Cindy and Norman Calfin pose for pictures after running the event for charity in Miami, Florida earlier this year.
Battling Crohn's disease can be a tough enough task for most people but for Norman Calfin of Superior Township he turned the negative into a positive.
He has got his disease under control and he was able to run the ING Half Marathon in Miami on Jan. 27 to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Crohn's disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It usually occurs at the end of the small intestine, also known as the ileum, and at the beginning of the large intestine, also known as the colon. It is often mistaken for other GI disorders that cause similar symptoms, such as ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
"I finished with my wife (Cindy) in a faster time then we ever expected," Calfin exclaimed. "It was incredible to run with over 14,000 people. There were bands playing, cheer leaders, people giving us water and Gator Aid and thousands of people just watching and cheering us along the 13.1 mile stretch of crossways, bridges and downtown buildings."
Calfin was even surprised by his son who flew in from San Diego to cheer him on in the event.
The group that participated in this event from this area proved to be quite monetarily beneficial to the cause.
"Our group of 212 participants raised more than $1,000,000 for the research and finding a cure for Crohn's and Colitis," he said. "Not bad for our first year. The chairman who ran the ING Marathon this year spoke to us and said that this was the most money ever raised by a non profit group in this race."
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