SOUTH FLORIDA – The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is delighted to announce that for the month of August Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BRSO) will raise money to support the research to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis with a nationwide "round-up" program. BSRO employees and its 2,200 retail locations nationwide, including Firestone Complete Auto Care, ExpertTire, Tires Plus, and Wheel Works, will support the efforts of CCFA through a program that offers customers the opportunity to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar for CCFA.

South Florida has Firestone and Tires Plus retail locations offering this "round-up" program. Locations can be found by visiting www.firestone.com and www.tiresplus.com.

"We are grateful to Bridgestone Retail Operations and its customers for their support. Having 2,200 locations nationwide involved in this campaign brings much needed awareness to our cause and the monetary donation will fund critical research," said Richard Geswell, President of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. "We believe cures are within our reach, but we need to keep funding the research."

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affects nearly 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. The physical and emotional toll of these disease can be devastating.

Walk With Us

In addition to the Round-up campaign, Gary Garfield, President & CEO of Bridgestone Americas, Inc, serves as CCFA's National Chair for their Take Steps walk program. Take Steps is the largest walk program in the country dedicated to raising funds and awareness for digestive diseases.

Thousands of people will gather this year at 158 walk sites across the country to join the fight against Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The walks are family friendly festivals with activities for everyone including bands, games, activities, food and a leisurely walk through a park or community. South Florida will host their West Palm Beach Take Steps Walk this November 9, 2013 in City Place. For more information on the walk, please visit www.cctakesteps.org.

Take Steps Walks have raised over $30 million for research and patient support services. The program is committed to transforming the lives of those impacted by these diseases and leading them to a brighter future through well-funded, cutting-edge scientific research. To learn more about the Take Steps program of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, visit www.cctakesteps.org. To learn more about CCFA, visit www.ccfa.org.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccfafb and www.facebook.com/ccfatakesteps, or follow CCFA and Take Steps on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccfa and www.twitter.com/takesteps.