Team Challenge set to brave half-marathon in fight against Crohn’s and colitis

Running for a cure is the idea behind participants for Team Challenge, a program under the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation designed to encourage fitness and awareness for the disease. It's a program in which participants are provided three to four months of training from professional coaches and an expense-paid weekend trip to an out-of-state destination for a half-marathon in exchange for raising funds to benefit the foundation.

Brooke Allen-Burnstein, endurance manager for Team Challenge Las Vegas, said the program is ideal for runners of all levels.

"A lot of people get a little scared when they're starting out because they've never run more than a 5K," Allen-Burnstein said. "We encourage running or a combination of running and walking. Some participants walk the entire half-marathon."

Allen-Burnstein said this season's Team Challenge has 41 members, more than half of whom have never participated in a half-marathon and several with a connection to Crohn's and colitis. She said more than 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and 12,000 of them are in Las Vegas.

This year's destination is the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon July 15 in Sonoma, Calif., and participants are encouraged to raise $3,900 for the trip. Allen-Burnstein said some participants set their goals higher and get creative with soliciting donations, from utilizing their personal online web pages through Team Challenge to taking part in group fundraising events at restaurants and local businesses.

The team's driving force, Allen-Burnstein said, is Brittany MacDonald, a 15-year-old southwest Las Vegas resident who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2008. Brittany is Team Challenge's honorary hero and encouragement through each training session.

"She's been at every informational meeting, every training session, and she's actually been walking with a lot of the participants," Allen-Burnstein said. "The concept is to spread her story. When (participants) think they can't run another mile, Brittany is there to support them."

Brittany, who serves on the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's youth council, said being involved with the organization as an honorary hero holds significance.

"When my mom told me (Team Challenge runners) wanted me to be their honorary hero, it meant so much to me," Brittany said. "I'm the type of person who wants to be involved with every aspect, which is why I go to every meeting and every training. It's great to run alongside them and motivate them."

Team Challenge's group training sessions are slated for each Saturday through July 7. Most are scheduled to begin at 7 or 8 a.m. and take place at parks throughout the valley, such as the Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex, 7901 W. Washington Ave., and Exploration Peak Park, 9275 S. Buffalo Drive. Each session includes a pre- or post-training clinic focused on stretching, injury prevention and various other topics. Allen-Burnstein said each clinic and session is designed for all Team Challenge participants, who range from 16 to 54 years old this season. She attempts to plan events outside of training sessions with the hope of encouraging team building.

"If you're training, but you're a walker, you might not get to talk to the college runner on the team," Allen-Burnstein said. "Team bonding is important to us, and (these events) provide just that."

Allen-Burnstein said her hope for this season's group of Team Challenge runners is to increase awareness of Crohn's and colitis and success in each individual's fitness goals.

"My biggest goal is to have everyone walk away from the season feeling successful," Allen-Burnstein said. "I always tell my team to put me out of business because I know there is a cure."

For more information on Team Challenge Las Vegas and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, call 646-276-0501 or visit tinyurl.com/teamchallengelv.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.