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21 · Thursday, June 3, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Heel'n Wheelin' for a cure to Crohn's By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Crohn's disease turned Kyle Steward's life upside down, going from a healthy 10-yearold to the intensive care unit in a matter of days. This weekend Steward will be among the hundreds of Halton residents looking to cure the debilitating disease. Sunday, June 6 marks the 15th annual Heel n' Wheel-aThon in support of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). As the Halton honourary chair, Steward has one message for young Crohn's patients: There is help out there. "There's always someone to talk to and you're really not alone," said Steward, 19. "There are places you can look for help," he added, pointing to the Halton chapter of CCFC. The Oakville resident was diagnosed with the disease at age 10 after he fell severely ill. Initially, doctors believed Steward was suffering from bronchitis, however after weeks of hospitalization they discovered the youth was suffering from Crohn's disease, an offshoot of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Characterized by excruciating abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and lack of energy, the disease is caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It is thought that Crohn's is an Kyle Steward autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation, however, doctors and researchers are unable to pinpoint what causes Crohn's. "It can develop at any age, anywhere from infant to adult- hood," said Sharon Fennell, volunteer co-ordinator with Halton CCFC. "Some people get it in college and university and doctors know stress has an impact on the disease. But because they haven't discovered exactly what causes it, there's no cure." Fennell said the disease can be suppressed with drugs. "Some patients are able to manage with drugs and some can age quite nicely and have productive lifestyles," she said, adding Crohn's patients often suffer from fatigue. To manage his Crohn's, Steward is given an IV infusion of the drug Remicade every eight weeks. "I'm an Energizer bunny for the first two weeks after the infusion and right before the last week I'm dead to the world," he said. Steward explained he must make sure his exams don't fall on the last week before the Remicade infusion to ensure his stress levels stay down. "I always have to stay active and watch what I eat," he added. Steward brings his experience with Crohn's to the table as part of the CCFC's Youth Advisory Council. In September 2007, 14 young people from across Canada banded together to help youth live a normal life with IBD. "When I was diagnosed, (Crohn's) wasn't popular within that age group. I didn't have anyone to talk to and I didn't fully understand what was going on and how I had to deal with it," said Steward. Now, he helps other youths learn the tips and tricks to help live normally with Crohn's. This weekend, he'll be boosting morale at the Heel n' Wheel-a-Thon, in hopes that a cure to Crohn's is in sight. The Heel n' Wheel-a-Thon will take place on Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Spencer Smith Park (at the gazebo) in Burlington. For more information, visit www.heelnwheelathon.ca Relay this Friday Find out about new hospital Its permanent address will be on Dundas Street in Oakville, but the New Oakville Hospital has found a home on the World Wide Web. Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) and the Oakville Hospital Foundation (OHF) invite you to check out www.newoakvillehospital.co m. The website offers lots of information about the project including most up-todate information, answers to FAQs, timelines and more. Construction of the New Oakville Hospital is scheduled to begin in 2011. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER AT APPLEBY: The 2010 Oakville Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life is happening Friday, June 4 at Appleby College. It begins at 7 p.m. with an opening ceremony. The traditional luminary ceremony will be at 10 p.m. Here, from left, Lyndon Fournier, director, wealth management, senior wealth adviser); Derek Blakely, portfolio manager, director, wealth management); Rod White, branch manager, all of ScotiaMcLeod, present $25,000 in sponsorship funds to Cheryl Eidt, chair of the Canadian Cancer Society's Oakville Relay For Life event. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. as teams take turns running around the track all night and set up camp to do so. This year, it's hoped 150 teams will raise $500,000 in Oakville. For information, visit www.relayforlife.ca or call 905845-5231. 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