Crohn's & Colitis UK logo. Christmas Appeal

Crohn's & Colitis UK Christmas Appeal

Help Us Make Christmas Brighter For Those Living With Crohn's or Colitis

For many people living with Crohn's or Colitis, Christmas can be an especially difficult time. Many people find themselves missing out on festive activities, feeling isolated or even being hospitalised at this time of year.

This Christmas we're telling the stories of three people who have experienced just this, but who have all found comfort, hope, and a community that understands through Crohn's & Colitis UK.

By donating to our Christmas Appeal, you can help bring hope and support to others, this holiday season and beyond.

Here's how your gift can make an impact:

  • £25 could provide crucial information and support for those in need.
  • £50 could fund 31 patient information packs, offering information and practical advice to those newly diagnosed this Christmas.
  • £100 could fund a virtual social event where people can connect with others who understand their experience, offering much-needed companionship and support during a difficult time.

Thank you for considering this special way to give back.

Your support this Christmas could be the reason someone facing Crohn's or Colitis feels a little less alone, and a little more hopeful.


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Christmas has always been a special time for me. As a music teacher, I am always so busy with the run up to the holidays: Carol services, Christmas concerts, crafts and lots of excitement! But since my Crohn’s diagnosis in 2021, it’s become one of the toughest times.

Each December, I’ve found myself in the hospital, facing serious complications, cancelling plans and feeling totally isolated from my family and friends. During one of those stays, I discovered Crohn’s & Colitis UK through the IBD nurses.

It was a turning point - finding a community that truly understands has made all the difference, especially during moments of isolation. I know how much it means to feel connected and understood during such a lonely time. You and your loved ones may have faced similar, and know what it means to have Crohn’s & Colitis UK by your side. 


Kirsten, Crohn's & Colitis UK member

Can you help make this Christmas brighter?

It was October 2006, and I had just started university when I first got sick with violent diarrhoea and vomiting. By December, I was in a really bad way, so I was rushed into hospital, and that’s when I found out I had Crohn’s. It was right over the Christmas period, and I was released on New Year’s Eve.  That was my first experience of being in hospital at Christmas, but unfortunately not my last.

In 2010, I was rushed in for emergency stoma surgery after my bowel perforated. That was really tough. I was so out of it and so sick that I forgot what time of year it was. In fact, the only time it dawned on me that it was Christmas, was when Santa turned up on the ward, shook my hand and gave me a Lynx Africa!

I had more surgery the next Christmas too. I wrote a couple of the tracks from my first album when I was in hospital and they’re all about trying to find that positivity even when it all seems hopeless. I was 19 and still in denial about my Crohn’s when my mum first told me to check out Crohn’s & Colitis UK. I’m so glad I did, because the community has been a huge support for me, and I hope I have made a difference in my work as an ambassador for the charity.

When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t know anyone with IBD. Joining Crohn’s & Colitis UK changed that. I’ve got loads of “Crohnies” in my phone now. And if I can be that person for someone else, then that’s great.


Tom Speight, Crohn's & Colitis UK ambassador

You could be the reason someone feels less alone this Christmas

I’ll never forget the events of a recent Christmas. On December 26th, I was feeling unwell and called 111. They advised me to go straight to the hospital. Unfortunately, the roads to my regular hospital were closed due to flooding, so we had to find another hospital where I wasn’t known. 

Without access to my full medical records and my usual IBD team, the doctors struggled to understand what was happening. My condition worsened quickly, I developed ulcers in my mouth, throat, and windpipe, and couldn’t keep anything down. Finally, just after midnight on New Year's Eve, a nurse managed to insert a feeding tube after hours of trying.

During my two-week hospital stay, I never met with a nutritionist, even though my condition clearly called for one. The Christmas season meant fewer staff on duty, and I felt abandoned during a time when I desperately needed support. My mental health took a serious hit, and I struggled to maintain any hope. I wanted to be surrounded by my family during such a difficult time. The scars of that experience remain, and it taught me just how crucial it is to feel understood and supported during these challenging times.

It was during this time that I turned to Crohn's & Colitis UK. The resources they provided helped me navigate my recovery, and the sense of community I found through them was life changing. Knowing there were people out there who truly understood my experience made a world of difference.

Today, I work for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, and I hear firsthand how the charity makes a difference everyday for people like me. I know how much it means to feel connected and understood during such a lonely time.


Charlee, Crohn's & Colitis UK staff member

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Make Christmas Brighter for someone living with Crohn's or Colitis

Christmas Shop

Looking for other ways to give this Christmas? Visit our Christmas Shop and spread some cheer with Crohn's & Colitis UK Christmas Cards!

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Helpline service

Helpline
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We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. But you’re not alone. We provide up-to-date, evidence-based information and can support you to live well with Crohn’s or Colitis.

Our helpline team can help by:

  • Providing information about Crohn’s and Colitis.

  • Listening and talking through your situation.

  • Helping you to find support from others in the Crohn’s and Colitis community.

  • Providing details of other specialist organisations.

Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.

Please contact us via telephone, email or LiveChat - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except English bank holidays).

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If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.

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