Honorees
WHAT IS AN HONOREE?
An Honoree is someone who provides inspiration to our athletes throughout the training and fundraising period. Honorees serve as symbols of strength and motivation, support and determination. An Honoree is someone who is currently is being treated for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Each of our TEAM CHALLENGE participants is matched up with an Honoree. Honorees have the unique opportunity to connect with individuals who have committed themselves to raising funds for the fight against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They will share their strength and courage with participants who are training to complete their endurance event.
When participants join TEAM CHALLENGE, they commit to many months of training and fundraising before completing a half marathon. They are not only motivated by their own personal fitness goals, but are truly inspired by the bravery and fortitude of each Honoree.
MEET YOUR 2012 HONORED HERO!
Jalen Roberts, 5 years old – Team Southwest Ohio
Five-year old Jalen Roberts had a rocky start in life. When Jalen was just two months old he started to experience bad diarrhea and vomiting and stopped eating completely. This caused him to start a cycle of hospital visits and treatment for malnutrition and dehydration. No one knew why he was having these problems and no one had a solution.
He was misdiagnosed several times and constantly referred to endocrinology and nephrology for answers. After carefully monitoring his symptoms and researching possible treatment programs, Brandy and John Roberts, Jalen's parents, insisted that he be seen by Gastro-Intestinal (GI) specialist. These GI’s still had no answers for Jalen’s condition and struggled to keep Jalen’s health stable.
Again, Jalen’s parents searched for answers and reached out to several GI specialists for help. Finally, in 2008, Cincinnati Children’s IBD clinic informed the Roberts family that, through their research and studies, they had seen cases similar to Jalen’s and that they may be able to offer some assistance. So, Jalen and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio from Oklahoma three years ago when Jalen’s father received a humanitarian reassignment to Wright Patterson Air Force Base to allow Jalen to be treated by the Cincinnati Children's IBD clinic. Jalen was eventually diagnosed with an unspecified colitis, and on May 7, 2009, after many temporary treatment successes, Jalen unfortunately had to have surgery to remove his severely diseased colon resulting in an ileostomy.
Jalen has thrived every day since and is now an active, healthy five year old that won't stop eating!