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After Bob Meggy tied the knot in 1973, he came down with the flu. That flu led him to see a specialist, where he discovered he had been living with Crohn’s disease. His initial response was “What’s that?!”— Bob had never heard of Crohn’s before.   
 
He went into the hospital for two months following diagnosis, and went on a liquid diet and IV. He then came down with what they called the “Crohn’s flu.” As time went on, he saw living with Crohn’s was going to be more difficult than he expected and for the next 20 years he was in and out of hospital with fistula blockages.
 
Twenty years after his diagnosis though, he took up running. He didn’t really have a reason to start running, he just wanted to get more exercise. However, once he started running, he noticed his symptoms had decreased and within a year there were no more blockages.
 
Years later, he noticed Crohn’s was no longer present in his life.

That was 30 years ago.

That’s right—Bob credits running with helping him stay healthy and symptom free for 30 years.
 
He finds it incredible running has stopped his symptoms.
Once the pandemic is over, Bob wants to start a running group in Vancouver, in hopes of it carrying across Canada.

Bob also hopes that his story encourages others living with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s or colitis to start getting those legs moving and running!
 
Let’s celebrate what exercise is already accomplishing, as a way to encourage even more people to get moving.


Even as the COVID-19 pandemic puts limits on where we can go, physical activity remains as important as ever – if not more so. Scientific evidence suggest getting your body moving supports the immune system. Physical activity can also boost mental health during this time. Always consult with your health care provider before starting a new routine or exercise.