Earlier this month, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) held its 16th annual Walk for Hope event. The gathering aimed to support the Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at CHOP and successfully raised over $215,000. This event was a significant step towards finding a cure for IBD.
The event took place at Citizens Bank Park and saw participation from more than 1,100 individuals. Attendees included IBD patients, their families, friends, supporters, and CHOP IBD clinicians. Activities during the event featured food, music, dancing, face painting, and a photo booth.
IBD is increasingly becoming a global health issue with rising numbers of affected children worldwide. Particularly concerning is the rapid increase in diagnoses among children under five years old. Recent advancements have expanded knowledge about IBD genetics and treatment options. CHOP’s team of gastroenterologists, geneticists, and researchers are leading efforts to study DNA and the microbiome to develop innovative treatments for IBD.
Some key facts about IBD include that over 100,000 young Americans under 20 live with the disease. The Center for Pediatric IBD at CHOP treats more than 2,400 young patients annually and is involved in over 40 active research studies aimed at breakthroughs in treatment.
For further details on the event’s impact or to learn more about future initiatives, visit chopwalkforhope.org.
