Awareness Month 2024
May is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month
8-10%
of people with IBD were diagnosed before the age of 18
That’s why this May, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia are #SavingKidsGuts!
IBD is a lifelong chronic condition, and the burden of disease is significant for young people.
CCA supports young people and their families through initiatives like the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP!) and by organising events like Kids Fun Days and Live Fearless Camps.
We also want to ensure that kids with IBD receive prompt diagnosis and treatment to help them live with their condition and avoid invasive treatments.
In 2023, CCA coordinated two studies to quantify the opportunity to improve the experience of young people diagnosed with IBD. CCA will present these findings, along with key recommendations, at a Parliamentary event on 30 May, where we will advocate for #savingkidsguts.
We thank the young people and their families who have shared their stories with us for Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month. You are truly fearless.
Live Streamed IBD Information Forum
Livestream information forum on Wednesday 1 May at 7.30pm EST
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
Download, print, distribute or share on social media these Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month resources during May.
Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month:
- Download Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month poster
- Download Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month event poster
- Download Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month flyer
- Download Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month cupcake decorating flags
Social tiles
Media release
Research reveals that young people with IBD aren’t receiving the care they need.
For media enquiries contact Julie Weldon 0423 110 802 or [email protected].
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 May, visit our fundraise page.
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 Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month ribbons are available through our merchandise store for just $3 – or get a pack of 10 for $27.
Shine a Light – World IBD Day
Sunday 19 May is World IBD Day. On this day, landmarks and venues of significance around the globe light up purple in recognition of people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
CCA is thrilled to have the support from landmarks and venues in every Australian State and Territory in 2024!
Check the list below to find you closest Shine A Light venue.
Please note light up sites are subject to change. Make sure you check this page in the lead-up to World IBD Day.
| STATE | LOCATION | WITH SUPPORT FROM |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | ||
| Brisbane | The Kurilpa Bridge | https://www.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Story Bridge & Wickham Place Wall | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Victoria Bridge | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Reddacliff Place sculptures: Donna Marcus: Steam (2006) | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Breakfast Creek Bridge | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | City Hall | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | King George Square | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | The GABBA | https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Parliament House | https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/ |
| Brisbane | Queensland Performing Arts Centre | https://www.qpac.com.au/ |
| Townsville | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | https://www.queenslandcountrybankstadium.com.au/ |
| Townsville | Townsville sign | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Victoria Bridge | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Wharton Reef Lighthouse | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | George Roberts Bridge | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Old Magistrates Court House | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Flinders Square | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Central Park Boardwalk | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Townsville | Little Fletcher Bridge | https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ |
| Logan | Jacaranda Tower, Telfer Street Tower, Wineglass Water Tower | https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/ |
| Gold Coast | Broadbeach sign @ Victoria Park | https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home |
| Gold Coast | Decorative lighting @ Victoria Park | https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home |
| Gold Coast | Isle of Capri Bridge Surfers Paradise | https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home |
| Gold Coast | Surfers Paradise sign @ Cavill Mall | https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home |
| Gold Coast | Decorative lighting on Surfers Paradise foreshore | https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home |
| NSW | ||
| Sydney | Westconnex M4 tunnel & Lane Cove Tunnel | https://www.westconnex.com.au/ |
| Sydney | Manly Town Hall | https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/ |
| Sydney | Camperdown Memorial Park | https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/ |
| Coffs Harbour | The Big Banana | https://bigbanana.com/ |
| Newcastle | Newcastle City Hall Clock face | https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/city-hall/city-hall-home |
| Goulburn | Goulburn Visitor Centre | https://www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au/Home |
