The Northwest chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America held one of its biggest fundraisers at Magnuson Park in Seattle on Sunday, July 18. Bellevue’s Joey Peha couldn’t have been more pleased.

Peha, 11, was this year’s honored recipient at the walk that attracted between 900 and 1,000 participants, according to walk coordinator, Lacy Lawson.

“I would like to thank all of you for coming, because it is really important that we all help this disease and find a cure,” Joey said in his speech. “There are so many people out there that are in the hospital because they have terrible stomach aches and just can’t live with it.”

Donna Peha, Joey’s mother, said it was great to see support from the entire community.

“It was really neat to see everyone come out, both the people suffering from the disease and the corporate sponsors,” she said. “Everyone really came together.”
The Foundation raised close to $127,000 of its $178,000 goal at the walk. Both walk participants and those who are participating virtually through outside fundraisers have until the end of August to get their funds in.

Lawson said that many participants are doing mini-events, like car washes, dart tournaments and outdoor movie nights to help bring in the rest of the cash.

The event included a performance by a local band, The Middle Third, as well as speeches by the event’s corporate sponsor, Chaplin’s Automotive Group, and Joey Peha.

Peha himself has so far raised roughly $4300 of his $7500 goal. Donna Peha said that the event was also great for Joey because it put things in perspective.

“We feel lucky a lot of the time because Joey doesn’t really have a severe case,” she said. “It really makes an impact to see that there are a lot of people out there who have it a lot worse.”

Kirsten Smith is an intern with the Bellevue Reporter. She is a student at Northwestern University in Illinois.