Mr. Speaker, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a voluntary, not for profit medical research foundation dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. There is no known cause or cure and there are an estimated 100,000 men and women in Canada suffering from IBD. People are most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 25.
The CCFC funds educational programs for health professionals, IBD patients and their families. To date the CCFC has invested more than $21 million in major research projects.
This year marked the 11th time 260 M & M meat shops fired up their barbecues in their various communities in Canada for the annual fundraiser. This event nationwide raised $702,000 this year, which now totals an astounding $4 million. I congratulate the M & M meat shops across Canada for doing all that they do in this area.