Hello and welcome to my fundraising page for Youth Rally! Their mission is to:

To provide an environment for adolescents living with conditions of the bowel and bladder that encourages self-confidence and independent living.

Now, poop and pee problems (as referred to at camp) are not widely talked about and can be extremely difficult as a young person growing up with to deal with. Because of the nature of these conditions it can cause lack of confidence, body issues, self esteem issues, alienation the list goes on, I know because I've experienced all these from my condition. I'll tell you a little about myself and then what the charity provides and how I fully endorse the benefits and how much of a difference it can make, it literally changes children's lives.

My story

I was diagnosed at 15 with ulcerative colitis, an auto immune disease which affects the large intestine. After months of medication my condition worsened to the point where I had to have surgery to remove my large intestine. Yes, you can survive without your large intestine! Through the miracle of modern medicine I survived a condition which in the past people would most certainly have died from.

I had whats called a stoma which is essentially a bag of poop that hangs off your stomach. From the ages 15 - 18 I had the stoma which isn't the easiest of times for most people without the addition of a poop condition. I coped quite well however was very secretive with my condition and felt I had to hide it from people, something I still hold to this day but much less so. It affected my relationships and ability to open up to people. It's hard to describe how I felt during my adolescent years but it was like I had this huge dark secret that nobody could know because they wouldn't understand.

I now have whats called a j-pouch which is a clever bit of medical wizardry which is essentially an internal pouch using the small intestine, google for more info because its really crazy! Now I'm a healthy, confident and motivated person without a large intestine but I don't let that stop me from doing anything and I want to inspire others to see just how powerful they can be if they put their minds to it.

Youth Rallys Role

Over time I became more open with my condition after meeting others with similar conditions which empowered me to take ownership and be confident in my body. This is what Youth Rally provides for young people with similar bowel and bladder disorders. It helps them to process and come to terms with their condition and inspires confidence and openness in them.

One of the campers testimonials from 2017 that shows just how important youth rally is: "I had no idea what to expect when I flew from Hawaii to San Diego to attend my first Youth Rally; would I like it?, would they like me?? Four years later, the friends I have made at Rally have become a second family to me. Each year at Rally has been a fun adventure, but also an important part of me learning about my illness and how to take care of myself. This second family has become a vital part of my support system that I know I can always turn to when I need a lift. Did I mention how much fun it is? Every year I look forward to getting together with the friends I’ve made at the Youth Rally and just being me….not the sick kid, or the tired kid, but me. And the same goes for everyone else who attends. This is a place where we can relax and enjoy life with others just like ourselves."

Youth rally addresses the feeling of isolation that can come with these conditions and provides a support structure in a nurturing and supporting way. Each time I go as a counsellor I see the difference it makes to each and every one of the kids and how it brightens up their lives to show them there is more to life than their illness. I know how I felt when I was going through my teens with my illness and I want to give to these children and let them know it will all be okay and that they can become brave and strong and powerful people.

Please give whatever you can as some children cannot afford the prices of travel/camp costs and fundraising/sponsorship allows them to be able to attend. Youth Rally has never turned away a child due to financial costs because of the generosity of donors such as yourself if you've read this far! By donating you are helping a child to overcome the huge struggles that come with having a bowel or bladder condition and for that I thank you from my heart! All money raised goes directly to the charity and the running of the charity.

Check out their website here for more info: https://www.youthrally.org/

(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)