Jayden Watmough was diagnosed with Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淔inding medications, we香蕉视频直播檝e come so far in the past 20 years. People with Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a great life back then, but the medications now let us lead a pretty normal healthy life,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 disease.
Watmough will be walking in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 third annual Gutsy Walk this Sunday, which is part of Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 and Colitis Canada香蕉视频直播檚 largest single-day fundraiser.
One in every 150 Canadians is affected by the disease, according to the nonprofit香蕉视频直播檚 web site.
The Kelowna Gutsy walk started three years ago because of the need and the opening of a Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 and Colitis chapter here.
香蕉视频直播淚t came out of the need for peer support in the area,香蕉视频直播� said B.C. and Yukon development coordinator Susan Hampton.
This year, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 chapter is aiming to raise $23,900 and see around 200 participants.
Canada wide, the aim is $3.6 million.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a disease that people basically suffer in silence, it香蕉视频直播檚 an invisible disease. One of the key things we do in the chapters is to raise awareness,香蕉视频直播� said Hampton.
Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 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.
