WE NEED YOU!!

Are you interested in joining the organising team and becoming a Crohn’s and Colitis UK volunteer? We have some new members who we are delighted to welcome onboard but we are still looking to enhance our team further and would love to have you on board and become part of our team. If you would like to be part of our team and can bring any other skills please get in touch with us and come along to meet the team. You would be most welcome.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Meet the Team – Page 2

Smedley Hydro Fundraising Update – Page 3

WALK IT 2017 – Page 4

LJMU Choral Society Fundraising – Page 5

New Online Companion Service – Page 6

Word Search & The Funny Side of Things – Page 7

Events – Page 8

GROUP NEWS Hello everyone!

As the new lead volunteer/co-ordinator of the Mersey Group I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our Organising Team. We are all local fellow sufferers & volunteers looking to help and support sufferers and their families throughout Merseyside, whilst raising funds and awareness to continue our and the national charity’s work.

I am proud, honoured and privileged to make the step up from Deputy and link treasurer and promise to do my best for the group and all I can to help it go from strength to strength and continue Kate’s good work.

We look forward to meeting you at our upcoming events and hope to be able to reach out, help and support more of you than ever as we grow as we are stronger together as one.

As a team, we are aiming to arrange as many different and special events as we possibly can, as supporting national events as best we can.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope our latest newsletter finds you all well. As always, we hope you all enjoy reading the newsletter and if you have any suggestions for articles for the next edition then please contact us.

We are here if you need us.

-Helen

GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to organise a fundraising event this year, want to get involved with the team or need help and support, please get in touch!

mersey@groups.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

June 2017

Issue 11

Mersey Group Helen Thompson

I volunteer to try help others & to make a difference for fellow sufferer. I currently work in Accounts & Administration. In my spare time, I enjoy going to Football & Musical theatre, spending too much time on social media & walking my dog.

CrohnsColitisMY

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 2

+

Nick Evans

It’s nice to be able to give a bit of time to raise awareness and help fellow sufferers. We all know from experience that we will need that help one day. My fiancée Gemma is also a sufferer so we are able to help each other through. I’m a manager in the pharmaceuticals industry and enjoy sports.

Kate Middleton

7

I volunteer to support anyone suffering with IBD to give help I feel I didn't have when first diagnosed, and to give young people someone they feel they can relate to and talk to openly without being worried. I am a Computer Forensics student in LJMU and enjoy ballroom and Latin dancing and bike rides.

Scott Morris

I volunteer because I

wanted to give something

back as when I was first

diagnosed the Crohn’s &

Colitis UK site was the

main form of information

and support. I work for a

Reablement service,

offering short term care for

hospital discharges, and

like to go rock climbing.

Steve Mogan

Having discovered the group quite a while after my diagnosis & feeling like it was the missing piece in my recovery, I wanted to make sure others had the same opportunities to learn more about their illness by promoting awareness of the group. I work as a software developer and enjoy reading and video games.

Liam Marsh

I volunteer to support people living with IBD and gain more of an understanding of what others go through after watching people I know suffer with this condition. I study sport coaching and am starting university in September. I enjoy video games and am interested in Marvel and DC.

MEET THE TEAM

Pamela Hanson

I feel it is important to raise awareness of IBD conditions as they are hidden disabilities. I have IBS and type 1 diabetes and can understand the frustrations caused by illnesses like this. I also wanted to put something back into the community for the care that I have received from the NHS. I am currently doing a course to become a teaching assistant. In my spare time I enjoy tap dancing, travelling, public speaking and doing sudoku. I also volunteer for Opal Services go online.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 3

Last year, Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group were hugely fortunate to be selected as the Smedley Hydro’s charity of the year. Throughout the year, their wonderful efforts, which included prize draws, charity walks and car boot and bake sales, have resulted in a total of £13,275 for our group. A special thank you to the inspirational dream team of Linda, Diane & Ben who made the magic happen together & without whom it would not have been possible. They didn’t stop there, however, as they also joined in with Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s national campaign for accessible toilets. The campaign aims to raise awareness that people with invisible illnesses, like inflammatory bowel conditions, may also need to use accessible toilets. With their help, the passport office in Southport now has accessible signs on their toilets. Our warmest thanks go to Smedley Hydro for your continued work, amazing awareness raising & support. You’re all stars!

SMEDLEY HYDRO FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 4

The Mersey group was delighted to be able to attend this year’s WALK IT event in Manchester on the 20th May, volunteering in various capacities including registering attendees and route marshalling. Over 600 people participated this year, including lots of children and even a few four-legged friends! Despite the rainy weather, everybody had a wonderful time, raising vital funds for the fight against Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. So far, organisers believe the event raised around £30,000 which is great! As a team, we all enjoyed being able to get involved, cheer people on as they were walking and get to know the participants and our fellow volunteers, including Chief Executive of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, David Barker, a little better. Well done to everybody who participated a huge thank you to the organisers, who did a fantastic job keeping everything running smoothly. See you again next year!

