Five From Rye Run to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis

– By Jim Byrne –

Five Rye residents were among 30 local participants who ran the ING Miami Half Marathon to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Dubbed “Team Challenge”, the group trained vigorously and ended up raising over $170,000 for research to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Members of the team spent 16 weeks being coached by Mike Barnow and Adrienne Wald in Rockefeller State Park. Age and athletic ability varied on Team Challenge, as beginners were more than welcome to train for the 13.1-mile half marathon earlier this year. “The Rye 5” included Susan Garafalo, Maureen Fearon, Rye High School student Tali Linton, and James and Noreen Kennedy.

The husband-and-wife Kennedy tandem, both teachers in the Rye City School District, were able to raise over $8,000 to fight a pair of diseases they know all too well. James Kennedy, who is 37 years old, has battled ulcerative colitis since his diagnosis in November of 1996. After numerous treatments proved ineffective in restraining the disease’s devastating effects, he underwent a total colectomy in 2002. Despite the removal of his entire large intestine, side effects and complications have forced him back into the hospital for extended periods of time.

“One of the wonderful things about participating in Team Challenge was the number of people who came up and thanked me for doing this as they had a mother, father, grandmother, sister, etc., who suffered or suffers with these terrible diseases,” said 37-year-old Noreen Kennedy. “Many times the ‘thank you’ came in the form of a tearful hug.”

Noreen Kennedy called the race in Miami “fantastic”, and said that it was a “happy, uplifting event.” It was the first time either of the Kennedys had participated in any type of marathon, which seemed to be a common thread among the Rye fundraisers. Linton, a 16-year-old who was diagnosed with Crohn’s at 9, had also never competed in such an event. Nevertheless, the high school junior raised over $10,175 – second best in the chapter and ninth in the country – and discovered she is one of those rare few who actually enjoys the sport. She is now running distance for the Garnets’ spring track team.

“I try my best not to let Crohn’s stop me from doing anything, but when I was originally sick before being diagnosed I had to stop a lot of my activities,” said Linton. “Now I live just like any other normal kid – maybe even busier than some.”
Linton credits time spent last summer at Camp Oasis – a camp for kids with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis – as being a seminal moment in her own understanding of the condition.

“I made a lot of friends who helped me become more comfortable with being open about having the disease, and I realized how fortunate I am to have my relative good health compared to the state of some friends,” said Linton. “I decided that being physically capable to run is a privilege and decided to use it to raise money to help my friends, family, and self.”

Fearon, another first time marathoner, decided to sign on while her sister was in the midst of a terrible Crohn’s flare-up.

“I had just come back to Rye from visiting my sister in the ICU in Philadelphia,” said Fearon. “I felt so helpless. She was really struggling physically and emotionally, the doctors were running out of ideas and her husband was trying to keep it together for their young daughter. I was wishing there was something that I could do to help when I read an article about CCFA and the Team Challenge. I signed up immediately, sent out my letters asking for donations, and then realized I hated to run!”

Fearon’s dislike of running subsided as she began to embrace the time to herself. Runs around Milton Point and through Rye Town Park led to an inspirational day in Miami Beach, where the 42-year-old raised $7,000 and achieved her goal of completing the race.

While many goals were attained in Miami, the search for a cure continues for the CCFA. The Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the foundation recently announced summer races, which include half marathons in both Kona, Hawaii and Napa Valley, Calif. For more information, contact Gino Caropreso at 328-2874 or go to the Team Challenge website, www.ccteamchallenge.org.