Lindsey is a 20-year old currently in her sophomore year at Penn State. She is majoring in Biological Anthropology with minors in Biology and Health Policy & Administration. Outside of the classroom, she is heavily involved in Penn State's THON - a fundraiser "For the Kids" benefiting the Four Diamonds Fund and Hershey Medical Center's Pediatric Oncology Department and the largest student run philanthropy in the world. She is also a member of the Penn State Crohn's and Colitis Club, the Penn State Global Medical Brigades, and the Penn State Irish Student Society. In her (admittedly limited) free time, Lindsey enjoys taking advantage of free student performances on campus and hanging out with her roommates. Lindsey was diagnosed in February 2010 with Crohn's disease, during her senior year of high school. After roughly five months of unidentified pain, she finally was referred to a gastroenterologist who immediately recognized her severe symptoms. Her gastroenterologist called her his “problem child” (and still does) and was honestly surprised that her level of pain hadn't landed her in the emergency room. That flare-up, once diagnosed, lasted about seven months. She is currently dealing with her second flare-up.

Lindsey absolutely loved being involved with Team Challenge and running the Virginia Wine Country Half-Marathon in June 2011! She states, “The only greater feeling than finishing the race was having her awesome Team Challenge friends there to congratulate her”. She is so excited to have been chosen as an Honoree for this year’s Virginia 2012 Season and hopes everyone has an incredible time training and getting to know each other on your journey to be 13.1 miles closer to a cure for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis!

Patrick is a happy fourth grader who likes math, reading about mythology, playing the cello and making paper airplanes. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in the spring of 2009, just a few days after his seventh birthday. Since then, he has had the help of wonderful doctors, nurses, and teachers in dealing with the physical and emotional difficulties of this disease. In spite of this help, this past August was tough on Patrick, causing him days when he barely had enough energy to get out of bed. Added to the physical pain and exhaustion were emotional feelings of guilt and frustration for needing to always be near a bathroom and not being able to go anywhere too far from home. He has endured many medical tests and procedures and continues to convey both fearlessness and curiosity when faced with these ordeals. He can even remove his own IV when the nurses allow him to do so. Since starting new medication at the end of last summer, Patrick is feeling terrific and hoping to grow enough to be able to ride a roller coaster with his older brother (Specifically the Phantom's Revenge at Kennywood Park). 

Patrick loves being involved with Team Challenge and enjoys biking or running with his Pittsburgh teammates. This season is Patrick's third time being honored as one of the Western PA Team Challenge Honorees. In addition, Patrick is excited to be the National Honored Hero for Team Challenge. He would like to encourage everyone to join Team Challenge and help find a cure for Crohn's and colitis.