Manchester Employees Raise Funds, Awareness Of Stomach Disorder

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township employees worked to raise awareness and raise funds to support research for gastroparesis, a disorder paralyzing the stomach, during August.

Township officials said the effort to raise awareness was sparked by township employee Marisa Wilkins, who is living with this disorder.

Gastroparesis leads to food traveling slowly or not at all to the small intestines, the area where nutrients are absorbed into the body, according to a news release from the township. It can manifest suddenly and without any warning signs, as it did for Wilkins two years ago. Currently, there is no cure, though some treatments can temporarily alleviate symptoms. Those living with gastroparesis have difficulty drinking water, feel nauseated daily, experience terrible pain, and must ingest most foods and medications in liquid form. Unfortunately, this disorder can quickly take a toll on those affected.

The awareness campaign raised $125 to benefit G-PACT (Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments, Inc), a nonprofit organization that helps to educate patients and physicians about the disorder, the news release said.

Mayor Kenneth Palmer issued a proclamation recognizing August as Gastroparesis Month. Also present were Manchester Township Council President James A. Vaccaro and Business Administrator Donna Markulic, among others, according to the news release.

"On behalf of the gastroparesis community and all who suffer with this condition, thank you Mayor Palmer for proclaiming August as Gastroparesis Month in Manchester Township," Wilkins said. "Without the support and recognition of elected officials like you, the gastroparesis community's daily battle with pain, nausea, and starvation would go unnoticed.

"With this, we will continually strive to make aware the community and physicians of this condition and its detrimental outcome. Thank you again for joining us in this case," she said.

Photo provided by Manchester Township