LOCAL CROHN’S DISEASE PATIENT OVERCOMES OBSTACLES TO RAISE CRITICAL FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES PATIENTS
Crohn’s Disease Patient being honored by The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation when she and her family Take Steps for Cures on June 20, 2026
Columbus, Ohio May 8, 2026: Westerville student, Parker Hogan is being honored by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at the Central Ohio Take Steps Walk. This year’s event is June 20, 2026, at 9:00AM, at Dublin Coffman Park. 11-year-old Parker is living with Crohn’s disease which combined with ulcerative colitis, are painful, debilitating digestive diseases affecting millions of American adults and children. She and her family are dedicated to the mission of the Foundation to find cures for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are committed to raising funds to support this mission.
Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 6, Parker, like many patients, experienced significant weight loss causing alarms to raise for her parents. After many tests and scopes, she was diagnosed, not really understanding the implications of having a chronic, incurable disease like IBD. Fortunately, with the help of a biologic medication, Parker can participate in activities like other kids and has been attending the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Camp Oasis for several years.
“I have made great friends, and I enjoy everything about camp! I’m very grateful that the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation offers this camp which has helped me have fun and meet other kids who have Crohn’s” – Parker Hogan
Parker is this year’s Pediatric Honored Hero and was chosen as Honored Hero and will serve as an ambassador and source of inspiration for other kids with IBD who may be struggling.
Take Steps is the Foundation’s largest nationwide event dedicated to finding cures and raising funds for digestive diseases. Our events offer an incredible day for family, friends, and the community to celebrate all the efforts in raising funds for our mission. We put patients first, involving them in everything we do, and this event highlights the importance of community support and collective action in combating IBD. It is a day that combines high energy and fun with access to valuable information and education. Participants enjoy the feeling of community at our events and through this gathering, they know they are not facing these diseases alone. The Foundation is deeply committed to accelerating research and finding cures for IBD. The Foundation has played a role in every major research breakthrough in IBD, and Take Steps is a crucial fundraising initiative that fuels this important work.
For more information on how to get involved with Take Steps, please visit www.cctakesteps.org or contact Carmel Elmer 614-842-3280 or [email protected]
The Olentangy Liberty DECA Community Awareness group is partnering with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation for the 2026–2027 school year and will be volunteering at the Take Steps Walk to help raise awareness and support for individuals affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). If you would like to get more involved with our DECA chapter’s community awareness project, please contact Ella Alkhayri at [email protected].
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About Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect 1 in 100 million Americans. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn’s disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however, the incidence is increasing in children.
About Take Steps
Take Steps is a nationwide fundraising program that benefits the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Take Steps helps fund mission-critical research and patient support programs, and to increase awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD). Take Steps hosts family-friendly events in communities across the country, as well as a national virtual livestream. Funds raised through Take Steps will help transform the lives of those impacted by these diseases, and support the Foundation’s critical research, education, and patient support programs. Learn more at www.cctakesteps.org.
About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public.
