This year’s theme: “Young and brave with IBD”
Every November, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada proudly recognizes Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, aimed at shining a spotlight on Canadians living with and affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
This year, we’re highlighting the unique challenges, and the incredible courage, of children and youths who are young and brave with IBD.
Children and youth face unique challenges
- Canada has some of the highest rates of pediatric IBD in the world, with diagnoses increasing particularly among children under 6.
- Young people with Crohn’s or colitis often face more severe symptoms than adults, impacting their growth and development.
- Beyond physical symptoms, young people may contend with missed school days, limited treatment options (because many therapies aren’t extensively tested in children), and mental health challenges, including anxiety or depression.
How we're helping
- To help parents and caregivers navigate the unique challenges their child may face, we’ve developed a downloadable Parent’s and Caregiver’s Guide and a Letter to School to help guide conversations with school administrators.
- For teachers and school administrators, we've developed a Teacher's Guide and fun colouring sheets to increase understanding and support for students living with Crohn’s or colitis.
- We’ve partnered up with David Soren, Canadian director, writer, and illustrator best known for the animated film Captain Underpants to encourage families and kids affected by IBD to share their stories of being “young and brave with IBD” to be entered to win one of three prize packs containing signed copies of his brand-new book, Invisible: The (Sort of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease, an illustrated middle grade novel full of humor that captures the rollercoaster ride of growing up with IBD.
- If your child has a stoma, they can share their story (or you can on their behalf) to receive a free Belly Bear at their local Gutsy Walk on June 7.
Visit the “Young and brave with IBD” campaign page to explore more.
Get involved this November
- Your donation will help fund vital research and programs that will help support kids and youths living with IBD. For the month of November only, as our thanks for your generosity, if you give $100 or more, you’ll receive your very own Gutsy Bear Pin, that you can wear proudly to spark conversations about this important cause.
- Visit the “Young and brave with IBD” campaign page to download resources, get the facts, and share stories of being young and brave with IBD.
- Raise awareness on social media: tag us @getgutsycanada if you share the campaign or your story! Help us spark conversations about the challenges of being young with Crohn’s or colitis.
Crohn’s and colitis are chronic, lifelong conditions that cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, impairing digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, fatigue, unintended weight loss, and sometimes even surgery. As diagnoses increase in young people in Canada, raising awareness and building supportive environments has become increasingly urgent.
This November, we invite Canadians to recognize the strength of young people living bravely with IBD, support their needs, and contribute to research and resources that give hope for a better tomorrow.
Visit “Young and brave with IBD".
Donate now