Attorney Ryan Alexander Supports Courage Ball in Las Vegas
Ryan Alexander Supports Courage Ball, Bringing Hope to Families Facing Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
The Las Vegas attorney’s participation in the 2026 fundraiser highlights a cause affecting millions of Americans and a foundation advancing research, education and patient support.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Las Vegas personal injury attorney Ryan Alexander supported the 2026 Dana Marshall Bernstein Courage Ball, joining a community effort to advance the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s mission and bring greater attention to people living with inflammatory bowel disease.
As part of his participation, Alexander purchased a $37,500 Spotlight influencer-content package offered by Woo Fortune Cookie through the event’s auction. His involvement adds to a broader record of community service that includes charitable initiatives, educational opportunities and support for Las Vegas families.
The Courage Ball connects that community support to a deeply personal cause: helping people whose lives are shaped by chronic illness, while supporting the search for better treatments and cures.
A Las Vegas Event With a Lasting Legacy
The Dana Marshall Bernstein Courage Ball honors the memory of a young Las Vegas advocate who used her own experience with Crohn’s disease to raise awareness and give others a voice.
Dana Marshall-Bernstein died in 2017 at age 28 after a nearly lifelong battle with the disease. Her willingness to speak openly about her experience helped bring attention to an illness that can be difficult to discuss.
The 2026 event was hosted at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Its honorees included Justin Woo, Dr. Elizabeth Mileti and Malcolm Anderson, bringing together community leadership, medical expertise and patient experience.
The gala has an established history of mobilizing local support. According to the Foundation’s announcement of its inaugural event, published in 2020, the first Courage Ball raised more than $650,000 to support its work.
That history gives the evening significance beyond its auction and entertainment. It is a gathering built around remembrance, awareness and the possibility of a better future for patients and their families.
The Scope of a Disease That Often Goes Unseen
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, commonly called IBD. These lifelong conditions cause inflammation in the digestive tract and can involve diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. Symptoms can fluctuate between periods of remission and flare-ups.
A report published by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in August 2026 estimated that about 4.1 million U.S. adults, or 1.6%, had ever been diagnosed with IBD, based on 2023–2024 national survey data. That adult estimate does not include children living with these conditions.
The burden extends beyond physical symptoms. The CDC identifies potential complications and effects on mental and emotional well-being. It also emphasizes that appropriate treatment can help people control symptoms and lead active lives.
Behind the statistics are people balancing illness with work, school, relationships and family responsibilities. Research and reliable support can make those challenges easier to navigate.
What Support for the Foundation Makes Possible
Founded in 1967, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation combines a national research mission with education and support for patients and caregivers. Its Nevada Chapter assists local families and works to improve community understanding of IBD.
The Foundation reports investing more than $500 million in over 2,500 research projects since 1967. As of January 2026, it was supporting 238 research projects and 235 IBD researchers. These figures demonstrate the scale of the research effort that community fundraising helps sustain.
Its work also offers practical help today:
Personalized information and guidance. The IBD Help Center connects patients and families with information specialists who answer questions and help them find resources. Assistance is available in more than 170 languages, including Spanish. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
Connection for children and teenagers. Camp Oasis gives young people with IBD an opportunity to enjoy camp alongside peers who understand their experience. Each camp has a 24-hour on-site health center staffed by professionals experienced in pediatric IBD care.
Education and advocacy. The Foundation works to strengthen patient understanding and remove barriers to appropriate care, alongside its research programs.
Together, these efforts address both the long-term search for cures and the immediate need for information, connection and support.
Continuing a Commitment to Las Vegas
Alexander’s participation in the Courage Ball follows other community efforts highlighted by his firm, including the Ryan Alexander Good Person Scholarship, charitable initiatives through Give Hope & Help, and his support for the Las Vegas Toys for Tots campaign.
Supporting the Courage Ball extends that involvement to families living with chronic digestive diseases and to the researchers working toward better outcomes.
For readers interested in helping, the Foundation’s Nevada Chapter provides opportunities to donate, volunteer and connect with local resources. Patients and caregivers can also contact the IBD Help Center at 888-694-8872.
Learn more or support the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Nevada Chapter.
About Ryan Alexander
Ryan Alexander is a Las Vegas personal injury attorney and Harvard Law School graduate who represents injured people in Nevada. His practice focuses on helping clients understand their options and navigate injury claims, insurance disputes and litigation. Learn more at ryanalexander.com.
