I’ve lived with Crohn’s disease for nearly 40 years. It’s difficult to describe to anyone what this illness can do to you - and so you don’t. You develop coping skills and get on with it. You become very purposeful about how you use your energy, you deliver on all your commitments because you can’t waste your energy on faff. You clarify expectations so you don’t let people down.

Crohn’s has no cure.

It can be fatal.

It affects young people and shapes the rest of their lives.

I’ve had fantastic care and support from Crohns specialists in the course of my life and owe my health and extensive periods of remission to Mr Julian Goldring of Hairmyres Hospital, now enjoying retirement, and to the gastro nursing team at Southport.

Crohns and Colitis Uk are the leading charity for Crohn’s and Colitis.

Right now, an estimated 500,000 people in the UK are living with this lifelong disease that many people have never heard of. And the real number could be almost double that.

Because of the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding these diseases, thousands of people are suffering in silence.

But they’re not alone.

The charity works hard to improve diagnosis and treatment, and to fund research into a cure; to raise awareness and to give people hope, comfort and confidence to live freer, fuller lives.