Crohn's & Colitis Foundation to Convene First-Ever International YouTube Live with IBD Organizations

NEW YORK, May 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 5 million people worldwide live with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, two debilitating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Despite its prominence, public understanding of these diseases is limited, and much more needs to be done to increase awareness.

To help educate the public about these chronic autoimmune diseases, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, the leading non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for IBD, will convene the first-ever YouTube live video chat with representatives from six international IBD organizations on World IBD Day, May 19, 2017, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST. Participants include:

• Michael Osso, President & CEO of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
• David Barker, chief executive of Crohn's & Colitis UK
• Ciara Drohan, Crohn's patient from Ireland and secretary of the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations
• Matthew Herrera, an ulcerative colitis patient from Louisiana
• Francesca Manglaviti, chief executive officer of Crohn's & Colitis Australia
• Angie Specic, vice president of marketing and communications for Crohn's & Colitis Canada
• Dr. Flavio Steinwurz, founder and president emeritus, Associação Brasileira de Colite Ulcerativa e Doença de Crohn

IBD diagnosis, treatment, and care around the globe will be discussed during the hour-long chat, highlighting the differences that patients face worldwide. The chat can be watched live here: http://bit.ly/WorldIBDDayChat.  

"Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis impact people across the globe, with millions of children and adults affected. They are truly diseases without borders," said Michael Osso, President & CEO of the Foundation. "By bringing together leaders from various countries on World IBD Day, we ensure that we are doing all we can to increase disease awareness, sharing the power of the collective voice of our community, and ensure that we are using our resources to find cures for these debilitating diseases."

In addition to the YouTube Live video chat, the Foundation is leading a World IBD Day social media campaign to increase awareness of Crohn's and colitis. Members of the IBD community can get involved by participating in a live Twitter chat on May 19 from 12-1 p.m. EST with NFL linebacker Michael Mauti using the hashtag #WorldIBDDayChat; changing their social media profile photo; donating a Facebook post or tweet to a Thunderclap; sharing their story on the Foundation's website; and more.

The Foundation's World IBD Day activities are sponsored by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more information about World IBD Day, visit www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/WorldIBDDay

About Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect 1.6 million Americans. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; the incidence is increasing across the population, and notably in children.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the largest non-profit, voluntary, health organization dedicated to finding cures for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The Foundation's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research; providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public; and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information visit www.crohnscolitisfoundation.orgmailto:, call 888-694-8872, or email [email protected].

SOURCE Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

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