Scaling The Heights To Battle Crohn’s And Colitis
More than 500,000 people in the UK – approximately 1 in 123 – are estimated to be living with Crohn’s Disease or Colitis (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), according to research from leading charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
And a further 25,000 new sufferers are diagnosed with the condition each year.
It’s an ‘invisible’ condition that doesn’t always receive the attention it perhaps deserves.
There is no known cure – and while there are treatments that help, sufferers still often face a daily battle to attempt to live a normal life.
With several Crohn’s and Colitis sufferers among our team at Subsidium, we wanted to do more to raise awareness and funds to support research in this area. We’ve held a number of bake sales in the past but wanted to go further.
That’s why on Saturday 9th May, a team from Subsidium will be walking up Snowdon to raise funds for Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
If you’d like to sponsor the team, you can do so here.
Three of our team share more about their experiences living with the condition below:
Neil’s story
Neil Wilson has been with Subsidium since 2022 and is a Fulfilment Executive.
I was diagnosed with the condition as far back as 2002 and having tried various treatments, I was operated on and fitted with a stoma bag in 2011.
That brings its own challenges with what I can and can’t eat, especially when out and about.
I try not to let it impact on my life and to keep as active as possible. I cycle most days and two years ago took part in the 100-mile Ride London event to raise funds for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
I’m looking forward to the Snowdon challenge and doing more to raise awareness of this cause.
Sophie’s story
Sophie Knight has been with Subsidium since 2021 and is an EMM Technical Support Specialist
I had ambitions of being a TV and film make-up artist and had embarked on a university course in the field.
But those dreams were scuppered when I was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis, having waited six months for an initial colonoscopy after originally starting to suffer from symptoms in 2019.
While in hospital in 2020 I contracted Covid and then pneumonia due to the effects of the immunosuppressant drugs – used to treat the condition – on my immune system.
The diagnosis also put paid to my part-time work providing at-home respite support for children with chronic health conditions.
I had to seek a different career path – and as a company, Subsidium have been very supportive and allowed me to be flexible with work when needed. Having started in administration, I’ve been able to progress and develop a career within the business.
I still have to self-inject the immunosuppressants now and taking these mean I can be more susceptible to other conditions.
The self-medication regime also means I have to be very organised as the drugs have to be kept refrigerated – meaning any travel plans have to be very detailed!
There’s still a lot of stigma around the condition and it’s important we do all we can to keep raising awareness.
Callum’s story
Callum Inglis has been with Subsidium for six years and is a Senior Mobility Consultant
My symptoms only became apparent when I contracted a food-borne infection in my late teens.
I was fortunate in getting a diagnosis quite quickly and since then have had to self-medicate every fortnight with Biologic immunosuppressants.
Those really help but like all sufferers, I still have to be mindful of things like concentration, energy levels and fatigue, as symptoms can flare up unexpectedly, no matter how careful you are.
At the end of the day, it’s something you learn to live alongside. I’m fortunate in that Subsidium is a very understanding company and there is flexibility there whenever I need it.
A reminder that you can support the team here.