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Gender	Male
Location	Northern Virginia, United States
Introduction	In August I began training with Crohn’s & Colitis Foudation of America's (CCFA) Team Challenge to run in the Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon in Vegas on December 4, 2011. I’m running in memory of my wife, Melissa Bealafeld Espinoza, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when she was 8. In October 2009, at 35, a routine colonoscopy found precancerous lesions in her colon and surgery was scheduled. Unfortunately, at the same time, a mass was found in her liver that was later diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma. By the time connections were made, it was too late. But, Melissa never gave up hope and battled for 11 months-until September 29, 2010. Melissa was a donor to CCFA. She wanted to contribute to finding a cure for UC so others wouldn’t have to go through what she did. I’m running to continue that legacy. In Melissa’s name, I want to raise awareness for the 1.4 million Americans who suffer with IBD. The everyday physical and mental pain and anxiety associated with these diseases cannot be described. Visit my fund raising page.