Groton Man To Be Honored At Fall Walk

GROTON- Groton resident Steven Briggs will be the Honored Hero at the 2018 Shoreline Take Steps Walk, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Guilford Fairgrounds. The event will benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, which helps raise awareness and funds to support its mission of finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life of patients.

According to a news release, Briggs will share his story at the event to provide hope and inspiration to others who suffer from these diseases.

“When I turned 12, my life changed forever," Briggs said in a release. "I started having stomach pains, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom every hour of the day, I couldn’t eat much of anything and I was always tired. My mother knew that something was wrong with me.”

After visiting Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Briggs remembers feelings of uncertainty with his diagnosis.

“Was I going to be in pain the rest of my life?" Briggs said. "Was I ever going to be able to play baseball again?”

Briggs never let Crohn’s disease define him. In 2009, he underwent a bowel resection surgery.

“I had six inches of my small intestines along with a small portion of my colon taken out," Briggs said. "It took

months for me to recover.”

In 2011, he met his wife and in 2016, his son Sebastian was born.

“I want everyone to know that if you stay strong and have people behind you, you can get through anything," Briggs said. "With my parents, wife and son rooting for me, I have the support team that I need.”'

Briggs is hoping to spread awareness as the 2018 Honored Hero.

“I hope to be able to spread the word about this terrible disease and help people to overcome their worst moments, knowing there is someone here to help them," Briggs said. "I am honored to be an honored hero and hope that I can make the IBD community proud.”

The Shoreline Take Steps Walk will take place Oct. 27. The day will include family-friendly activities, entertainment, food and more.

For more information on how to get involved with the Shoreline Take Steps Walk please visit the foundation website or contact Mariah Balestracci at (917) 828-6052 or mbalestracci@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.

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