Beverley Davies was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 1980, and has been volunteering since 2016. She is currently on the Readers Panel reviewing patient information and was a patient contributor for the IBD Nursing Campaign.

I started volunteering because I wanted to help others with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and help support the great work Crohn's & Colitis UK do, and help spread awareness. I became very isolated in my own illness when I was ill and since I’ve learnt more and taken positive moves to be open, it has helped me enormously.

Sharing and distribution of good advice and information is crucial for your wellbeing and recovery and enabling you to be empowered. I would hope that personal quotes and involvement can make people who are suffering feel more connected and less alone in their illness. If you are thinking about volunteering, absolutely do it! Not only do you feel as though you are helping others, but it’s great having the satisfaction of doing something positive out of what has been a difficult and sometimes lonely part of your life. I’ve managed to turn my experience of having Colitis into a really positive thing, and I am a happier healthier person as a result.