Brother and Sister Take Steps together to Fight Crohn's disease!

Laurel and Zach are your typical brother and sister. Laurel is the older sister who drives her brother around with her driver's license. They go to the same school, same summer camp, and share pets, friends, and hobbies.

Laurel and Zach also share something different than the typical brother and sister duo. They both have Crohn's disease.

According to Laurel, living with Crohn’s disease is something that really brings them together because it is something that they are both going through. "We can talk to each other whenever we have problems and it is really nice to have someone to confide in who is going through the same things."

Here is another twist to their story. Not only do they both suffer from Crohn’s disease, but their dad is also a Gastroenterologist. Talk about a family who knows their IBD!

Laurel and Zach attend a yearly summer camp, Camp Oasis, for children living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They both have made so many close friends over the years that have IBD. They are both very passionate about raising money because the research that their fundraising supports directly affects their quality of life.

According to Laurel, "I see what my friends and I go through on a daily basis and I just want to make it better for the next generation."

Also just like any brother and sister, Zach and Laurel definitely like to compete against one another! This is why they each formed a fundraising team for the Take Steps walk in Minneapolis on May 23! Zach's Team and Project CURE are their competing teams with goals of $500 each! While this competition is fun, at the end of the day they are still fighting for the same cause.

Project CURE is a nonprofit fundraising group Laurel created by selling bracelets to raise money for CCFA's Camp Oasis. So far, through Project CURE, Laurel has raised over $7,000. Camp Oasis is so important to Laurel and Zach, and they want everyone who lives with Crohn's or Colitis to have the opportunity to attend camp. Meeting other kids who take the same meds, have the same problems, and aren't embarassed to talk about it is so important for kid's with Crohn's and Colitis.

Laurel and Zach hope you can join them May 23, at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis to fundraise for Crohn's and Colitis research!