Four years ago, over dinner and drinks, five Buckhead moms hatched a bold plan to turn their love of softball into a lifeline for those battling Crohn’s disease.
Today, the annual charity softball game is hitting it out of the park, having raised $150,000 for research and community support for patients with a disease that’s as misunderstood as it is life-altering.
At the heart of this effort is Amy Garvey Douglass, an Atlanta corporate attorney who found herself receiving a crash course in Crohn’s when her 10-year-old daughter, Ella Perry, was diagnosed with the disease in early 2021.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Amy Douglass
Credit: Photo courtesy of Amy Douglass
Crohn’s, a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, turned Douglass’ world upside down, but it also inspired her to fight back with the help of her closest friends and family.
“This is not about me being a good person,” she said. “It’s about my family and friends being really good, supportive people who have been willing to go on a really hard journey with me.”
Experts estimate that about 100,000 Georgians are living with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most common of which are Crohn’s and ulcerated colitis.
Ella Perry was in fourth grade when she started having symptoms. First, she had slight stomach pain, then difficulty keeping food down, and, finally, no interest in eating.
Ella Perry’s pediatricians and two gastroenterologists swung into action, and her Crohn’s disease was confirmed through a blood test and the first two of what would be many colonoscopies. She was put on medication, missed lots of school, spent time in the hospital, and stopped growing for a few years because of the massive inflammation in her body, her mother said.
“It is just amazing what she’s been through and tolerated,” Douglass said. “She’s so resilient.”
The five women had baseball season on their minds when they met for dinner at The Betty, an upscale restaurant on East Paces Ferry in Buckhead. They’d all be at the baseball field for the next few months, cheering on their children. But, they wondered: Why couldn’t they get back in the game they loved as hosts of a charity softball tournament?
Within two weeks, the five pulled together the first Betty League Charity Softball Tournament on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. They named the tournament for the restaurant and committed every dollar raised to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in honor of Ella Perry.
The tournament launched in 2021 with two teams and 20 players. Every year, more women sign up; the result is that they now have six teams and 75 players, all women in their 30s to 50s, Douglass said.
They’ve been equally successful, convincing tournament attendees that helping find better treatments and cures for Crohn’s and Colitis is a worthy cause. The inaugural tournament raised $12,000; donations have nearly doubled yearly, totaling about $70,000 for 2024.
Kimberly Brammer, regional executive director for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in Atlanta, said Douglass is recognized regionally and nationally as one of the foundation’s top fundraisers.
“Amy is an amazing fundraiser, not only raising much-needed dollars for us,” Brammer said, “she’s also raising awareness for the IBD community and touching a community that may not have known about the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation before.”
Friend Stephanie McDonald joined the Betty League in its first year, even though, at the time, she was busy in the bleachers cheering on her own two softball players.
“As moms, we spend so much time at the fields cheering on our kids; it sounded like a fun endeavor to have a role reversal and have our families cheer us on,” McDonald said.
By year three, the teams started showing their competitive sides. For instance, McDonald’s team, the Yellow Bumble Bees, surprised their opponents and the crowd by bringing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket mascot to cheer for them.
“It’s honestly so much fun for me to participate in this event for Amy and for a cause that doesn’t get much recognition,” McDonald said. “I think you give what you get from people, and, from this event, you can see how many people love Amy so much and want to support something that will be affecting Ella Perry for the rest of her life. ”
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease yet. But this spring, Ella Perry, now 14, and her mom got the best news possible. Doctors declared that Ella Perry is in remission.
“Now, she’s growing and thriving, and it is really a beautiful thing to see,” Douglass, 45, said.
Ella Perry will have to be on medication for the rest of her life and could have a flare-up at any time. But Douglass is hopeful that a cure will be found in her daughter’s lifetime.
“Ella Perry is a little warrior,” her mother said. “She gets it done.”
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Betty Softball Tournament
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Betty Softball Tournament
On Feb. 8, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation will honor Douglass as its Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Betty League.
Douglass humbly deflects any praise.
“I think the thing that is so beautiful about this is that everyone struggles in life. No one’s life is free of challenges,” Douglass said. “By showing up for my daughter and me, they are going on this journey with us that otherwise would be isolating. It is such an example for me of empathy, kindness and support.”
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About Crohn’s disease: The Centers for Disease Control describes Crohn’s as a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. It inflames areas of the intestine walls, causing patches of damage that can reach the outer lining. People with this disease may experience diarrhea, mouth sores, or malnutrition. Complications can be serious, but most people with Crohn’s disease can control their symptoms and lead active lives.
About Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the most common type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It affects the inner lining of the colon and rectum, causing complete damage to the lining. People with UC often experience blood or mucous in their stool and feel an urgent need to empty their bowels. Complications can be serious, but most people with UC can control their symptoms and lead active lives. Source: CDC
To learn more about the Betty League, go to bettyleague.com
To learn more about the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, go to www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/
To learn more about the Georgia chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Torch Gala on Feb. 8 at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, go to: my.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-0013c00001pcC8KAAU/events/vevt:a964ea2c-a9e1-4bd3-9bf0-ef67a2082726/home/story
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