Walking for a cause

Take Steps for Crohn’s &Colitis Walk at Exploration Park in the Mountain’s Edge master-planned community is set for 8 a.m. to noon today.

“We are so excited for our members and supporters that this event is finally here,” said Kimberly Gradisher, community development manager, Crohn’s &Colitis Foundation of America — Las Vegas Chapter.

Donations benefit the local Crohn’s &Colitis chapter, which hopes to raise $40,000 for research on these incurable diseases that cause painful and uncomfortable symptoms.

Each year the nonprofit organization chooses a local resident with Crohn’s disease or colitis to be the Take Steps Honored Hero. Aiden Espinoza, 6, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease last year, is the 2014 honoree.

The event is free. Although no registration fee is required, a $25 per person donation is encouraged. Registered team members and attendees who donate will receive a wrist band for free food and other refreshments. Those wanting to participate in the walk can register at 8 a.m., with the race at 9 a.m.

Take Steps features other activities such as live entertainment, a raffle and prizes, balloon animals, face painting, and cotton candy by Virtuoso Kids.

The walk is around Exploration Park. The 80-acre park’s signature feature, the 2,846-foot-tall Exploration Peak, is a fully restored natural mountain park.

This year’s Take Step sponsors are the nonprofit Crohn’s &Colitis Foundation of America, Mountain’s Edge, Dignity Health, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, UBS, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Abbvie, and Actavis. Each will have a booth with the foundation providing educational materials about the diseases for which there is no cure.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect 1 in 200 Americans, with children under 18 the fastest-growing patient segment. Many sufferers experience painful and uncomfortable symptoms, which may include persistent diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, fever, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and urgency to have a bowel movement. To learn more, visit www.cc takesteps.org/lasvegas or www.facebook.com/takestepslasvegas.

Festival attendees are invited to tour the fast-selling master plans, and its many neighborhoods by DR Horton, KB Home, Lennar, Pulte Homes, Richmond American Homes and Ryland Homes.

DR Horton is offering the newest models in its Denali neighborhood. These spacious open floor plans have three to five bedrooms, lofts, courtyards and three-car garages. Neighborhood amenities cover the entire family with a pool, play area, club house and gym.

Located in southwest Las Vegas, the 3,500-acre Mountain’s Edge is being developed by Focus Property Group. For more information, visit the information center at 9725 S. Buffalo Drive on the corner of Buffalo Drive and Blue Diamond Road, or call 702-898-5777 or visit www.mountainsedge.com.