He is repeating the event on June 2, 2012.


Dave is the kind of guy who goes about raising money for the CCFC, while trying to maintain a low profile. He was nominated for the Unsung Hero award because his goal is the same as ours: find the cure for the disease that affects his wife daily, and potentially will affect his son, and that took a life-long friend from their family.


His goal is not recognition or praise. Dave raises money so that Ryan’s mother will be able to continue to manage her Crohn’s so that she can watch her son grow up, graduate high school and college, and live a full life without IBD.


FINKELSTEIN AWARD


The Finkelstein Award was created in 1997 by the late Mr. Albert Finkelstein and his wife Marilyn as a “hug” for a special person whose contribution to the field of inflammatory bowel disease reflects excellence, either through a particular accomplishment or through continuous


efforts over time. This year’s recipient is Dr. Fred Saibil.


Dr. Fred Saibil has been an invaluable partner in the mission to find the cure for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thirty five years ago there was little information about inflammatory bowel disease. Children and adults were being diagnosed and left without adequate knowledge or support to cope with their disease both as individuals and as families. With the assistance of a handful of dedicated parents including Albert and Marilyn Finkelstein, these efforts led to a meeting which subsequently formed the beginning of what is now known as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, with Dr. Saibil playing a key role as head of the Medical Advisory Board.


Dr. Saibil is not only the ‘founding doctor’ of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, but also a founding member instrumental in linking together the parents of those affected by IBD to


find strength and courage to change their communities. As part of that small group who met in a basement back in 1974, he continues to provide hope of finding a cure to some 200,000 Canadian men, women and children who have inflammatory bowel disease.


Dr. Saibil’s areas of special clinical expertise include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer prevention, transfer dysphagia and nutritional support. He is well-known across Canada for his activities in education of the general public on medical topics via the media and through public lectures. His best-selling book, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, which is available in many countries and on the web, was written for patients and their families, but has proven valuable to many physicians as well. In fact, a new edition of Dr. Saibil’s book has just been completed and is available through Firefly Books.


Tara Hopkins, winner of the 2011 Golden Gutsy Award, was captain of Team Crapbag at the Toronto HNW to support her sister Andrea.


Dr. Fred Saibil and CCFC Founder Marilyn Finkelstein at Congress 2011. EDITION 3 | 2011 The Journal 7


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