Telling the world that you have a chonic illness is no easy feat, especially when it's Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
For the past 5 years I have been one of the 5 million people worldwide fighting a daily battle with a life altering, incurable, lifelong illness called Ulcerative Colitis.

Both Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) which cause inflammation and ulcers along the digestive track. 

Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are thought to be due to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut/colon. In the average person there is ‘good bacteria’ fighting off the ‘bad bacteria’. When it comes to those with the illness it means the good bacteria is working over time and trying to fight off an infection (the bad bacteria) which does not even exist. So instead of attacking the bad bacteria, it attacks the wall of the colon instead. This leads to inflammation and ulcers, cramps and pain.

Main symptoms just to get you up to speed are vomiting, Anemia, loss of appetite, weight-loss, more trips to the loo, swollen joints and many more. Not to mention all of the secondary symptoms from medications and problems caused by taking these long term. Alongside these there are things like stress, anxiety, Iron deficiency, hair loss, depression etc, the list is endless! This results in extensive trial and error to find a medication to soothe the symptoms. Some unfortunate souls end up having to have serious invasive surgery to avoid blockages, ruptures and all sorts of complications. 

The reality of these illnesses mean that 75% of those diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and 25% of those diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis will end up having major invasive surgery (sometimes life saving surgery) to have parts of their intestines removed or their whole colon in a bid to ease the inescapable torturous symptoms. There are far too many now living without parts of their intestines or whole colons. People can and already have died from these cruel diseases - how is it people still know so very little about them?!

World IBD Day is fast approaching on May 19th which is our chance to tell the world that these chronic illnesses exist, that we need your help to raise funds that will hopefully support research projects with the aim of finding that miracle cure we so desperately need!!

With all of the above in mind, come May 19th I will be cutting off 8 inches of my hair and asking you all to please sponsor me for THE GRAND CHOP to raise vital funds needed for the Crohn's and Colitis UK national charity.
Not only am I supporting this charity I will then be donating the hair that gets cut off to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for young people suffering from hair loss due to Cancer.
As you can see, I am far too unwell to row across the Atlantic or hike a mountain so this is the best way I can do my bit in raising as much awareness and funds as possible for those suffering - like myself- with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

It may be just pocket change to you  but it could mean a cure for us!!

Please text the code IBDH99 £3 (or another amount) to 70070
Your donation amount will be added to your mobile phone bill.
Alternatively you can click the 'donate' button on this very page that allows you to donate from anywhere in the world!!
Don't forget to click 'Gift Aid' as this adds 25p of every £1 donated at no extra cost to your pocket. 

All the money raised from THE GRAND CHOP will go to Crohn's and Colitis UK which is the leading charity for Inflammatory Bowel Disease right here in the UK. 
The 8 inches of hair that get cut off during THE GRAND CHOP are being donated to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for boys and girls who have lost their hair due to Cancer.
Thank you Xx

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.