Fairhope’s waterfront will host a walk for a cause this fall, as the Gulf Coast Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation event returns to Bayfront Park and Pier for another year of fundraising, fellowship and awareness.
Participants will be able to choose a walking distance of one to three miles, with check-in beginning mid-afternoon at the park and the walk itself starting an hour later. Organizers are hoping to draw families, patients and supporters from across Baldwin County and the wider Gulf Coast region for the event, which combines light exercise with a broader push to fund research into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The Alabama/Northwest Florida Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America organizes the walk locally, with a fundraising goal of $30,000 this year. Organizers say the majority of every dollar raised, roughly 80 cents, is directed toward research, patient support services and public and professional education about the two chronic digestive diseases, which affect the immune system and can cause lasting damage to the intestines if untreated.
Registration is open to both teams and individuals, and organizers are encouraging anyone who wants to support the cause without walking to make a direct donation instead. Every participant, whether walking solo or as part of a group, is asked to collect pledges ahead of the event to help the chapter reach its funding target.
This year’s Honored Hero for the Fairhope walk is Kelley Cutrell, a 23-year-old Mobile resident and former Auburn University track and field athlete. Cutrell was diagnosed with colitis at age 14 and underwent two years of treatment before ultimately having surgery. He went on to compete on his high school track team and later ran for Auburn, a comeback organizers are highlighting as an example of what patients can achieve with proper care and support.
Beyond the walk route along the bay, the event will include live music and entertainment aimed at younger attendees, along with food vendors on-site, giving the gathering the feel of a community festival as much as a fundraising walk. Organizers say the family-friendly atmosphere is meant to make the event approachable for people affected by Crohn’s and colitis as well as friends and neighbors who simply want to show support.
Anyone interested in registering, forming a team or learning more about Crohn’s disease and colitis can contact the Alabama/Northwest Florida Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America by phone, or find registration information online through the foundation’s Gulf Coast regional page. The foundation holds similar Take Steps walks in cities throughout the country each year as its signature fundraising event.
For Baldwin County residents affected by inflammatory bowel disease, the Fairhope walk offers a rare chance to connect with others managing the same chronic conditions while enjoying an afternoon along the bay.