Minnesotan Laurel Schwartz named as 2009 Comeback Kids Recipient for the Central Region

At the age of 8, Laurel Schwartz was diagnosed with a rare form of Crohn's disease involving lung complications. While she takes several medications to manage her disease, she still experiences the occasional flare-up, yet handles her condition with great composure. She is a vibrant, enthusiastic teenager who has turned her illness into a positive part of her life – becoming a dedicated champion for others with intestinal diseases.

Over the past six years, Laurel has devoted herself to awareness and fundraising projects. She has served as a Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA) Youth Ambassador, speaking at educational conferences and fundraisers, and is active on the political front, lobbying to pass inflammatory bowel disease bills at the federal and state levels. Laurel also has participated in a public service announcement for colon cancer testing and created YouTube™ videos to share her story. Laurel even started her own organization, Project CURE (Communication, Understanding, Respect and Education) and sells homemade bracelets to raise money ($6,500 to date!) for our local CCFA Camp Oasis.

In addition to her advocacy work, Laurel is an honor roll student, first violinist in her school orchestra, yearbook editor, concert choir singer and school play/local community theater performer.

Laurel, 16, of St. Paul, MN, hopes to become a professional actress or child life specialist. "Every individual has to find their own way to cope with their disease, whether it is fundraising, volunteering or reaching out to peers," says Laurel. "I want to continue to make a difference and be a voice for other young people with intestinal diseases."

Comeback Kids is a trademark of ConvaTec Inc.

	March 13, 2010 PATIENT EDUCATION CONFERENCE Putting the Pieces Together: Managing Your Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis March 13, 2010 Minneapolis Airport Marriott 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. More Information Register Thank you to our current sponsors:
	March 27, 2010 TAKE STEPS KICK-OFF - Twin Cities Excited for Take Steps this year!  Join fellow walkers and teams for bowling and pizza to help kick-off the 2010 walk season!  This is the perfect time to meet up with your teammates and talk about your fundraising tactics for the year! Event Details: March 27, 2010 Park Tavern, St. Louis Park, MN 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Bowling lanes, shoe rentals and pizza and soda provided!
	March 28, 2010 TAKE STEPS KICK-OFF - Rochester Excited for Take Steps this year!  Join fellow walkers and teams for bowling and pizza to help kick-off the 2010 walk season!  This is the perfect time to meet up with your teammates and talk about your fundraising tactics for the year! Event Details: March 28, 2010 Colonial Lanes, Rochester, MN 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Bowling lanes, shoe rentals and pizza and soda provided!
	May 16, 2010 Take Steps - Rochester Take Steps is a fun-filled evening walk and family festival dedicated to raising awareness and funds to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis!  Join us  for our inaugural Rochester walk site! Event Details: East Silver Lake Park, Rochester, MN May 16, 2010, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here now!
	May 22, 2010 Take Steps - Sioux Falls Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis is a fun-filled evening walk and family festival dedicated to raising awareness and funds to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis!  Register below to Take Steps of your own! Event Details: Sertoma Park, Sioux Falls, SD May 22, 2010, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Register here now!
	May 23, 2010 Take Steps - Twin Cities Take Steps is a fun-filled evening walk and family festival dedicated to raising awareness and funds to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis!  Help us gather over 1,000 walkers this year! Event Details: Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, MN May 23, 2010, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here now!
	August 2, 2010 - August 7, 2010 CAMP OASIS      August 2 - 7, 2010    ~A co-ed residential camp for kids with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis~   Our 2010 session will be held at One Heartland in Willow River, Minnesota.   Applications will be available in mid-January 2010 for campers (grades 2nd - 10th), Leaders in Training (grades 11th - 12th), and volunteers (age 18+).   Click here to learn more about this exciting program, or contact Ruby Lanoux, Development Coordinator, at rlanoux@ccfa.org or 651-917-2424.

Please note: All support group listings are subject to change. Please call the main chapter number 651.917.2424 or tollfree at 888.422.3266 to confirm the meeting date, time, and place. 

Minnesota- Seven County Metro Area:

Edina/St. Louis Park
Time: 6:30 p.m.   

