Nikki

Marathon #13 – 26.2 for Nikki

Nikki’s story:

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease over 13 years ago. I am pretty sure I had it before then and just did not know what it was. Crohn’s has been a rollercoaster ride for me. I have a very sever case of it. When I was first diagnosed I didn’t want anything to do with it, until one day I decided I wanted to go to The Take Steps Walk. From there I started my true journey to finding a Crohn’s community and the people who I now call my “framily” (friends who are family). At The Take Steps Walk I found out that the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation had a half marathon running program. I tried to get all my friends to do it with me, but no one could, so I decided to do it on my own. Since then I have run 7 half marathons. Throughout my Crohn’s journey I have had three surgeries and two of them were resectionings. I have gone from almost dying from this disease to now being in remission. I attribute being in remission to the amazing medication I am on, the surgery (I had had right before I became in remission) and the amazing friends I have made from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

A few years ago, Nikki posted about why she runs for Team Challenge, below is what she said…

Why I run. I run for all these amazing people who run with me. Because they run for me, them and anyone they know and love who has this disease. I run for all the caretakers and the people who are part of my care plan and others care plans, because they don’t have to do this. They choose to be the “support” for someone with a chronic illness. Today I send out a huge thank you to the friends I have made, the support I have gotten and the love that has been shared with me over the years. We need a cure, I need a cure!

Running 26.2 for Nikki!

Marathon 13 – Recap