CREDIT: MELISSA NOVACASKA
Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) VP Internal Affairs Kevin Kaisar (far right), President Carlie Forsythe (right), Penny Bellhouse, Crohn's and Colitis Canada's leadership gifts officer, Ontario (centre), Kelly Forsythe (left) and Tom Forsythe (far left) stand with a $2,700 cheque on April 20.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) presented Crohn’s and Colitis Canada with a $2,700 cheque on April 20.

This semester, FSU president Carlie Forsythe and VP Internal Affairs Kevin Kaisar, decided to choose a charity that was personal and with Forsythe suggesting Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, Kaisar liked the idea and made the final decision.

Focusing on the organization’s London, Ont. branch, the funds were raised during the winter semester through the Charity Ball run by Kaisar and a planning committee.

“We had an absolutely fantastic turnout, the biggest charity ball we’ve ever done, so I was really proud. It was a personal achievement for me, but it was also a landmark achievement for the fundraising at the FSU and the charities as well,” Kaisar said.

According to Kaisar, one of his favourite parts about meeting and working with charities is being able to physically hand over cheques through presentations.

“You get to see and meet the [representative] and you get to really hear firsthand what the money that we fundraised is going to go towards,” Kaisar said. “I’m happy with where our money is going.”

Penny Bellhouse leadership gifts officer at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, Ontario, was pleased the FSU decided to collaborate with the organization.

“Any time groups like this are donating to us, really helps us meet our bottom line and do just that much more with funding research and patient programs. I’m really grateful to the FSU for doing this event (charity ball) and choosing us this year, we really appreciate it.”

According to Bellhouse, the collaboration with the FSU is not only important, but means a great deal for the organization.

“We are always struggling to meet that next thing, to fund one more research project and to send one more kid to camp and to do that one more every time. We want to do the most we can, and without donations like this, we can’t do that,” Bellhouse said.

Forsythe’s excitement to hand over the cheque to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada stems from a personal standpoint, as her mother, Kelly, was diagnosed with Crohn’s over 30 years ago.

“It’s something that’s always affected our family in one way or another,” Forsythe said.

Though Forsythe is proud of the efforts and amount of money Kaisar and the committee raised, it’s much more than that.

“I think [the collaboration] is really important because it’s about bringing awareness and the [more] awareness that we can spread, the more negativity that we can defeat at that point,” Forsythe said. “The amount that we raised is great, but the amount of awareness that we raised is actually better.”

This donation coincides with what Forsythe has been saying all year long.

“If you’re unsure about something, if you’re scared of something, then educate yourself.”

Kelly, Forsythe’s mother was also happy to see the efforts and awareness made by the FSU for Crohn’s and Colitis disease.

“It’s one of those hidden disabilities that people don’t really know about because you don’t see anything on the outside,” she said. “Any donation is awesome and Kevin did a good job in making us money. Research is really needed. We need to find new medications and new regimes and stay on top of things. I’m glad there’s more awareness and it’s more accepted. It’s not a dirty little secret.”