From the Founder
Andrew Belliveau
Creator & Founder, Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge
Hi everyone! My name is Andrew Belliveau and I am the creator and founder of the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge.
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is something very near and dear to my heart as I was diagnosed with the disorder at age 10. In short, Gastroparesis is a motility disorder that causes delayed stomach emptying. There is no known cure and few effective treatment options available for those diagnosed.
My Personal Journey
Personally speaking, my main symptoms were constant nausea, frequent vomiting (10–15 times per day), malnutrition, and severe weight fluctuations for years. Needless to say, my quality of life was pretty much non-existent. However, I was determined to continue on with my life the best I could. I often felt isolated because no one understood what I was going through. I rarely went out in public because I was so scared I would have to vomit and not know where the nearest restroom was. I couldn't fully partake in social gatherings like holidays, dining out, and parties because they tend to always revolve around food. In essence, life with Gastroparesis was mentally and physically draining.
Luckily, in 2012, I received a gastric stimulator which works like a pacemaker for your stomach. Since then, my symptoms have been under control. However, the success rate of the device varies from patient to patient. Hence, there is still no known cure for Gastroparesis.
The Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge
Since I was extremely lucky to respond to the stimulator as well as I have, I decided to set out on a quest to raise awareness for Gastroparesis and, hopefully, fund a cure. With inspiration from the Frates family and their work for ALS, I launched the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge on July 26, 2016. It took a while for the challenge to get off and running, but once MLB pitcher David Price accepted my nomination, the challenge quickly caught fire.
Since 2016, pies have been thrown across the globe by professional athletes from the MLB, NFL, and NHL; celebrities; media personalities; and plenty of GP warriors. Additionally, the challenge has even caught the attention of national media outlets like ESPN, People, Inside Edition, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, and even politicians. Most importantly, however, over $20,000 has been raised for G-PACT, a non-profit working to support those with GP in addition to bringing hope to people who thought they were fighting alone. Bit-by-pie-bit, this once invisible condition is slowly becoming noticeable.
Get Involved!
I encourage everyone to participate, donate, and have fun with the challenge! Make sure to check out our celebrity participants as well as some of the most creative and funny pie faces!
