The Cyclocross Mafia to be recognized by the CCFA Iowa at their 2008 Patient and Family Education Conference on Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Ames Iowa.  Through promotion of cyclocross racing in Iowa the past seven years, the Cyclocross Mafia has donated over $6,000 to the organization and helped raise visibility of the disease through the midwest. 

This one-day conference will feature leading experts discussing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and how they affect the body, the role of the immune system in the diseases, different medications used to treat IBD adn how these medications work in the body and beneficial coping mechanisms used in chronic illness. 

Marc Hollander will be the featured keynote speaker, presenting "IBD for Dummies: Perspective From a Dummy," about the importance of a strong medical team, alternative therapies, diet, activity, and goal-setting. He will also be involved with the Youth and Teen Session - "If You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It." The chat session will be an opportunity for questions and answers about Crohn's, coping, communication with friends and family, and spreading information to their community.

Hollander, diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 1999, is co-director of the Cross Out Crohn's: Intergalactic Cyclocross Championship in Newton, IA on Sunday, October 5. The race will be a fund-raiser for the CCFA, featuring a raffle of a 2009 Specialized TriCross Cyclocross bicycle from Rasmussen Bike Shop. Event sponsors include Court Avenue Brewery, Graziano's Italian Grocery, Jasper Winery, Active Endeavors, Bike World Iowa, Rasmussen Bike Shop, Oakley, UME COMPETE, and Oakley.

More information on the event can be found on the CCFA Iowa Website here.