About Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

• Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, describes two similar yet distinct conditions called Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the intestinal tissue to become inflamed, form sores and bleed easily. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea.
• Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Patches of inflammation occur, with healthy tissue between the diseased areas. The inflammation can extend through every layer of affected bowel tissue. Crohn’s disease cannot be cured by drugs or surgery, although either or both can help relieve symptoms.
• Ulcerative colitis affects only the inner layer of the colon, or large bowel. It always starts in the rectum and may extend as a continuous inflammation from there into the rest of the colon. Usually ulcerative colitis can be controlled with medication. The disease can be completely eliminated by surgically removing the colon, but afterwards, waste material may have to be stored and expelled through an external appliance.
• There is no known cause or cure for IBD.
• Nearly 200,000 Canadian men, women and children suffer from IBD.
• People are most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 15-25, or 45-55.
• IBD is particularly difficult for children and young adults since it often affects a person’s self-esteem, body image and lifestyle at a time when being like everyone else is so important.
• IBD is unpredictable. Most people experience periods of remission and flare-ups of the disease, often requiring long-term medication, hospitalization, or surgery.

Although IBD is found throughout the world, research suggests that it may be more common in North America and northern Europe. Canada is believed to have one of the highest incidence rates of IBD in the world.

About the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
of Canada:

• The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) is a national not-for-profit voluntary medical research Foundation.
• The Foundation was started in 1974 by a group of concerned parents who saw the need to raise funds for research into IBD and to educate patients and their families about these diseases.
• In 1992, the Foundation's name changed to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada from the Canadian Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis in order to more accurately reflect the two most prevalent intestinal disorders.
• Its mission is to find the cure for inflammatory bowel disease.
• To achieve its mission, the Foundation is committed to raising increasing funds for medical research into the causes and cure for IBD. In fiscal year 2006-2007 alone, the Foundation raised $6.6 million dollars toward medical research, its largest yearly investment ever, bringing the total amount the CCFC has distributed toward medical research to $48 million dollars.
• The CCFC has over 65,000 supporters and includes members in some 80 local volunteer groups across Canada.
• Education is also a part of our mandate. The Foundation provides information on IBD to patients, their families, health professionals and the general public through education brochures, its national member publication The Journal, Focus, local education events and the CCFC web site at www.ccfc.ca.
• The CCFC owes its success to the passionate interest and hard work of thousands of volunteers across the country. Volunteers participate in numerous fundraising initiatives throughout the year including national programs such as the M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day, All that Glitters Galas, the Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon, and the Fall Fundraiser, which includes Let’s Do Brunch!
• The CCFC is one of the world's leaders in non-governmental per capita funding of IBD research.