoy life in the fullest way possible.
Doing what he can to help find a cure for Crohn’s and colitis is one of Greg’s passions. He is actively involved in CCFC’s Lethbridge Chapter. He has been Top Pledge Earner eight times for the Lethbridge Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a -Thon. He has also spent many hours volunteering at M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Days over the years. Greg is appreciated and admired by all who know him and truly is the definition of gutsy.
4 The Journal EDITION 3 | 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16