November is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, and local volunteer Michelle Robinson is working to raise awareness by bringing a bonspiel and a flag raising to Muskoka.
The Bracebridge Falls were lit up red on Nov. 1 in honour of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) awareness. Robinson also organized a flag raising with the Town of Gravenhurst on Nov. 4 and a bonspiel at the Gravenhurst Curling Club on Nov. 9. It costs $60 to play in the bonspiel and includes three games, lunch and a chance to win prizes. The event will also feature a silent auction to raise money for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. The two conditions are the main forms of IBD, and 1 in 140 Canadians live with it, so Robinson is excited to bring more awareness to Muskoka with this year’s events.
“It’s a start, and I’m noticing more and more, I’ve met so many people with the disease,” she said. “Even that alone is great because people are starting to talk about it.”
Though IBD is an invisible disease, its impact on the people who have it is substantial from day to day. Along with extra bathroom visits, it can cause pain and cramping, weight loss, fatigue and a range of other symptoms. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has launched a Locked Out campaign to raise awareness about the importance of quick washroom access.
The organization is also promoting the GoHere app, which makes it easier for users to locate nearby restrooms and manage their symptoms. Robinson said tools like the app are necessary, especially in places like Muskoka. She hopes it will gain traction and more people will understand how serious the disease can be.
She’s the chair of the Gutsy Walk, an annual fundraiser in June, and two years ago they had an honourary chair for the event named Lindsay Hurren. Hurren died in 2018 after facing cancer, Crohn’s and other autoimmune diseases.
“Because of the complications and the side effects and all the things that went with it, she passed at 26,” Robinson said. “People don’t realize, these diseases, how much impact they have in your everyday life.”
Robinson has set out to change that, at least in Muskoka. Lighting up landmarks like the CN Tower and Bracebridge Falls is a tradition for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada during awareness month, but the flag raising and the bonspiel are new additions to the schedule.
She said they have a great selection of auction items and a day of fun ready for the bonspiel on Nov. 9. Players can compete individually or as part of a team, and they’re welcome to join an existing team or form their own. For people who don’t want to play, attendees are welcome to sit on the sidelines or visit the auction.
The flag raising on Nov. 4 also offers a free way for community members to show their support. While Muskoka has seen its share of flag raisings, this one is the first of its kind.
“The flag raising is going to be huge because Crohn’s and Colitis Canada does not do flag raisings right now, and this is the first one ever in Canada, so for me, it’s a huge thing,” Robinson said. “I feel like it’s going to set a precedent, and I think people will want to do it in their areas, so I’m really excited about it.”
One of the best ways to help is by spreading the word, she said. Sharing community events and educating others is at the heart of the awareness efforts, so social media and word of mouth go a long way. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada will also be sharing information about its impact all month as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary, offering another way to learn about IBD.
Robinson knows firsthand the isolation and misunderstanding that comes with Crohn’s. People usually assume she’s fine because she’s busy with so many activities like being on council or taking care of her kids, but they don’t see the extensive planning for any travel or outings, the frequent disruptions and the other challenges.
That said, she encourages other people with IBD to see her progress and know they can do whatever they want in life. The disease doesn’t have to hold them back. There’s support out there, it’s just a matter of finding it, so she also urges anyone with Crohn’s or colitis to reach out to her or the organization.
While the symptoms may seem embarrassing at times, it’s a disease that takes a heavy mental and physical toll, so Robinson asks people to exercise empathy and open their minds to getting educated. The growth of the Gutsy Walk and the launch of the new events have her feeling optimistic about the future of IBD resources in the area.
“It gives me hope that things are going to change,” she said. “I’m excited for it. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen in the future with it, and I will advocate as much as I can to make it happen.”
