Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day

Today, 19 May 2015, is World IBD Day. This year more than 40 countries are joining forces to raise awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This year’s efforts centre round a global video campaign encouraging people affected by IBD to share their story, with a unifying theme of “United we Stand”. The videos can be viewed here.

In Europe, the European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) will be running to raise awareness in the Brussels half marathon. The half marathon will take place on 31 May when a team of 40 runners will prove that you can have a chronic disease and still lead an active and fulfilling life.

At Janssen, we recognise that close collaboration with patient organisations is key to understanding the patient experience and gaining insights into the disease.

About World IBD Day

World IBD Day is an annual day coordinated by the EFCCA and led by patient organisations representing 36 countries on four continents. The day is specifically dedicated to people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patient groups from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, 28 European nations, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America work together to give an international voice to the five million people living with IBD worldwide, and raise the profile of the condition which has no cure, no known cause, and little public understanding of the pain and chronic suffering people living with IBD cope with every day of their lives.*

• World IBD Day. About Us. http://www.worldibdday.org/aboutus.html. Accessed April 29, 2015