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Chisago Lakes High School senior Bridget Alldritt was one of two Minnesota high school students recently selected for The Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Alldritt was nominated by administrators at Chisago Lakes High School to receive the prestigious award, given by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Two representatives from each state receive $1,000 and a paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May, where 10 of the students will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2007.

Alldritt is co-founder, along with mom, Liz, of an annual summer camp for children stricken with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and is an active ambassador for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

Alldritt has suffered from chronic ulcerative colitis since she was nine years old and has endured more than 30 hospitalizations, six surgeries, countless medications, dietary restrictions and a lot of missed school time.

"After attending Bible Camp one summer and having to leave after one night because of lack of medical support and knowledge of my disease by the staff, I was very upset and thought I would never be able to attend camp and have fun like healthy kids," Alldritt said.

The experience inspired Alldritt to develop a six-day, all-volunteer summer camp that gives young colitis and Crohn's disease patients in the upper Midwest a chance to have medically supervised fun at a relatively low cost. The camp is now in its sixth year.

"The camp is the one thing that this stupid disease has done that is positive," Alldritt said.

Alldritt loves the camp, although after turning 18 this year, she attended her final session as a camper last summer and will return this year as a camp counselor. Her mom runs the camp and is her biggest supporter. "She's been my rock through all this," Alldritt said.

She said about 50 campers typically attend the camp, but she and her mom are hopeful that 75 will attend the 2007 camp. They come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota to attend the camp.

The campers are able to take part in all the same activities that other camps offer.

"There are crafts, swimming, dances, a variety show," Alldritt said. "Looking at most of these kids, you'd never know they're sick."

The camp is also staffed with doctors and nurses to help assist the campers and most of the camp counselors have some form of the bowel disease. The camp is held for one week at Camp Heartland in Little River, Mn.

With support from CCFA, Alldritt and her mom also created the area's first support group for afflicted kids and their parents.

Alldritt also manages an annual "bowl-a-thon" that has raised nearly $50,000 for CCFA and speaks at pediatric conferences and charity events on behalf of the foundation.

"I am dedicated to easing the pain and suffering of as many children living with these diseases as possible," she said.

There are four severities of Crohn's disease, ranging from mild, with minor or no symptoms, to severe, with the potential to trigger life-threatening situations.

Alldritt's disease is classified as severe, but she is staying healthy now, thanks to surgery that removed the diseased colon.

"I haven't been sick this year and I'm not on any medication, but when I see those kids at camp, I know exactly what they're going through," Alldritt said.

She found out about the Prudential award at the high school counselor's office and took advantage of filling out the forms to enter. The same day Alldritt had spent time briefly wondering about whatever happened with the award, she found out she had won.

Alldritt will use the $1,000 toward her education at St. Scholastica this fall. A few years ago, she also earned a $10,000 scholarship from Kellogg's based on her leadership and community service, particularly relating to the summer camp.

"It's a horrible disease, but good things have come out of it," Alldritt said.

She is excited about winning and receiving a trip to the national ceremonies in D.C. in May. The national winner receives an additional $5,000 award.

Alldritt was also busy earlier this week, when she addressed state representatives at the capital. Alldritt was invited to speak on a bill that would allow people who have diseases such as hers to have access to all restrooms in public places, regardless of whether it is labeled for public or private use.

One of her fellow campers was originally scheduled to speak, but was unable because she was in the hospital.

That was when Alldritt's name came up. She was a little nervous, but Alldritt is very comfortable talking to large groups of people about her disease.

Alldritt said if the bill passes at the state level, she may receive an invitation to speak to U.S. representatives at the nation's Capital - meaning another trip to Washington, D.C.

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