After 14-year-old Chantal Proulx was diagnosed with Crohn’s
disease, she decided she wanted to make a difference for others
with the disease.
Her diagnosis came in September 2009. By March, Chantal and her
dad, Remi, were signed up for the 2010 Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country
Half Marathon, July 18 in Napa, Calif.
The Elizabeth residents are members of the Rocky Mountain
Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Team Challenge
endurance team and fundraising program. The program raises money
for Crohn’s disease research and ulcerative colitis research while
training participants for a half marathon.
Crohn’s disease is a painful, medically incurable illness that
attacks the digestive system. It can attack anywhere between the
mouth and the anus.
Though Chantal’s symptoms of Crohn’s disease have been
relatively mild so far, the father-daughter duo wanted to be
proactive in raising money for research to find a cure.
“I wanted to join the team and run the half marathon because I
know people like me have suffered through this, and I know how it
feels,” Chantal said. “I don't want people to feel the way I do and
suffer. When you are working to find a cure then it is worth it, no
matter how hard it gets.”
For Remi, his reason for joining the endurance team was a
somewhat therapeutic decision. After Chantal’s diagnosis, Remi’s
20-year-old daughter was diagnosed with lymphoma. With all of the
changes, Remi needed an outlet to relieve some stress.
“I kind of joined to help me cope with all the problems,” he
said. “Just to go out and run and spend time by myself helps me
deal with the problems.”
Remi said there is a need for Crohn’s disease research because
of the lack of information. He said when Chantal was first
diagnosed the doctors could not answer the questions as to why or
how she got the disease.
“She would have digestive issues due to her disease, and the
doctors could not tell us why they were caused,” he said. “So it’s
a good thing to be part of a fundraising effort to raise money for
more research so maybe we can find some answers.”
Remi and Chantal have been training with the group since the end
of March. The training program is 16 weeks and has the group train
together once or twice a week. It provides clinics teaching the
participants about hydration and nutrition. The program also
includes a training regimen for days the group does not train
together.
Chantal, who has never been a runner, said she enjoys the group
training and the support of the other runners.
“I like the group and being with the group because the people
here know what it’s like to have Crohn’s disease,” she said. “I
also like to run because it takes my mind off the disease. The
running is a stress release for me sometimes.”
Chantal admits she is nervous for the big race in Napa but also
excited. She ran a 10k race (6.2 miles) June 19 with her teammates
which she says helped prepare her for the half marathon. And the
help from her dad is a plus.
“The training is hard, but it helps to have my dad with me to
encourage me and keep me going, and I help him, too,” Chantal said.
“We have really learned a lot in our training and are looking
forward to completing the 13.1 miles of this race.”
During their training, Chantal, Remi and the rest of the team
have been working to raise as much money as possible for Crohn’s
disease research. The team’s goal is $125,000 by the time the race
rolls around. So far they have raised $85,000.
For more information on Crohn’s disease or the Rocky Mountain
Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Team Challenge
endurance training and fundraising program contact Dianna Phelps at
303-639-9163 or dphelps@ccfa.org.
