Awareness Month 2023
May is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month
Let’s #FlushTheStigma around inflammatory bowel disease this May.
It takes guts to talk about Crohn’s and colitis. Help CCA overcome the stigma surrounding IBD by being fearless in starting conversations and sharing stories about Crohn’s and colitis.
CCA knows that #IBDHasNoAge. Crohn’s and colitis impacts Australians at all ages and stages of life. More than 100,000 – or 1 in every 250 Australians – live with IBD and it is becoming more prevalent in the community.
This year CCA acknowledges older adults living with IBD and the importance of increasing awareness of the disparities in care, taking steps to ensure that older Australians living with IBD can access the best treatment options to improve health outcomes and overall quality of life. #QualityofCare
At CCA we want people to live fearlessly. We want people to be authentic and unapologetic about their Crohn’s or colitis – whether that leaves them laughing or crying. We know being fearless means there will still be bad days, bad months or bad years – this is a long-term and life-altering condition. It’s about giving people the courage, confidence and ability to face things head on.
Because in fearlessness, there is strength.
Find out what’s on this Awareness Month and how you can help us #FlushTheStigma this May.
By 2030
one-third of all people with IBD will be aged 60+
Yet people aged over 60 are
Less Likely
to
Experience steroid-free remission
Be prescribed biologics
Have specialist IBD nursing contact and/or a multidisciplinary IBD Team
Live Streamed IBD Information Forum
Tuesday 2nd May, 7:30pm AEST
A live-streamed information forum hosted by Jacinta Parsons takes place online on Tuesday 2nd May, at 7:30 pm (AEST). Speakers include Associate Professor Emily Wright discussing the management of the elderly, Tamie Samyue on How can we improve care delivery for older patients living with IBD, Dr Sasha Fehily will provide an update on IBD Research and Tony Bolton will share his story about living with IBD.
For more information and to register, click here.
2023 Awareness Month Ambassadors
Click on the images to get the full story of the ambassadors.
Promotional Material
Download, print, distribute or share on social media these Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month resources during May. Click on the images to download them
Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month
Poster
Social Tiles
Story Tiles
World IBD Day – Friday 19 May 2023
Cupcake Flags
Click here to download the PDF for instructions for making CCA World IBD Day cupcakes flags.
Fundraising During May
We know that many of CCA’s supporters love to fundraise and raise awareness of Crohn’s and colitis in their community or workplace at this time of year.
If you’d like to raise awareness of IBD in your own community or do your own fundraising activity this year, complete the fundraising offer form here.
Fundraising Ideas
There are heaps of different ways to fundraise. Just think of what suits you – what are you good at? What interests you? How much time do you have? Look through some fundraising ideas here and download the Fundraising Toolkit for more information.
We’re Here To Help
We’re incredibly grateful for the efforts of our fundraisers to help support people with IBD.
Don’t forget to capture your fundraising event or activity and send us your photos and stories.
For more information on fundraising, email us [email protected].
Get your purple ribbon!
CCA has newly branded purple Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month Ribbons available for purchase.
Wear yours proudly during May and on World IBD Day – Thursday 19 May 2022.
The ribbons are $3 each or get a pack of 10 for $27.
Shine a Light – World IBD Day
Thank you to every landmark and building across Australia that illuminated purple on World IBD Day – Friday 19 May – in recognition of the IBD Community. Your support is invaluable.
We are happy to share is a selection of images from the night.
If you have photos you haven’t shared with us yet, don’t forget to upload to social media using the campaign hashtags #IBDHasNoAge #FlushTheStigma #QualityofCare #WorldIBDDay2023 #ShineALightonIBD Or email them to us at [email protected]
ACT
NSW
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
Shine A Light @ Home!
Help raise awareness locally by lighting up your house or garden purple.
- Hang purple fairy lights in your garden, like these ones from Bunnings
- Change your porch light to a purple globe or program your smart globe to shine purple for the night
The image on the left is an example of what you can do at home.
Don’t forget to share your photos on social media and tag us using the campaign hashtags #IBDHasNoAge #FlushTheStigma #QualityofCare #WorldIBDDay2023 #ShineALightonIBD
Share your Story
Click the button below to fill out the form and share your story.
Connect with us
Stay informed and connected during Awareness Month by following CCA on social media. We would love to hear from you!
Media Release
Be sure to use the following hashtags when you post on your socials
#IBDHasNoAge #FlushTheStigma #QualityofCare
#WorldIBDDay2023 #ShineALightonIBD
For media enquiries, contact Julie Weldon on 0423 110 802 or email [email protected]
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s 2023 Awareness Month is supported by Pfizer, Janssen Australia, Dr Falk Australia, Takeda Australia and Celltrion Healthcare.
All content is independently produced by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia.