When Trina Seligman was 15, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.

The Redmond resident said with this chronic disease — as well as Crohn’s disease — the immune system attacks a person’s bowels. Crohn’s disease affects any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but for ulcerative colitis patients, like Seligman, it is only the large intestine, or colon, that is affected.

As a result, patients with these diseases live uncomfortable lives.

For Seligman, having the disease meant undergoing surgery to have her large intestine removed when was 18. While this helped her, Seligman said it has also caused her to need to use the restroom often.

Currently, there are no cures for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, though Seligman said there are medications people can take.

CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE

To do her part in raising awareness about the diseases, as well as funds toward finding a cure, Seligman will be climbing the Leaning Tower in Yosemite National Park in California. Her Climb to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis — which is scheduled for June 2-4 (weather permitting) — is a third-party fundraiser she is organizing on her own for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Her goal is to raise $40,000. So far, she has raised $22,637.

Seligman said she has a number of goals for her climb. First, she would like to raise awareness of the diseases and raise money for research. It is also her goal to just climb the wall, a 110-degree overhanging venture that will take three days. By doing this three-day climb, Seligman said she also hopes to inspire other patients with bowel diseases like hers, showing them that such activities are possible for them.

She said for people in her situation, one of the things that is always on your mind is finding and figuring out where the nearest restroom is as that is a large part of your life. Going three days without a restroom nearby will be difficult, Seligman said figuring things out is part of the overall project.

“It’s OK,” she said about her limited options on the climb. “We can figure it out.”

To learn more about Seligman’s climb and to donate, visit c4now.org.

INTENSE TRAINING

Seligman, who is 45, has been rock climbing since her 20s. And while she has done a few big climbs, she has never done one with an overhang.

As a result, she has been training and practicing at Stone Gardens in Bellevue, which has opened its doors to Seligman and her family to help her prepare for the Leaning Tower.

“It takes a lot of technical skill,” said Brad Szlezak, assistant manager at the climbing gym, about overhang climbing.

He said Seligman has been working with instructors at Stone Gardens to improve her rope work and learn how to be more efficient in her climbing — important skills when doing an overhang climb.

In addition to the climbing instruction and training, Stone Gardens has given Seligman and her family free membership to the gym, although Seligman will be the only one doing the climb next month.

“It’s a full family event…It’s really cool,” Szlezak said about including the whole family in the membership. He added that this also gives the family a chance to spend time together while Seligman trains, which takes up a lot of her time.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

Szlezak said Seligman approached Stone Gardens about her climbing fundraiser in December 2014 and in addition to allowing her to train and practice at their gym, they have also donated $2,000 to her cause. They are also opening their doors to host a fundraising climbing party on Saturday. Szlezak said the party is already sold out.

Szlezak said Stone Gardens has supported various organizations such as Access Fund, a national advocacy group focused on keeping climbing areas throughout the country open and conserving the climbing environment. Stone Gardens also works with people with the Wounded Warrior Project and other groups for people with disabilities. However, Szlezak said, Seligman’s Climb to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis is the first time they have worked with an individual and their specific cause.

Seligman has participated in other fundraisers and said it is fun to see people get behind her and support her. She said that is how Stone Gardens has been with her in her current fundraising efforts.

“They’ve totally gotten behind me on this,” she said.