Inspired by Alex’s enthusiasm and love for hearing our supporters’ stories, these awards shine a light on the amazing fundraising efforts and achievements of supporters under the age of 30.
At WALK IT London on Saturday 8 June we were delighted to be joined by Alex’s family and announce the winners.
Eli-Jo showed amazing bravery and strength, fundraising in memory of her dad who she lost to Crohn’s on Christmas Day of 2017. She took part in the 2018 Junior Great North Run with her cousins and godfather raising an amazing £815.
Whilst dealing with her own grief, Eli-Jo has been able to think of others and wants to keep raising awareness and fundraising in her dad’s memory. She is signed up to take part in the Junior North Run again this year and we’re all behind her!
I hope I have done my dad, family and all Crohn’s sufferers proud… it’s an awful disease and needs a lot more awareness and I will continue to raise as much money as possible.
Eli-Jo
Under 16's winner
Our under 30's winner Georgia raised £2,401 taking part in the 2018 Great North Swim one-mile distance with her dad. She continues to battle Crohn’s on a daily basis and amazes her family with her positive approach in dealing with such a complex condition at such a young age.
She writes a blog about her experiences to encourage others and is training to be a yoga instructor, wanting to promote healthy living in any way she can. Georgia even took on the two-mile distance this year on the very day of London WALK IT.
I signed up to fundraise and participate in the Great North Swim last year was because I was hospitalised and wanted to take a little bit of control back from Crohn’s - it was a pleasure to be able to raise so much money for Crohns & Colitis UK. I plan to raise much much more for your wonderful organisation in the future because every person living with IBD is an absolute hero!
Georgia
Under 30's winner
We also awarded two Alex Demain Awareness Awards to two incredible young women who have used their talents and skills to raise awareness and funds in innovative ways.
Natalie-Amber raised £1,000 in the last year alone through a birthday fundraiser, fashion show and body confidence shoot. As a model she has been breaking down the stigma of stomas and scars in the modelling industry and refuses to let her scars be photo shopped.
Promoting self-love and body confidence to her growing social media following, Natalie-Amber has big plans to spread this message to Crohn’s and Colitis suffers in the UK, the USA and across the world.
Words can’t describe how it feels to have won the Alex Demain Awareness Award, I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful. I feel privileged that his family hand-picked the winners and recognised the work I do, it made me want to cry with happiness.
Natalie-Amber
Awareness Award winner
Amelia is a budding musician and actress who released a Christmas Charity single last year after a severe flare-up in the summer of 2018. Her story got widespread news coverage and was even featured on BBC Sussex and viewed around 20,000 times.
After a tough year for me, raising awareness and money gave me a focus and helped me heal physically and mentally knowing I was helping the IBD warriors like myself. It was my first time at WALK IT London and I couldn’t be prouder to be surrounded by such strong and positive people. It made winning the Alex Demain Award even more special because I could finally meet everyone that I was doing it for. Thank you, Crohn’s & Colitis UK, for all you do for me and my fellow IBD warriors.
Amelia
Awareness Award winner
Every single nomination for the Alex Demain awards is read by Alex’s family and the Fundraising Team here at the charity. It’s been immensely moving to hear what our remarkable supporters overcome to fundraise, and we are humbled every year, so thank you!
