Advanced Dermatology is collaborating with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to raise funds and assist CCFA’s Take Steps walk program to support critical research and patient support for the 1.6 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The activities include walk day festivities such as food, live music, patient education, and a short walk in honor of people living with IBD.
The partnership between Take Steps and CCFA offers opportunities for the employees of Advanced Dermatology to fund-raise for local CCFA chapters.
Corporate support for Take Steps provides several benefits to businesses. Companies that join Take Steps show their customers and their community that they care about people living with IBD. Besides, rallying behind a common cause is a great team-building experience.
Forming a corporate team offers a fun and exciting way to engage employees in the community, increase employee satisfaction, and foster healthy competition. CCFA provides all of the necessary materials and support to recruit company team captains, assist with goal setting, and help create an easy fundraising plan.
“We’re proud to partner with CCFA and join forces for the IBD community,” said Dr. Matt Leavitt, founder and CEO of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery and a CCFA national board member, in a Take Steps’ news release. “To meet patients at local walk events and hear their stories is overwhelming. After my daughter was diagnosed as a child, this cause became very personal to me. It is incredibly empowering to see my staff come together and rally behind the same cause.”
Leavitt is not collaborating with Take Steps to promote his business, although it has reaped benefits from the partnership. What started as one team in Orlando has grown to teams in Fort Collins, Denver, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Detroit.
In just a short period, more than 70 people have raised around $9,000 toward the CCFA’s goal, and have jointly walked about 150 miles for people living with IBD, their families and friends. Within the local community, those teams have met many professionals who have become patrons of their healthcare practice.
The 2016 season of Take Steps will involve events in 120 communities across the U.S. In 2015, more than 40,000 walkers pledged funds, resources, and time to support patients, and raised more than $10 million.
More information about the Take Steps walk program can be found at http://bit.ly/walkforcures.