We Still Need Media Volunteers

Do you find living with IBD exhausting?... Would you like to share your story?

Crohn’s and Colitis UK is putting out a call for lots of member and supporter (recent) short stories (all ages) about how the symptom of fatigue/extreme tiredness has had a negative impact upon an individual’s ability to enjoy a normal social life, undertake study or stay in employment.

We will be looking to place some of these stories into regional press all around the UK during the Spring 2014, to raise awareness of Fatigue.70% of young people in 2007 when surveyed by the charity stated "Fatigue” as their most noticeable symptom. As a result we won £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to investigate Fatigue further.

This year, our Me and IBD survey of over 1,000 young people aged 16 – 29 indicated an even higher level of concern – even when not having a flare - 76% found it more of a problem than extreme pain or diarrhoea.

Our Fatigue project findings are due to be released in June 2014.

This is for any age, so feel free to share with others.

Please email media@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk for a Fatigue Media Volunteer form, or with any other queries.

Invest for Children donates £9k to Crohn's and Colitis UK

We would like to say a very big thank you to Invest for Children, a not for profit international organization whose mission is to help disabled children and young adults achieve a better quality of life.

They pledged £3 for every mile that James Prior rowed across the Atlantic whilst doing his epic 3,000 mile journey from Gran Canaria to Barbados in March.Their incredible £9,000 donation to the charity will make a huge difference to so many lives.

Thank you to both Investindustrial and Invest for Children for their phenomenal support for the charity and helping the Crewing for Crohn’s fundraising totals smash through the £100,000 target.

To find out more about Invest for Children, visitwww.investforchildren.org

#GetYourBellyOut campaign

Video Blogger Thaila Skye explains everything you need to know about the #GetYourBellyOut campaign which has been rapidly raising IBD awareness across social media.

What to do
You don't have to have Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis to take part in the campaign - EVERYBODY CAN GET INVOLVED! 

Take a photo of your tummy and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, adding the #GetYourBellyOut hashtag.
If you don't want to share a photo of your tummy (but still want to get involved), you can go straight to making a donation by Text or online.For example if you wanted to donate £3, then you would:
If you can't make a text donation, then you can donate online instead at:
All donations will go to Crohn's and Colitis UK.
Search for #GetYourBellyOut on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit these pages/groups:
There have been many blog posts promoting the campaign, here are just a few of them:

Blogs

• Sahara88UK: http://sahara88uk.blog.com/2014/03/31/the-rise-of-getyourbellyout

• Colitis & Me: http://colitisandme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/getyourbellyout.html

• Colitis Ninja: http://colitisninja.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/getyourbellyout.html?m=1

• Brink of Bedlam: http://brinkofbedlam.co.uk/2014/03/31/get-your-belly-out-for-crohns-and-colitis

• Acousticappraisals: http://acousticappraisal.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/more-details-of-inspiring.html

How to donate
Send a text message saying IBDA99 and the donation amount to 70070.Text IBDA99 £3 to 70070www.justgiving.com/teams/IBDAwareness

More information

• Facebook Page: facebook.com/getyourbellyout

• Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/262578540582917

• Twitter: twitter.com/GetYourBellyOut

World IBD Day: What's your story?

Monday 19th May is World IBD Day. It’s a day for us to take action, stand up and support the 260,000 people in the UK, and millions more worldwide living with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

• We want to raise as much awareness as possible for everyone who suffers from these ‘invisible’ illnesses which is why we’re asking you to share your journeys with IBD.
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• In the run up to World IBD day we would love for you to send us your stories, along with a photo of you holding a piece of card with your name, age, location in the world, IBD type and a sentence or key word/s about you and IBD.
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• If you don’t feel like taking a photo, you could post one you feel sums up you and IBD.
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• Whether you have Crohn’s or Colitis, or you’re a loved one of someone who does, sharing your journey with IBD and what it means to you, you will help make them more visible.

Post your stories and photos to your own Facebook page (Don't forget to tag us!), as well as our Facebook page. If you prefer you can also email your pics to webmaster@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

The more people they reach, the more awareness we can raise.

#WorldIBDday #myCCUKstory

• Please also join and invite others to our World IBD day event on Facebook

Crohn's and Colitis UK Fundraiser Walks 2014

It's not long to go now until the 2014 Crohn's and Colitis UK Fundraiser Walks get underway. They are taking place in London, York, Rutland and Edinburgh. You can even take part on bicycle in Rutland!

Our celebrity Ambassador, Lewis Moody, tells us more about the walks:




For more information and how to book your place on the walks (hurry, there's not long to go), please visit the main Crohn's and Colitis UK website.

This year there is the added bonus of a 'Walk Your Own Way' video and PDF. This is for people who aren't able to take part in the larger organised walks, but who would like to take part in one. Basically, it's your guide to doing your own walk to raise funds for Crohn's and Colitis UK. Never thought about doing something like that? Well, watch the video and find out how:




Thanks for reading and we hope you are able to participate in some way.