The #GetYourBellyOut birthday ball

I was super excited to be invited by Crohns and Colitis UK to attend the #GetYourBellyOut 2nd birthday ball with them. As it was Timm’s birthday, he came along too!

#GetYourBellyOut is a great group who raise money for CCUK and awareness of life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. To join in the campaign, all you have to do is upload a picture of your belly to your chosen social media accounts using the hashtag #GetYourBellyOut! You DO NOT have to have IBD to join in the campaign, just a willingness to help raise awareness!

You can also make a donation by sending the text IBDA99 and your donation amount E.g. ‘IBDA99 £3’ to 70070 (UK mobiles only) or you can donate to the JustGiving page online here. ALL donations go to Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

The event was held at the National Motorcycle museum in Solihull and it was an absolute blast! It was amazing to be in a room filled with so many inspirational and wonderful people, stories were shared and the drinks flowed as people talked about their own IBD journeys and the difference that the campaign has made to their life.

IBD is known as an embarrassing illness and it can be hard for people to speak out about their illnesses and how it affects their lives. So to be at this event where everyone is speaking openly (I was going to say ‘poo was on everyone’s lips’ but that sounds very, very wrong!) was just brilliant.

#GetYourBellyOut is doing amazing work and I was so chuffed to be invited, here are some of the photos from the night. I’d highly recommend you head over and check out their work. Someone asked me if I felt in competition with the group and with other IBD bloggers, and I can wholeheartedly say NO! I think we are all on the same team and we all do what we do to try and make the lives of other people better. I happily promote and share the work of other bloggers because I want to get everyone talking about their health, it is all about raising awareness and the more voices out there, the better.

When I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2003, there was so little support, the internet and social media have brought together so many people who are willing to speak out and to offer help to others and that is just so special. I started this blog in early 2013 when I couldn’t find much info and support in the UK, nowadays there are so many more blogs, websites and support groups and this can only be a good thing.

Let’s celebrate all those who work hard in tough circumstances to shout out, to stop poo being taboo, to raise awareness, raise money and work to find a cure. The Get Your Belly Out birthday ball was certainly a celebration of all those things.

Thank you guys for all your fantastic work!