Exploring Crohns Disease Awareness Month
If you or a loved one lives with Crohns disease, you are well aware of the painful and disruptive flares, fatigue, and other symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life. Raising public consciousness around this challenging condition is critical both for funding research and reducing stigma.
So when exactly is Crohns disease awareness month? Keep reading to learn more about dedicated campaigns that aim to educate people on the realities those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohns face every day.
Pinpointing Official Awareness Months and Days
For such a prevalent condition impacting over 700,000 Americans, you may be surprised there is no single universally recognized Crohns Disease Awareness Month.
However, there are a handful of awareness events and initiatives throughout the year that convene the Crohns community including:
- World IBD Day (May 19th) - Annual global campaign to unite patients, medical professionals, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
- Crohns & Colitis Awareness Week (Early December) - Led by the Crohns & Colitis Foundation to educate public and drive advocacy.
- Guts4Life Awareness Walks/Runs (Year-Round) - Series of local 5k events that fundraise for Crohns research.
Of these, the biggest concentrated push aligned specifically around inflammatory bowel disease issues happens each year in early December. The 2022 event spanned December 1st through 7th.
History Behind Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week
Crohns & Colitis Awareness Week was launched in 2010 through a partnership between the Crohns & Colitis Foundation (CCF) and the Ad Council.
By uniting patients, medical experts, and marketing strategists, the goal was to address common misconceptions while empowering the public to join the critical fight to cure Crohns. Educational themes over the years have included topics like complication risks, mental health impacts, latest treatment advances, and overcoming social awkwardness.
Over a decade later, organizers continue innovating new ways to maximize reach and resonance.
Generating Support Through Symbols
If you pay attention each December, you may notice cities illuminated with purple lights, iconic landmarks glowing violet, or people sporting purple awareness ribbons.
This visual unifier ties back to one of the very first Crohns & Colitis Awareness Week grassroots efforts in 2010. Patients worked with partners like the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls to bathe buildings and natural wonders in the official IBD color purple to memorialize those lost too soon while inspiring action.
Today this symbolic lighting tradition carries on from coast to coast, along with the vibrant purple awareness ribbons that symbolize the courage and fortitude of all who battle these diseases.
Maximizing Reach Through Video Campaigns
In addition to visual demonstrations of support like illumination events, modern social-first awareness weeks lean heavily into emotional video content creation. The goal is sparking conversation, connection, and understanding of day-to-day life with Crohns.
The 2022 Crohns & Colitis Awareness Week featured a particularly strong emphasis on digital storytelling, with the CCF team partnering with influencers and linking to a YouTube series titled Behind Every Flare, There's a Face.
The three-part unscripted video diaries offered painfully honest, raw glimpses into coping through shame, struggling as a parent, battling mental health woes, and more.
Response to the vulnerable sharing from young patients demonstrated hunger for shadowing real peoples journeys rather than stale statistics about Crohns prevalence.
Mobilizing Grassroots Volunteerism
In order for any modern awareness event to succeed, organizers recognize the invaluable role community members play in becoming torchbearers.
From hosting local meet-ups to lead education seminars, securing proclamations from city officials declaring Crohns & Colitis Awareness Week, or simply reposting shareable facts through social media channels, individual volunteer efforts expand messaging exponentially.
The Crohns & Colitis Foundation incentivizes participation by providing free downloadable social media kits stuffed with suggested posts, eye-catching graphics, profile picture frames, informative infographics, shocking statistics posters and more.
Equipped with these professional resources, motivated supporters can authentically engage their spheres of influence.
Measuring and Optimizing Impact
With so many awareness mediums in play from lighting displays to digital media and grassroots activations, quantifying results and optimizing future efforts is crucial.
CCF extensively tracks metrics like social media impressions, video views, website visitors, media coverage reach, volunteer participation rates and more throughout the designated week. The data helps fine tune messaging and double down on what resonates.
For instance, in response to the runaway success of 2022s Behind Every Flare documentary-style videos, additional influencer spotlights were quickly greenlit to release in the middle of awareness week.
This agility to capitalize on real-time feedback demonstrates the data-driven mindset underpinning modern Crohns campaigns.
Branching Out Beyond December
Although early December contains the heaviest push for Crohns & Colitis Awareness driven by CCF, the education and inspiration last year-round through affiliate groups.
The nonprofit organization Guts4Life uniquely extends public outreach through athletic events like runs and obstacle course races that fundraise for research. Their nationwide calendar of 5k runs branded as March for Awareness ensures exposure continues beyond just one designated week.
Meanwhile, the youth-led organization Project Purple Light keeps momentum alive through their grassroots student club network centered around elevating IBD understanding within school communities.
With year-round awareness builders at the ready beyond just CCFs anchor week in December, the coordinated fight to dissolve misconceptions and stigma forges ahead one flare at a time.
Making Lasting Change Through Understanding
Designating blocks of time for concentrated education and inspiration serves a valuable role in building empathy and mainstream consciousness of Crohn's disease. However, true cultural change extends beyond days circled on any calendar.
Through consistent communication, enlightening patient testimonials, enhanced scientific breakthroughs, and expanded grassroots mobilization, the flames fueled by Awareness Week spark new fires of compassion and progress over the horizon. Together we shine brighter.
FAQs
When is the official Crohn’s Disease Awareness Month?
There is no single dedicated Crohn’s Awareness Month. But every December contains Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week led by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
What color represents Crohn’s disease?
Purple is the official color used to represent inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and colitis. You'll often see purple lighting, ribbons, and other symbols used to promote awareness.
How can I participate in Crohn’s awareness campaigns?
You can volunteer locally, host education events, share social media posts, hang flyers, contact media outlets, lobby government groups, organize a fundraising walk/run, join Project Purple Light, and more to drive consciousness.
Do Crohn’s education initiatives only happen in December?
No, the anchor Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week led by CCF takes place each December. But additional groups like Guts4Life facilitate local awareness runs/walks year-round to keep momentum going beyond just one month.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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