North Shore IBD Club
We will not let Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis define us!
Welcome to the North Shore IBD Club!
The goal of this club is to create a safe space for students aged 10 - 18 on the North Shore of Massachusetts who have been diagnosed with a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Who we are:
The founding members of the North Shore IBD Club are Nick Fox and his parents, Kate and Matt. Nick is a current Junior at Beverly High School. Diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of 10, he has persevered through multiple treatments, flare-ups, and some good times too. When Nick was diagnosed, he really had no other kids around him, or older than him, to talk to about Crohn’s. Who else could let him know what middle or high school would be like, could he still play sports, would he have issues in school? These were all questions he had. While Nick, and his parents, might not have all of the answers, he does have some experience under his belt (literally) being a teenager with IBD. As a current three sport athlete, class Secretary, and honor roll student, Nick is excited to chat with other students about their struggles and victories with Crohn's or Colitis.
Nick’s mom and dad are also excited to discuss their experiences as parents of a teen with Crohn’s. Kate and Matt have jumped into the IBD world with both feet. Kate frequently gets involved with fundraisers for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and Matt was an MGH pediatric GI parent mentor, and he is a long-time school administrator who has written and executed IBD 504 plans for well over 15 years.
A little more about the NS IBD Group
What we will NOT do:
Give medical advice
Judge the treatment decisions of doctors and families
Make fun of others
What we WILL do:
Talk about how it sucks to takes pills and get shots!
Provide resources for everyone to read and explore
Always be open, honest, and supportive
Nick plays Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball at Beverly High School
Nick and Kate raised over $2,100 for CCFA in the Spin for a Cure fundraiser
Nick's most recent visit to MGH - August 2020 - he still made it to the first day of school!
Our first family event for the CCFA - Take Steps in Boston - even our dog Puck got involved!