Support. Family. Resiliency.
Get to know Kyle, Nathaniel and Vanessa!
Following up on an incredible Gutsy Walk year, we are beyond excited to introduce you to our 2023 National Honourary Chairs: Kyle and Nathaniel Brown and Vanessa Percoco!
Kyle and Nathaniel are a father/son fundraising super-duo from Winnipeg, MB! For the last 26 years, Kyle has lived with Crohn’s disease and has battled through the ups and downs that come with it, “Every medication I tried only seemed to provide relief for a few years at a time before it would no longer help. I had my first bowel resection surgery in 2013 due to extensive damage in my small intestine. 2019 was even more challenging, as I had two more bowel resection surgeries; the first was due to an intestinal blockage and the second was a few months later due to a perforation occurring in my colon.”
Since then, Kyle has had an ileostomy put in and has been loving life with his three kids while taking part in Gutsy Walk year after year to raise awareness.
Speaking of kids, Nathaniel has been a massive fundraiser for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada since he was six years old, selling lemonade and cookies to raise funds. Last year, he was even the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal in Manitoba for his fundraising work!
Vanessa Percoco from Montreal, QC has seen enough in her journey to become an advocate for those struggling with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 15 and has had an uphill battle ever since. What started as cramping and diarrhea has since turned to Crohn’s-related colon cancer. Despite her current situation, she continues to have a smile on her face every day. She felt that now was the time for her to help others, saying “I felt like I really needed to take my place and to help other people like me.”
Though she has been fundraising for a while, this will be her second Gutsy Walk, and we’re honoured to walk side-by-side with her as she returns to build even more awareness than she did last year!
Our community is inspiring, and we know with their strength and resiliency, we will one day find the cures for Crohn’s and colitis.
There’s still time to register and make a difference! The support we received from people like you last year was incredible, and we look forward to taking that extra step in 2023. Let those impacted by IBD know that they’re not alone.
Together as one we walk to stop Crohn’s and colitis.