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2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 E D I T I O N | K A D L E C . O R G / K N R C Miss Washington Regan Gallo has an important, and personal, message to share. When Regan Gallo was just four years old, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the large intestine and rectum. Now 24, she has learned to fully live into life while navigating the complex needs of managing the disease. So fully, in fact, that last summer she was named Miss Washington 2022 and represented the state at the Miss America competition last month. Regan, who grew up in Puyallup, didn't let her disease stop her. She was a competitive dancer, performed in theater, and loved leadership. Despite an active life, living with a chronic illness was challenging. "I felt so alone growing up. I didn't know anyone who had a similar experience or had the same disease," she said. The turning point for her came when she got connected to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation by attending a camp it hosts each summer. It was the first time, she said, she connected with other young people who were living lives like hers. From that experience, she knew she wanted to serve others, "who were struggling, who are still struggling, or just being diagnosed and don't know how to handle it." At 15, she started volunteering and fundraising for the national Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, a connection that continues today. The road to Miss Washington "I was also looking for more ways to perform so, at 17, I ran Making the Invisible, Visible: Advocating for those with chronic disease B Y M a r y L y n n M e r r i m a n for Miss Washington's Miss Outstanding Teen. I realized I could tie my desire to be an advocate for those with ulcerative colitis and my love of performing," Regan said. She was named to the state's Top 10 that year. In 2020, she ran for Miss Seattle and was first runner up. She waited two years, and then competed for Miss Pierce County, winning, and launching her to the Miss Washington competition where she claimed the title. As Miss Washington, Regan has been passionate about chronic disease awareness, prevention, and advocacy. Her Social Impact Initiative has been titled Making the Invisible, Visible: Advocating for Those with Chronic Disease. Through this advocacy effort, Regan hopes to help current patients determine how to advocate for themselves, to teach the community about chronic disease, and to draw attention to prevention. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 "I felt so alone growing up. I didn't know anyone who had a similar experience or had the same disease."

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