Date: Second Sunday of every month
Place:Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina, Tio Spa Room  

****February Date Change  - Support Group Meeting on February 21, 2010 - third Sunday at 6:30 p.m., same location                                                                                                     

Contact: For further information please contact  Heidi at cckickers@gmail.com.                                                                                                                                             

Hastings
Time:   7:00 p.m.
Date:   First Tuesday of every month
Place:  Regina Hospital, Hastings                                                                                                    Contact: For more information, please contact Andy at (651) 437-5247.

Golden Valley
Meetings are temporarily suspended. Contact: For more information, call Deb at (952) 512-0362 or Maggie Brown at (651_ 917-2437, or mabrown@ccfa.org.

New Connections
Meetings temporarily suspended.  However, anyone
who needs information regarding ileoanal reservoirs,
please call Becky at 651-490-7937.

St. Paul
Meetings temporarily suspended.

Greater Minnesota:

Brainerd -- Meetings temporarily suspended
Time:   7:00 p.m.
Date:   First Tuesday of every month
Place:  St. Joseph Hospital, Brainerd

Duluth
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Date: 3rd Monday of every other month, January, March, May, September, November

Place: St. Mary's Hospital, Ontario Room

Contact: Renee McAdamis at rjmac4321@yahoo.com.

Rochester
Time:   7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Date:   First Monday of every month
Place:  Methodist Hospital,
           Dining Room #3                                                                                                                  Contact: For more information, contact Guy Havelick at havelick@gmail.com.

St. Cloud
Time:    5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Date:    Second Monday of every month
           (September through May)
Place:  St. Cloud Hospital, 
           Willow Room                                                                                                                      Contact: For more information, please contact Michelle Braun at mbraun3@charter.net or (320) 271-0005 for more information.

Mankato
Time:   6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Date:   First Tuesday of the month (September thru May)                                                                                                                                                Place:  Holy Rosary Parish Center
           1st Floor Conference Room
           546 Grant Ave, city of N. Mankato

Contact: For more information, please contact JoAnn at joann.ccfa@yahoo.com

Winona
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  
Date:  The last Tuesday of every month
Place:  Parkview Conference Room at Community Memorial Hospital                                              Contact: For more information, please contact Shirley Oberton at (507) 425-2259, or at soberton@hbci.com.

South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin:

Spooner, Wisconsin
Time:   6:00 p.m.
Date:   Second Tuesday of every month
Place:  Spooner Hospital
           819 Ash Street

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Time:   6:30 p.m.
Date:   First Thursday of every month
Place:  Avera McKennan Fitness Center Center
           3400 S. Southeastern Ave.
           Sioux Falls, SD 571003                                                                                                     Contact: For more information, please contact Franklin Pudas at mfpudas@sio.midco.net.

Yankton, South Dakota
Time:  6:45 p.m.
Date:   Third Tuesday of every month
Place: Avera Sacred Heart Campus Pavilion
          409 Summit
          Yankton, SD 57078                                                                                                             Contact Kathy Ryken at kathleenryken9@vyn.midco.net or Dave Brown at carrot188@knology.net for more information.

Fargo, North Dakota -- Temporarily suspended.
Time:   7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Date:   Second Monday of ever month, starting in December.
Place:   MeritCare South University in room SU                                                                             Contact: For more information, contact Chrissy Finn at chrissyfinn@hotmail.com.

CCFA Minnesota/Dakotas is a proud member of Community Health Charities

Who is a hero? It could be the person next to you. It could be you.

More than one in three Minnesotans are affected by a chronic health condition or disease, either as a patient or as a caregiver. Odds are you know somebody who could use a hero. Community Health Charities works with companies to bring volunteer and giving support to 35 leading charities fighting chronic illness. Employees have the power to fun life saving research, prevent disease and support people who are struggling to survive. As a group or individual, you can use your time and talents to support an individual or charity. You can be a hero.

For information on how you can help, contact CHC at 952.844.9844 or www.healthcharitiesmn.org.

Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter

1885 University Avenue West, Suite 355
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone: (651) 917-2424
Fax: (651) 917-2425
888-Phone: 1-888-422-3266
E-mail: Minnesota@ccfa.org

• Danielle Leitner Baxter, Executive Director
• Ruby Lanoux, Development Coordinator
• Maggie Brown, Take Steps Manager
• Alexander Tsatsoulis, Team Challenge Manager