Ninth Annual International Walk/Run for Celiac Disease
Online registration is now closed for all events. Many thanks for your support!
Dear Participant/Volunteer or Donor/Sponsor,
Thank you for your support! Support comes in many different ways and for many different reasons. We really appreciate anything and everything you can do to help. The International Walk/Run for Celiac Disease is an annual fundraising event, which is organized and managed by the Center for Celiac Research (CFCR) at the University of Maryland. This is our 9th year and we have raised over $1,750,000 to date. The funds raised are used to increase awareness and support research as well as national and local celiac projects. 75% of the funds go to support research and other national initiatives and 25% to support local communities throughout the country.
Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting children and adults. People with celiac disease are unable to eat foods that contain gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. In people with celiac disease, gluten sets off an autoimmune reaction that causes the destruction of the villi in the small intestine. They produce antibodies to attack the gluten, but the same antibodies also attack the intestine, causing damage and illness. Untreated celiac disease can be life threatening!
Finding the cause of this disease is a priority of the Center (CFCR). Alessio Fasano, MD, is the Medical Director and a leading expert in the field. A study Dr. Fasano recently conducted concluded that as many as one out 133 Americans may have the disease. In fact, The National Institute of Health (NIH) has recognized celiac disease for the first time as a serious health problem in the United States and estimates almost three million Americans are affected.
We greatly appreciate your support in our effort to increase awareness, develop effective treatments and possibly, one day, find a cure.
Participants – If you are here to help raise funds by participating in a local walk/run, then click on “Participant Registration” on the left side bar. You can do this as an individual, join an existing team or form your own team. There are many functions available such as importing your address book, pre-form letter and donation tracking/reports. Thank you for your compassion and energy to help us make a difference!
Volunteers – If you are interested in helping out for a particular event, in a city where you live, then click on the “Volunteer Registration” on the left side bar. There is much to do in organizing and administering a walk/run, so your help is really appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time!
Donors/Sponsors – Whether you are here to make a general donation or to provide support for one of our participants (walker/runner), we thank you immensely. If you are here to sponsor a walker/runner, then click on “Sponsor a Participant” on the left side bar. You will find a look up feature to help you locate the participant’s donation page. If you are not sponsoring a participant, but want to make an online donation, then click on “General Donation” on the left side bar. If you prefer to write a check, please make it payable to "Center for Celiac Research" and mail it to
Center for Celiac Research
Attn: Pam King
20 Penn St. Room S303B
Baltimore, MD 21201.
Thank you for your contribution!
Email Feature – The "email this site to a friend" feature (located in the top right-hand corner of this home page) allows you to send a quick email about the International Walk/Run effort to family and friends.
Celiac Awareness Items – Show your support for this cause year-round! The Center for Celiac Research is selling celiac awareness bracelets and magnets to raise funds for celiac research and to continue our efforts in increasing awareness of celiac disease. Click on “Celiac Awareness Items” on the left side bar for more information.
THIS PAGE IS NOT A PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HAS NOT EDITED OR EXAMINED THE CONTENT. THE AUTHOR(S) OF THE PAGE ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT.
The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research is a part of the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. Contributions to the Center are managed by the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
