A Volunteer Spirit

“I have a volunteer spirit—I’m always looking for something to get involved in,” says Christine Stewart. And for more than 10 years, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation has been the beneficiary of Chris’ volunteer spirit.

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease nearly 30 years ago, Chris, with her husband, Craig Fahnestock, began their involvement with the Foundation by participating in their community’s Take Steps walk. Before long, Chris had started her own team, The Crohn Rangers, and later became the chair of her local walk.

Chris is the only member of her large family to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Also a breast cancer survivor, she is a firm believer that “there is always someone who has it worse than me.”

Her positivity and enthusiasm for the Foundation’s work has led her and her husband to include the Foundation as a beneficiary in their wills.

“Having worked all these years, we wanted to leave a gift to an organization of people who ‘get it’—who really understand what it’s like to live with Crohn’s disease (or ulcerative colitis) every day. We know the Foundation is doing good work for people like me,” Chris shares. “I hope that our gift will help continue IBD awareness and outreach efforts and find even better medications, and ultimately, a cure.”

In addition to gifts through a will, which Chris and Craig have done, supporters may also designate the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation as a beneficiary of a trust or retirement account—all gifts supporting the Foundation’s efforts after their lifetime. For more information on how you can make a future gift to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, contact Susan Carriker at 252-597-5085 or scarriker@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.