There’s been a lot of talk about IBD awareness lately. Everyone has an opinion on how it should be done and what kind of campaigns should be started. Some people find certain campaigns offensive, while others find them to be excellent ideas.
Thursday, my grandmother told me about an 11-year-old girl who is currently in the hospital with Ulcerative Colitis. She’s the granddaughter of a friend of my grandmother’s. My grandmother told me that her family is so sad and confused and feel so hopeless. My grandmother gave them my blog and told them to check it out. This word-of-mouth I think is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness.
Seeing this young girl and so many others who suffer from IBD and other invisible diseases really moves me. It moves me to want to do more for the IBD community. I, like so many others I’m sure, often feel helpless. I am just ONE person trying to make a difference. Trying to tell others out there it’s going to be ok. We’re here for you. We care and will do anything we can to help you through your battle.
There are many different ways to reach others. One campaign can touch one person so deeply and make them feel like they are not alone… but it can be completely offensive and turn another person off. That’s why I think it’s important that there be a very diverse group of IBD Advocates out there raising awareness in their own ways. We all have our individual gifts and I think we should use those to the best of our abilities and attempt to make a difference.
I am starting my own feeble attempt at a campaign in October. Some people don’t like the idea, but I did get some people on my side about it. And that’s ok, as I said before, we’re all different and what reaches one person, may not do anything for another.
I think it’s also important that we reach out and support each other. We all share a common goal: to raise awareness and educate others about IBD. Instead of getting frustrated and angry over the way someone is raising awareness, why not support them? They may be reaching someone that wouldn’t be reached in any other way. Again, we all have the same goal and I believe that whoever is for us, cannot be against us.
Here is a list of amazing IBDers that I absolutely adore:
No problem! 🙂
Thanks for the shout out! Looking forward to seeing your mummy campaign 🙂