Local residents have a chance to help raise money for research of debilitating digestive diseases.

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Team Challenge, invites people run or walk 13.1 miles or train for a triathlon. The fundraiser benefits the CCFA, a non-profit dedicate to finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, digestive diseases that impact 1.4 million Americans.

The CCFA will hold an informational meetings about the Team Challenge in various places throughout Maryland in the coming weeks.

The first meeting will be held at the Baltimore County Public Library Reisterstown Branch on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m.

Additional meetings will be held at the White Marsh library in Nottingham on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., at the Hickory Ridge Community Center in Columbia on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., the Cockeysville Library on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m., at the Severna Park Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., and a kick-off event will be held at the Greene Turtle in McHenry Row on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m.

To register for an informational meeting to learn more go to www.ccteamchallenge.org or email the Maryland Chapter Endurance Manager, Gabi Green at ggreen@ccfa.org.