Prior to the 2004 NFL season, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard began experiencing stomach pains, lost a considerable amount of weight and missed part of pre-season training. He was diagnosed soon after with Crohn’s Disease.
For the past two years, Garrard has scored for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America through the In the Zone for Crohn’s program, which earned $180,000 this year from the on-the-field exploits of Garrard and support from Centocor Ortho Biotech.
As part of the program, $10,000 was donated to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America for every touchdown Garrard scored during the 2009 football season. This season, Garrard accounted for 18 passing and rushing touchdowns, raising the $180,000 for the CCFA.
"Since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease several years ago, it has been my goal to raise awareness of this debilitating disease and to help inspire other people who are living with Crohn’s disease," said Garrard. "I want people to know that if I can overcome this condition and still live a happy and healthy life, they can too."
The money raised by Garrard’s involvement in the In the Zone for Crohn’s program over the past two years hasallowed the CCFA to advance critical Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in order to make a profound difference in the present and future health of patients with these diseases, the foundation said.
"David has impacted a countless number of people through his inspiring story of overcoming Crohn’s disease and his continued efforts to shed light on this often misunderstood and under-reported condition," said Richard Geswell, president of the CCFA.
Garrard, one of the 1.4 million Americans with Crohn’s Disease and the related ulcerative colitis (UC), recently completed his third season as the Jaguars’ full-time starting quarterback.
Good Job David, there are too many people out there who are going undiagnosed and just dealing with they symptoms for way too long.