The Mersey Group will also be attending the London leg of WALK IT 2017 on Saturday 10th June. You can find more info. here: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/walkit. Hope to see you there!

WALK IT 2017

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 5

When Liverpool John Moores Choral and Music society first started in September 2015, they decided they would fundraise for us, Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group, and have continued to support us since then. The society have run many events, such as Christmas Concerts, Musicals and busking, in which the money from ticket sales and bucket collections has been raised to help support our charity members. This academic year, they have managed to raise over £300 already! From everyone at Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group we would like to thank everyone in Liverpool John Moores Choral and Music Society for their continued support.

LJMU CHORAL SOCIETY FUNDRAISING

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 6

Alongside the Companion service, Crohn's and Colitis UK has also written a brand new guide for young people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease about moving to adult care. If you’re a teenager with Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis or another form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) then an important milestone for you will be your transition to adult care. This often happens around the age of 16 and 18, but it can sometimes be earlier or later. You might be feeling nervous about this and that’s totally normal. But we know that it can help to find out more about what’s involved and how you can get ready for the change. That’s why we’ve written this new booklet with the support of young people who’ve been where you are now (and their parents!) They shared their stories with us so we could give you tips to make transition easier. You can find the booklet in the ‘Our Publications’ section of the crohnsandcolitis.org.uk website.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK has recently launched a new service called Companion, available at companion.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk which aims to provide information and support to people affected by IBD conditions. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis or another form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease a while, this site is here to help you. You’ll find reliable and relevant information that will help you answer your questions, access support and take control. You can also use this tool if you're concerned about, or are looking after someone living with IBD.

NEW ONLINE COMPANION SERVICE

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 7

These images and their copyright belong to their rightful original authors; we have shared them from the public domain of the internet as we wanted to give such authors more awareness to wider and appreciative audiences.

THE BEWILDERED BOWEL: WORDSEARCH

Awareness

Charity

Colitis

Condition

Consultation

Crohns

Diagnosis

Diet

Doctor

Energy

Events

Exercise

Information

Infusion

Kindness

Knowledge

Lifestyle

Sponsor

Support

Surgery

Therapy

Treatment

Vitamins

Volunteer

Walk

THE FUNNY SIDE OF THINGS

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group Newsletter Page 8

The Mersey Group has made every reasonable effort to ensure the content of this newsletter is accurate, but accepts no responsibility for any errors or omission. The views of the contributors do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Crohn’s and Colitis UK and no reference in this

newsletter to any product or service is intended as a recommendation.

CONTACT US

MERSEY GROUP Group Coordinator: Helen Thompson Helpline: 0300 222 5700* Website: www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/Mersey Email: mersey@groups.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Crohn’s and Colitis UK 45 Grosvenor Road, St Albans AL1 3AW enquiries@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Charity registered in England Number 1117148 Charity registered in Scotland Number SC038632 A company limited by guarantee in England: company number 5973370

HELPLINE Our helpline is a confidential service providing

information and support to anyone affected by Crohn’s

Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other forms of

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Our team can:

help you understand more about IBD, diagnosis and

treatment options

provide information to help you to live well with your

condition

help you understand and access disability benefits

be there to listen if you need someone to talk to

put you in touch with a trained support volunteer

who has a personal experience of IBD

CONTACT US BY:

Telephone: 0300 222 5700*

Mon, Tue, Wed and Fri – 9 am to 5 pm

Thu – 9 am to 1 pm

Email: info@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

Web Chat (Live Online): see our website for details

*Calls to this number are charged at a standard landline rate

or may be free if you have an inclusive minutes’ package.

Calls may be recorded for monitoring and evaluation

purposes.

If you have received this newsletter by post and would be happy to receive future editions by email please provide your name, membership number and email address to groups@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk.

This will save the group valuable funds which can be used to benefit all those affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK Mersey Group

CrohnsColitisMY

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

WALK IT 2017 LONDON Date: Saturday 10th June Time: 9:30am Venue: Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AN The Mersey Group will be attending this event but don’t forget, there are other WALK IT events taking place up and down the country as well: Swansea - Saturday 24th June Edinburgh - Sunday 2nd July Birmingham - Saturday 8th July Bristol - Saturday 15th July For more info. please go to crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/walkit.

KNOWSLEY FLOWER SHOW Date: Sunday 6th August Time: 11am Venue: Court Hey Park, Roby Road, Huyton, Liverpool L16 3NA The team will once again be attending the show this year, helping to raise awareness by offering support and information to anybody affected by or interested in learning more about IBD conditions.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON 😊 Please check our Website, Twitter or Facebook channels for new dates as we plan more events throughout the year!