Did you know that almost 1 in 200 people suffer from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). An estimated 50,000 children in the US have IBD. Children are the fastest growing patient population. One in five children diagnosed will present with severe disease. These chronic, life-long conditions can be treated but not cured and IBD can significantly affect a patient's quality of life.

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation has been addressing unmet needs in pediatric research and patient care since 2006 under the acronym, PRO-KIDS, better known as the Pediatric Network. Some children diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis manifest mild disease activity and do well with basic medication. However, many others exhibit more severe disease with growth failure, impaired quality of life, continued active gastrointestinal symptoms, and the eventual development of disease complications requiring surgery.

Clinical practice in pediatric IBD is largely driven by knowledge generated in adult patents. This much needed pediatric-specific information can only be obtained by a large-scale multi-center collaborative effort. The Pediatric Network is critical in supporting pediatric research studies, the results of which will greatly improve the quality of care.

The race to find better care and cures for illnesses and diseases, like GI disorders, that strike children is never ending and you can help!

From November 7th-December 15th, K'NEX will donate 10% of online sales to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America support programs such as pediatric gastroenterology research. In addition, at checkout, every shopper at www.knex.com will have the opportunity to donate additional funds!