UK events (IA)

National Council Meeting 2009

This will take place in Glasgow on 4th - 5th April 2009.  Further details can be obtained from IA National Office.

Cross Channel Swim

Jennifer Best of Swindon IA is planning to swim the English Channel in September. She states :

‘Why?’, I hear you ask.  Well, for several reasons really. One of the most important being - I want to see if I can. Equally as important is that in September 2006 I acquired a brand new stoma, name of Mavis, which meant that I was finally free of colitis and had my life back. There were, and still are occasionally, adjustment issues to this new state of affairs and those issues, traumas and crises were ably handled with the unstinting support of IA and its members. So I wanted to give something back to IA, and swimming the Channel seemed a good way to do it. I also want to show others in my position that having a stoma can be the start of something new. If I can swim the Channel, then they can get into the pool and swim.

I’m not the fastest swimmer and I’m not trying to break any records so I’m expecting to be in the water for about 20 hours. I love being in the sea, and always have. Hopefully my swim will give someone else the hope that they can have a normal life with their new stoma.

If you would like to sponsor me please go to www.justgiving.com/jenniferbest - my target is £5,000.

The 21Kay Appeal

Shropshire and District IA member Kay Shinton, whose ileo-anal pouch is set to celebrate its 21st birthday, has launched 'The 21Kay Appeal' aiming to raise £21,000 for 21 years of care which has kept her, and continues to keep her, alive. Money raised will go towards buying diagnostic equipment for the detection of bowel cancer and other serious bowel conditions.

Full details details of The 21Kay Appeal can be found here :  

European Cancer Patients Coalition

This charity is organising a walk in one of London’s loveliest parks to get publicity for the wonders of walking – and raise awareness of a little-talked about cancer which affects 1 in 10 of our families. Lynn Faulds Wood, the former presenter of BBC Watchdog, who survived this common cancer, is the founder of this tiny, voluntary charity and Chair of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) www.ecpc-online.org

The walk will be on Sunday 21st September 2008 from 10.30am in London's Hyde Park, meeting at the bandstand near Hyde Park Corner.