June 24, 2011 by Rolland Lee
Longtime Ithaca resident Emily Aubin, otherwise known as “Pineapple” to her friends and family, will be hosting the 2011 Cruise for Crohn’s and Colitis fundraising event aboard M/V Columbia this Saturday, June 25th.
M/V Columbia on the Cayuga Lake Inlet. 14850 Photo.At least 1.4 million Americans suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), of which Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are two distinct disease classes. Treating and managing the disease can create a financial burden for infected individuals and their families. Emily hopes the event will promote awareness of and raise funds for those affected by the disease.
Emily herself was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was 10 years old. Since it has went into remission in her adult life, she has devoted her time and energy to enhancing the lives of those who live with the disease. Because she lived with Crohn’s throughout a better part of her childhood, Emily is particularly concerned with helping children affected by the disease live a normal life.
“It is important that kids with these diseases are able to feel normal by interacting with other kids afflicted by the disease,” says Emily. “Helping them be able to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, not having to feel ostracized by their peers, and knowing that they are not alone, that’s where my head is in all this.”
The cruise will disembark from Corks & More promptly at 6pm and return at 8pm, so get there early or get left behind. For those unable to partake in the cruise, raffles will be held at Corks & More from 6-9pm. The $30.00 cruise ticket price includes hors d’ouevres and draft beer (21 and over, of course). There will also be a cash bar for those needing something stronger. Live music and entertainment will be provided by Spy Monkey. In addition to the raffles at Corks & More, a silent auction will be conducted on the cruise.
Proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will go towards Get Your Guts in Gear, a non-profit group that promotes awareness of IBDs through multi-day cycling events. Additional proceeds from the raffle will go towards the Youth Rally Committee, a support group that facilitates summer camps and promotes independence, personal growth, and learning for youths with bowel and bladder dysfunctions.
Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event, on the Castaways web site, or by phone at 607-592-3728.
