It’s the disease that 15-year-old Allie Rize can’t bring herself to talk about. A Severn resident and sophomore at Archbishop Spalding, Rize was diagnosed with Crohn?s disease when she was 10.
Often combined into one category because of their similar symptoms, Crohn?s disease and ulcerative colitis are both inflammatory bowel disorders, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss.
Allie Rize?s mother, Denise Rize, is an ulcerative colitis sufferer. “It’s important to raise awareness about these diseases which people are reluctant to talk about, so that people know that they are not alone,” Denise Rize said. “And so that a cure can be found.”
The Maryland-Southern Delaware Chapter of the Crohn?s and Colitis Foundation of America agrees.
“It’s a very quiet disease. People don’t want to talk about it,” said Bob Milanchus, executive director of the Maryland-Southern Delaware Chapter of the Crohn?s and Colitis Foundation of America. “But 1.4 million patients in the U.S. fall into those categories. There is a tremendous amount of the population suffering quietly.”
This Sunday, more than 200 people will walk in the 5th Annual Miles for Miracles/Guts and Glory Walk at Centennial Park in Howard County.
The walk was founded four years ago by then 13-year-olds Carrie Gartner and Shayna Meliker.
“They decided to do a walk for one of their teachers, who had ulcerative colitis, and who was at that point very ill,” Milanchus said. “They wanted to do something in her name, so they got together with their parents and supporters in the community, and held the first walk.”
Allie Rize, who chooses not to talk about her struggles for personal reasons, instead has focused her energy on helping others by volunteering to be this year’s Youth Chair for the walk.
She has participated in the walk in some form since her diagnosis. “I walked the first two years, and after that I decided to take a bigger role and join the committee,” she said. “Then Carrie and Shayna went off to college, and I’ve taken an even bigger role as co-chair.”
“Because it isn’t really known to many people, they don’t realize how many people the diseases affect,” she said. “It’s important to find a cure and help raise awareness.”
Over four years, more than $250,000 was raised with 890 participants in total. This year, Milanchus said, the chapter is looking to raise about $60,000. All the proceeds from the event will go to the foundation.
IF YOU GO
Fifth Annual Miles for Miracles/Guts and Glory Walk
WHERE: Centennial Park, 10000 State Route 108, Ellicott City
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 16
REGISTRATION: $25
