A heartfelt “thank you” to all our volunteers

Thank You
Today marks the beginning of National Volunteer Appreciation Week and we couldn’t be prouder. Each and every day, dedicated volunteers from across the country bring our promise to life. Our heartfelt appreciation to all of our volunteers for their tireless work in helping people affected by Crohn’s or colitis.

A message to our volunteers:

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada was built on the passion and commitment of our dedicated volunteers. As a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization, we are very grateful for the partnership we have with our volunteers. Through your selfless dedication, valuable time and constant enthusiasm we are able to move closer to our promise: finding cures and improving the lives of children and adults living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

The theme of this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Week is “Lifting Communities”, and that is exactly what you do when you are proudly championing our cause and spreading the word about our Gutsy Walk, GoHere Washroom Access Program, and other educational events and patient programs. 

Each day throughout the year, your efforts have a positive, lasting impact for patients and their families in communities across Canada. You are lifting up people touched by Crohn’s or colitis by creating awareness and increasing access to resources like our IBD Scholarship for post-secondary students living with Crohn’s or colitis, the Gutsy Learning Series for individuals who want to learn more about IBD, Camp Got2Go for youth who want to meet other kids just like them, and, of course, the informal support, education, and awareness that pervades our local chapters.

On behalf of everyone affected by these chronic and debilitating diseases, our sincere appreciation and gratitude. We’ve come so far since Crohn’s and Colitis Canada was founded in 1974, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.


Mina Mawani
President and CEO 
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada 

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada was founded by volunteers, and is continually fueled by the initiative and dedication of volunteers from across the country. To find out how you can get involved in our cause, head over to our “Volunteer with Us” page.

  • Canada has among the highest incidence rates of Crohn's and colitis in the world.
  • 1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis.
  • Families new to Canada are developing these diseases for the first time.
  • Incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids under 10 has doubled since 1995.
  • People are most commonly diagnosed before age 30.

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