Every year, Mercy Gastroenterology sponsors Tee It Closer to a Cure, which is an annual golf scramble benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The CCFA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of people with Irritable Bowel Disease.

IBD is the umbrella term for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, which both affect different areas of the digestive tract. Crohn’s can affect any area in the tract, while UC is centered in the colon and large intestine. Symptoms of IBD include inflammation, bleeding, and severe pain. It is a very debilitating disease, but unfortunately, there is no cure. That is the main goal of organizations like the CCFA. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at eleven years old. I have had it for six years, and in that time I have had a difficult time with it, so I want to find a cure for it and help newly diagnosed people cope. This is why I got involved with the Tee It Closer to a Cure golf scramble.

Mitchell Lamm is the founder and coordinator of the golf scramble. He is a personal trainer here in Paducah, with a special interest in golf. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2006, and lost a large amount of weight and became extremely weak, sometimes not even able to walk up the stairs. He had to go through extensive surgery to become healthy again. Like me, Mitchell considers himself to be extremely fortunate and recognizes the positives that come with the slew of negatives. He is thankful for his support system, his family and friends. “It has shown me that there are people out there that really care,” he says.

This is the fifth annual scramble, and the fourth year my family has been involved in the organization. Pro golfer Emma Talley plays a round with each of the four-person teams, as her trainer had IBD. Each year, our scramble has grown and grown. Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are two diseases that are terribly devastating, but are not widely known at all. Thanks to charities like this golf scramble, I have been able to remain in remission for five years, and I hope to stay that way for a very long time. We, as the coordinators of the scramble, want the same for other people.

“I am working hard to expand my charity efforts so I can hit at least the $50,000 donation mark in 10 years or less,” Mitchell says. “My 4-man golf scramble plays a huge part in this.”

The Fifth Annual Tee It Closer to a Cure Golf Scramble will be held on Friday, May 26th, 2017. It will be held at Paxton Park on Berger Road. Lunch will be served at 11:30 AM, and the tournament will commence at 1:00 PM. A four-person team will cost $240. Prizes for the first, second, and last places teams will be awarded. For more information, contact Rachel Bell at [email protected], or Mitchell Lamm at [email protected]. You can also call (270) 331-5025.