Taking place throughout May, June and July; WALK IT invites anyone to join and walk either 5km or 10km to show their support for the fight against Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). There will be eight routes across the country this year – London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Swansea as well as newly added locations in Bristol, Plymouth, Birmingham and Newcastle.
The WALK IT London event will take place on 10th June 2017 in Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AN.
To help launch the walks, the charity is being supported by The Mummy Diaries star, Samantha Faiers. Samantha has been an avid supporter of Crohn’s & Colitis UK since being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease herself in 2014, and she will be participating in the London WALK IT event.
TV personality Samantha Faiers says: “Being diagnosed with Crohn’s completely changed my life. The condition has caused me agonising pain, changed my body and altered my lifestyle. I am managing my condition well, but I am delighted to be part of an amazing organisation and I want to do everything I can to help raise awareness of IBD. I am looking forward to launching WALK IT and taking part with my family – it’s such a great atmosphere, and I want as many people as possible to join me walking around London, so we can stand up against IBD together!”
The charity aims to reunite the country together to raise awareness of IBD, and fight for the 300,000 people in the UK with the condition to achieve a better quality of life.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease causing inflammation and ulcers in the bowel which can lead to urgent and frequent diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, pain, profound fatigue and anaemia. It is largely a hidden disease that can have a big impact on physical wellbeing, as well as affecting people emotionally, causing stigma, and sometimes leading to fear and isolation.
Sam Afhim, Director of Income Generation, Crohn’s and Colitis UK, said: “We want to raise vital funds and awareness for the people struggling with IBD and the devastating effects it can have on people and their families. At Crohn’s & Colitis UK, we want to spread the word that there is support and there are other people in the same situation – which is why our WALK IT fundraising events are so important in bringing everyone together.”
Funds raised through WALK IT directly enable the charity to carry out vital new research, answer more calls from people needing help and provide patient packs to hospitals across the UK, amongst others.
With music, entertainment and refreshments at each walk, the events will have a fun, feel-good atmosphere. Join us as we Walk IT together; challenging stigma, standing strong and raising vital funds for the fight against Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
To find your nearest WALK IT location, and to sign up to the event, please visit: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/walkit
