Crohns and Colitis, a chronic and recurrent inflammation of the small and large intestine affects over 30,000 Australians, plenty of them in south west Sydney.
The debilitating disease has significant impacts on sufferers, particularly young people and children.
“Parents of children who suffer Crohns disease often find themselves in positions of having to leave their jobs or exhaust their leave entitlements to cope with the sporadic nature of the symptoms of this disease,’’ says the federal member for Fowler Chris Hayes.
“Sadly, there is no cure, and ways to alleviate the effects of the disease is to have ongoing medical treatment, which only targets the symptoms,” Mr Hayes said.
To shed more light into the disease and the impact it has on its sufferers, Mr Hayes, along with his wife, Bernadette, attended the Crohns Awareness Charity Ball held by Crohns Awareness Australia on Friday, May 27.
The ball is part of the Crohns and Colitis Awareness Month, which is held annually in May..’
“It is important to raise awareness about this disease so that it can attract resources for vital research so that we can find ways in improving the livelihoods of sufferers, and ultimately cure the disease,” Mr Hayes said this week.
If you or anyone you may know is suffering from Crohns of Colitis, contact your local GP or Crohns and Colitis Australia on 1800 138 029.
Alternatively, visit the Crohns and Colitis website here.
