Help Sarah raise money

Why am I walking the Virtual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 10k to raise funds for the Canadian Celiac Association? I'm doing this walk literally because now I can. Before my body began to heal from Celiac Disease, this walk would have been unthinkable. I was diagnosed with CD in August 2019 and went gluten-free. Early in 2020 I began to feel the life-changing effects of no longer suffering from an active inflammatory autoimmune disease. I found I had more energy, more focus, less brain fog, and no more pain in my hands and feet. For the first time in decades I had enough energy and drive to begin moving my body, so I started to walk. (I did try running for a bit but gave myself shin splints...in the words of Florence + The Machine, they said to love it in moderation, "...do I look moderate to you?")

So when the CCA announced that there was an opportunity to run/walk the STWF 10k to raise some funds for their education and advocacy work, I was THERE. The CCA has been vital to my healing, providing resources for me and other CD survivors as we navigate our new life without those pesky proteins collectively called gluten. People with CD have to keep to a very strict (not one crumb!) gluten-free diet, which means never consuming any product that contains the gluten molecules from wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, or their relatives. And it's not just food, either...medicine, beverages, anything that can get in the mouth and therefore into the digestive tract can cause a reaction!

Living gluten-free isn't easy. But it's so worth it. I feel like I've woken up to my have my life back after 20-odd years of sleepwalking through it. The CCA has helped to make that possible. 

Please consider helping the CCA in their work as they educate and advocate for people like me who have Celiac Disease. Anything you can give is a blessing. A $25 donation gets you a tax receipt. Thank you for considering this cause and taking the time to read my story! See you after 10k!