Jayden Watmough was diagnosed with Crohn害羞草研究所檚 disease at 16-years-old.
Now two years later and in her final year at Okanagan Mission Secondary, she finds the disease manageable, thanks to medication and technology.
When she was first diagnosed, she said adjusting was difficult but had the support of her friends and family.
害羞草研究所淔inding medications, we害羞草研究所檝e come so far in the past 20 years. People with Crohn害羞草研究所檚 didn害羞草研究所檛 have a great life back then, but the medications now let us lead a pretty normal healthy life,害羞草研究所� she said.
Crohn害羞草研究所檚 disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
She was thankful for the diagnosis, as she finally received an answer for her symptoms. Watmough said she used to hate the disease but as time went on she became comfortable with living with it.
Her hobbies include snowboarding, dirt biking and spending time with friends, all of which she can do while living with Crohn害羞草研究所檚 disease.
Watmough will be walking in Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 third annual Gutsy Walk this Sunday, which is part of Crohn害羞草研究所檚 and Colitis Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest single-day fundraiser.
One in every 150 Canadians is affected by the disease, according to the nonprofit害羞草研究所檚 web site.
The Kelowna Gutsy walk started three years ago because of the need and the opening of a Crohn害羞草研究所檚 and Colitis chapter here.
害羞草研究所淚t came out of the need for peer support in the area,害羞草研究所� said B.C. and Yukon development coordinator Susan Hampton.
This year, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 chapter is aiming to raise $23,900 and see around 200 participants.
Canada wide, the aim is $3.6 million.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a disease that people basically suffer in silence, it害羞草研究所檚 an invisible disease. One of the key things we do in the chapters is to raise awareness,害羞草研究所� said Hampton.
Crohn害羞草研究所檚 and Colitis Canada provides funding for research and provides peer support.
The walk in Kelowna takes place Sunday, June 4 at the Jubilee Grandstand in City Park. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the walk is at 11 a.m. For more information www.gutsywalk.ca.