| Lake Macquarie | Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima (MAP mima) | https://arts.lakemac.com.au/Venues/Multi-Arts-Pavilion-mima |
| Wollongong | City Beach Function Centre | https://citybeach.events/ |
| Maitland | Morpeth Bridge | https://www.mymaitland.com.au/ |
| Orange | Robertson Fountain | https://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/ |
| ACT | ||
| Canberra | Telstra Tower | https://www.telstra.com.au/telstra-tower |
| Canberra | Old Parliament House | https://www.nca.gov.au/ |
| Canberra | Treasury Building | https://www.nca.gov.au/ |
| Canberra | Questacon | https://www.questacon.edu.au/ |
| Canberra | Royal Australian Mint | https://www.ramint.gov.au/ |
| Canberra | Malcolm Fraser Bridge | https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/ |
| VIC | ||
| Melbourne | Flinders Street Station | https://www.metrotrains.com.au/ |
| Melbourne | Melbourne Town Hall | https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ |
| Melbourne | Melbourne Cricket Ground | https://mcc.org.au/ |
| Melbourne | Melbourne’s GPO | https://www.melbournesgpo.com/ |
| Melbourne | Swan St Bridge | https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ |
| Melbourne | Fed Square | https://fedsquare.com/ |
| Melbourne | AAMI Park | https://aamipark.com.au/ |
| Melbourne | Rialto Towers | https://rialto.com.au/ |
| Melbourne | Bolte Bridge & Sound Tube | https://www.transurban.com/ |
| Melbourne | Kingston City Hall Clock Tower, Moorabbin | https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Home |
| Melbourne | The Drum Theatre, Dandenong | https://drum.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/ |
| Melbourne | Box Hill Town Hall | https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Home |
| Wodonga | Wodonga Water Tower | wodonga.vic.gov.au |
| Bendigo | Conservatory Building / Sidney Myer Place Feature Tree | https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ |
| TAS | ||
| Hobart | Tasman Bridge | https://www.tas.gov.au/ |
| Hobart | Cardinal lights | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Rose Garden Bridge | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Aquatic Centre | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Franklin Square | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Elizabeth Mall | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Kennedy Lane | https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Home |
| Hobart | Crowne Plaza | https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/about/brands |
| Launceston | Launceston Town Hall | https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Home |
| Devonport | paranaple convention centre & arts centre | https://www.devonport.tas.gov.au/ |
| Burnie | Burnie Council Offices | https://www.burnie.tas.gov.au/Home |
| Ulverstone | Leven River Bridge | https://www.centralcoast.tas.gov.au/ |
| SA | ||
| Adelaide | Parliament House | https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/ |
| Adelaide | Unley Town Hall | https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Home |
| Adelaide | SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) | https://sahmri.org.au/ |
| Adelaide | University of SA Bradley Building | https://www.unisa.edu.au/ |
| Adelaide | Riverbank Footbridge | https://www.sa.gov.au/ |
| Adelaide | Adelaide Railway Station | https://www.sa.gov.au/ |
| Mt Gambier | Mount Gambier City Hall & the Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre | https://www.mountgambier.sa.gov.au/ |
| WA | ||
| Perth | Mount Street Bridge | https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/ |
| Perth | Sky Ribbon Bridge | https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/ |
| Perth | Joondalup Drive Bridge | https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/ |
| Perth | Northbridge Tunnel (prev. Graham Farmer Freeway Tunnel) | https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/ |
| Perth | Trafalgar Bridge | https://perth.wa.gov.au/en |
| Perth | Council House | https://perth.wa.gov.au/en |
| Perth | Perth Concert Hall | https://www.perthconcerthall.com.au/ |
| Perth | Parliament House | https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/ |
| Perth | The Bell Tower | https://www.thebelltower.com.au/ |
| Geraldton | Queens Park Theatre | www.cgg.wa.gov.au |
| Albany | CBD Precinct Lights – town square and Alison Hartman Gardens | https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/ |
| Karratha | Red Earth Arts Precinct | https://www.karratha.wa.gov.au/ |
| NT | ||
| Darwin | Civic Centre and Park | https://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/ |
| Palmerston | Water Tower & Recreation Centre | https://palmerston.nt.gov.au/ |
Be sure to share photos and videos of your visit on social media using the campaign hashtags #SavingKidsGuts #FlushTheStigma #WorldIBDDay2024 #ShineALightonIBD
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 one from Bunnings
· Change your porch light to a purple globe or program your smart-globe to shine purple for the night
Don’t forget to share your photos on social media and tag us using the campaign hashtags #SavingKidsGuts #FlushTheStigma #WorldIBDDay2024 #ShineALightonIBD
Share your Story
#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.
Connect with us
Stay informed and connected during Awareness Month by following CCA on social media. We would love to hear from you!
Be sure to use the following hashtags when you post on your socials
#IBDHasNoAge #FlushTheStigma #SavingKidsGuts
#WorldIBDDay 2024 #ShineALight
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s 2024 Awareness Month is supported by Pfizer, Johnson&Johnson, Dr Falk Pharma Australia, AbbVie, Takeda Australia and Celltrion Healthcare.
All content is independently produced by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia.