Today Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is launching the 12th annual AbbVie IBD Scholarship—a competition for students living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are attending a Canadian post-secondary school this fall. To become one of the 15 recipients of the $5,000 grant, students must complete an application for consideration by May 15. Past recipients have proven their passion for both their academics and their commitment to the Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis community. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada thanks AbbVie Canada, a research-driven biopharmaceutical company, for making this scholarship possible.
“Living with an autoimmune disease like Crohn’s or colitis can severally impact an individual’s quality of life, ranging from physical symptoms, financial burdens associated with healthcare encounters, psychological distress, and additional challenges in life due to managing a chronic disease,” said Lori Radke, President and CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. “Through this scholarship, we support post-secondary students living with IBD so they can maximize this important time and experience everything that post-secondary life has to offer.”
All too often, students living with IBD miss out on extra curricular and entertainment activities, along with class time that should be a major part of this time of life. “This is a crucial time in young people’s lives, and too many students living with IBD miss out on extra curricular activities and class time because of their disease. Pursuing post-second education can be challenging enough but doing so while also living with a chronic autoimmune condition can be overwhelming,” says Tracey Ramsay, Vice President and General Manager of AbbVie Canada. “We’re proud to partner with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to help support Canadian students living with IBD so they feel seen and have additional resources to follow their dreams.”
Stress is a major trigger of IBD symptoms, which can result in a range of symptoms from discomfort to debilitating symptoms that require lengthy hospital stays. On top of the stresses already associated with post-secondary education, the added stress from managing a chronic autoimmune disease can be very challenging for these students. The goal of the AbbVie IBD Scholarship is to help alleviate some of these stresses by lessening the financial challenges associated with post-secondary education.
“Receiving the scholarship signified being recognized for all the challenges I’ve overcome living with IBD. This scholarship emulates the idea that despite the many struggles we go through with this disease, we continue to rise above our personal obstacles and continue to make a difference in our community while also continuing to pursue our educational endeavours.”
– Ashley Patel, 2022 AbbVie IBD Scholarship Recipient
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is thrilled to have awarded 125 students with a total of $625,000, since 2012 through the AbbVie IBD Scholarship. Beginning in 2022, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada also awards one of the 15 scholarships each year with the Clinton Shard Memorial grant in memory of Clinton Shard. Clinton was a past AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipient who made an incredible impact on the community and the grant in his name it to honour and cherish his memory.
The Prevalence of Crohn's and Colitis in Canada
Canada continues to have among the highest prevalence of IBD in the world. Today, more than 300,000 Canadians live with IBD. By 2030 it is estimated that nearly 403,000 Canadians will have a diagnosis of IBD. IBD is a lifelong disease, and it can be diagnosed at any age. It has a typical age of onset in adolescence or early adulthood (ages 20 to 30), at a time when they are pursuing academic studies, employment, building their family, and reaching other key milestones. In 2030, we project 13,685 children and youth with IBD living in Canada (172 per 100,000 children). This means almost double the number of children will live with IBD in 2030 compared to 2018, and almost triple the number living with IBD in 2008. Patients with IBD experience symptoms such as extreme abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, painful and dangerous abscesses and fistulas, significant weight loss and malnourishment.
More about the AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program supports students in achieving their academic goals while they make a lasting and meaningful difference in their communities. As of 2022, we award fifteen (15) eligible students with a $5,000 scholarship to students attending a Canadian post-secondary institution for the upcoming fall semester. The program, made possible by an educational grant from AbbVie Canada, helps alleviate financial barriers, enabling students to spend more time on their studies, pursue their passions, and get involved with causes close to their hearts.
About Crohn's and Colitis Canada
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada aspires to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by these diseases.
We’re committed to fulfilling this in the work we do, guided by a set of values and the objectives laid out in our 2023-2026 Impact Strategy. We have a critical role as a contributor, and as a connector and collaborator with others in Canada and around the world who share this vision. Together, we are driving towards delivering a positive impact for everyone affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For more information, visit crohnsandcolitis.ca and follow us @getgutsycanada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
About AbbVie Canada
We're a company that takes on the toughest health challenges. AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbviecanada on Twitter or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
For more information, please contact media@crohnsandcolitis.ca or call 1-800-387-1479.