Help Rasheed raise money

In 2007, I was signed up to run the Bluenose Half Marathon. I was training, I felt good, I ate healthy -- and then I couldn't stop going to the bathroom. Those urgent, blood-filled trips were the first signs of ulcerative colitis. I never made it to the start line.

In 2014, I walked out of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto with a j-pouch inside me -- a new surgically-created section of intestines to replace the UC-ravaged colon I had to have removed.

Now here we are in 2024, I've lived a decade in pretty good shape thanks to that j-pouch, but that race that went un-run has remained in my mind.

To mark 10 years since my last operation, I've set out to finish the business of running the Bluenose Half Marathon, and in doing so, give back to two organizations who gave me my life back.

I'm aiming to raise $5,000 for Crohn's and Colitis Canada, so they can continue to support people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. I will match that amount and donate $5,000 to Mount Sinai Hospital, so they can continue providing profound medical care.

Your donation here will go to Crohn's and Colitis Canada.

I can't think of a better way to mark my 10-year pouchiversary than by donating $10,000 to charity. 

Thank you so much for your support!

- Rasheed

NOTE: If the $5,000 target for Crohn's and Colitis Canada isn't reached, I'll match whatever the total amount raised here is (as of June 9) and donate that amount to Mount Sinai Hospital.

Photo by Eddie Hong.