1 December 2015
Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week: 1st - 7th December
Did you know that Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis affects more than 300,000 people here in the UK? Well this week is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week with the aim to promote and raise awareness of this condition. Help make this Friday to be known as #PurpleFriday.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are much more than inflammation of the bowel. They can be painful, stressful and isolating conditions. Many suffer in silence because they don’t know how to talk about what they’re going through, or who they can turn to. Yet it is largely a hidden disease, and one that causes stigma, fear and isolation – it’s thought that many people with the condition go undiagnosed and suffer in silence.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and can change over time. However the most common are abdominal pain and diarrhoea, tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss and mouth ulcers.
Crohn’s is a chronic condition that means that it is ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good heath as well as time when symptoms are more active.
Crohn’s and Colitis UK are the UK’s leading charity in the battle against Crohn’s disease and have dozens of free information sheets, booklets and guides that demystify Crohn’s and Colitis for anyone affected by them. Ways for you to get involved this week are:
- Fundraise - organise an event, Christmas Cards, Raffle
- Make a Donation
- Volunteer
- Events near You – postcode search for events near you
- Provide essential services to people with Crohn’s Colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Information and influence decisions about the needs of people with this condition
- Help develop your local services and support networks
- Raise vital funds to continue work across the UK
