Pearl Jam Community Member Named A Hero Of The Deep

Seattle Kraken Unity Fund Awards $32k to Chris Adams and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

If you work in the local music scene in Seattle, chances are you have either met or crossed paths with Chris Adams. 

Over the last seventeen years, fans of the annual Flight to Mars Tribute and benefit show have seen Adams performing as emcee at the historic Showbox Theatre, where he introduced band members such as Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on guitar, Tim DiJulio (guitar), Gary Westlake (bass), Mike Musburger (drums), Ryan Burns (keyboards), and the late Paul Passarelli on vocals. 

When Adams isn’t busy organizing fundraisers or advocating for local charities, he is an active board member for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Northwest Chapter. Adams previously held the role of board president from 2020-2023. On Saturday, during a break in the Kraken's first period of play against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adams was awarded the Heroes of the Deep Award by the Kraken’s Unity foundation, for his 21 years of service with CCF.

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Adams, who has battled the disease since his youth, has never let his condition stop him from fighting for patient's rights and creating programs like Camp Oasis in Washington. The camp offers life-changing experiences for young patients living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 

When Adams was a teenager he turned to music to help ease his pain from surgeries and several hospital stays and found relief through the music of Pearl Jam. Adams recalls the moment he discovered his favorite guitar player suffered from the same medical condition:

“On December 8, 2002, exactly one year to the day that I was rushed to the ER, I was on my way to a Pearl Jam show and received a phone call that would change my life. I found out Mike McCready, my favorite guitar player for my favorite band, had Crohn's disease. Mike had been living with Crohn's disease since 1986, the same year I was diagnosed.“

Chris used the lyrics to Pearl Jam's "I am Mine" for the title of his Ted Talk in Montana.

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Since then Adams and McCready have developed a strong friendship and partnership raising funds and awareness for those living with chronic illness. Adams' participation with the Crohn's & Colitis foundation made an impact of 3 Million in charitable donations.

During Adams' moment in the spotlight at Climate Pledge Arena his inspirational work also showcased his participation in an astonishing 36 Team Challenge for Crohn's & Colitis. Thanks to Adams, the Heroes of the Deep awarded $32,000 towards funding for the NW chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

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