National
Donations from a Relief Chest, Grants to charities, Health and wellbeing, Regular donations
Freemasons support for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
In the UK today, around 1 in every 120 people – more than 540,000 children, young people and adults – are living with Crohn’s or Colitis, the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. These are lifelong, debilitating conditions that can impact every part of a person’s life. There is no known cure, and complications can, at times, be life-threatening. But there is also hope.
Through the MCF’s Relief Chest Scheme, Freemasons have donated nearly £85,000 to Crohn’s and Colitis UK to help them reach more people than ever, giving those living with the conditions support, understanding, and a path forward.
With the help of these generous donations, Crohn’s & Colitis UK have expanded their free patient information and resources in new and accessible ways, making essential information easier to understand and available to anyone who needs it.
They also created a brand-new series of guided support emails – a lifeline for the 25,000 people newly diagnosed with Crohn’s or Colitis every year.
Behind every resource is a team committed to helping people feel seen, heard, and supported, with Crohn’s & Colitis UK providing crucial, personalised guidance through a free Helpline, email, LiveChat, and social media.
Pam with her son Joe, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at age 13.
Most people don’t have a clue how debilitating Crohn’s is. When Joe first started getting ill, I phoned the Helpline many times. They would go over all the medication with me and chatting to someone really helped.
Crohn’s & Colitis UK have also funded five new pioneering medical research studies through their Annual Research Grants programme. They champion patient and public involvement at every stage, ensuring that research is shaped by people who live with the conditions. They support people taking part in clinical trials and work closely with communities underrepresented in research to remove barriers and make sure every voice matters.
Behind every research study is someone hoping for a better tomorrow, including people like Joe:
For four years, I went through a seemingly endless cycle of trying a treatment, that treatment not working, being put back onto steroids and waiting for a new treatment to try. I had bad reactions to some treatments, which landed me in hospital multiple times. I was forced to have permanent surgery due to being tired of waiting for something to work which never did. That’s why research into better treatments is important because, as a sufferer, you never know if you’re ever going to get better.
Joe before and after surgery
Thanks to the generous donations made into MCF Relief Chests, Freemasons and their families have been able to support charities of their choice like Crohn’s and Colitis UK, who make a profound difference to those living with these conditions. We are proud to play a role in helping Freemasons to make these grants, giving people strength on their hardest days, empowering them with knowledge, and driving the world closer to better treatments.
To find out how the MCF’s Relief Chest Scheme makes your donations go further, visit: https://mcf.org.uk/support-our-work/relief-chest/
