After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in 2015, Noah Weber, now 15, reached out to NBA basketball star Larry Nance Jr., who also had been diagnosed with the illness at a young age. Noah, an avid sports fan, became friends with Mr. Nance. Two years later, they formed the nonprofit Athletes vs Crohn’s and Colitis, whose mission is to raise awareness about the condition among adolescents and help young athletes with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) reach their potential.
On behalf of the organization, Noah and his father, Kaare Weber, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recently presented Marla C. Dubinsky, MD, Professor, Pediatrics, and Medicine (Gastroenterology), with a $25,000 check to support research at the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Center at Mount Sinai, where she is Co-Director. “Athletes vs Crohn’s and Colitis inspires and gives hope to young people suffering from IBD,” says Dr. Dubinsky.
From left: Kaare Weber, MD; Marla C. Dubinsky, MD; and Noah Weber.