Fernando Pisani and 24 hockey players helped raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

The spirit of giving back was as strong as ever this weekend at the first ever Score for Colitis & Crohn's event, which raised $20,000 for four gastrointestinal and digestive disease patient organizations from across the country. The Score for Colitis & Crohn's initiative, which took place at the West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace on Saturday, August 29th, featured Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers and 24 aspiring young hockey enthusiasts who were all on hand to help raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the latter of which Pisani was diagnosed with in 2007.

"I knew something was wrong with me, but was embarrassed to talk to someone about it. As time went on I began to feel worse. I was going to the washroom 20-30 times a day. I could barely leave the house and had lost about 40 pounds when the disease was at its worst," says Pisani. "I knew I needed to get well and to see a doctor. I finally did and that's when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and received a biologic medication called Remicade(R). Within three months I was playing hockey and my life was on track again. I'm glad I now have the opportunity to reach out to other people suffering from the disease to let them know that they can lead a normal and active life and do the things they love."

Source: SCHERING-PLOUGH CANADA

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