Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada and Abbott Announce new IBD Initiative in Support of Students

New Scholarship Program Empowers Students with IBD 

TORONTO, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - A recent survey of Canadians living with or affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), carried out by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), found that a majority of youth feel that they could have achieved more at school if they did not have the disease. Nearly 70 percent of respondents were delayed in completing their post-secondary education due to their illness.

Unfortunately, a majority of IBD patients endure many challenges when it comes to their education. With intensive medical treatments, debilitating symptoms and lengthy hospital stays, keeping up with school can become extremely difficult.

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) causes intestinal tissue to become inflamed, form sores and bleed easily. Patients suffer from symptoms including abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea that is often urgent and unexpected.

• During an active flare-up of the disease, 86 per cent of sufferers have more than five bowel movements or "false urges" a day, and 14 per cent of those have more than 20 per day;
• During an active flare-up of the disease, 44 per cent of sufferers described their pain as agonizing and debilitating or steady pain that lasts for hours;
• 66 per cent experienced depression and anxiety during an active flare of their disease.*

To support Canadian students living with IBD, empower them and to raise awareness about this chronic disease, CCFC and Abbott Canada are launching the new Abbott IBD Scholarship Program, designed to help encourage students to live well with IBD so that they can excel at their personal and academic goals.

Through an unrestricted educational grant by Abbott in Canada, CCFC will extend seven one-time scholarships of up to $5,000 CAN to students living with IBD who are entering into or currently attending a post-secondary educational institution. Students of all ages are welcome to apply and the scholarship can be used for any Canadian post-secondary institution.

"The Abbott IBD Scholarship Program supports students with Crohn's and colitis during a critical time in their lives, helping ensure their disease doesn't prevent them from achieving their full potential," says Dr. Kevin Glasgow, CCFC's Chief Executive Officer.

"Due to the isolating nature of the disease, people living with IBD too often miss out on the great life experiences many of us take for granted, including completing their education. While the search for a cure continues, we believe this partnership with Abbott will open many doors, and help lift some of the burden of living with IBD," he added.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with the CCFC on this important initiative. Enabling and encouraging those living with IBD to get back to what is important in their lives, like continuing their education, is essential in taking charge of their illness and not letting it stop them," adds Felipe Pastrana, General Manager, Proprietary Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Canada.

The Abbott IBD Scholarship Program - The A, B, C's

The Abbott IBD Scholarship Program, in support of CCFC, is designed for applicants of any age entering into or attending a Canadian-based post-secondary institution. Applicants must be:

• A legal and permanent resident of Canada
• Diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease by a physician
• Seeking an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree or enrolled in a trade school educational program
• A student who demonstrates academic ambition and embraces a way of life that goes above and beyond the boundaries of living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
• Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a Canadian-based post- secondary institution for fall semester of 2012

Visit www.ccfc.ca for full applications details.

About CCFC

• The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a volunteer-based registered charity dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, commonly referred to as inflammatory bowel disease.
• The Foundation is committed to educating IBD patients, their families, health professionals and the general public about the diseases.
• Since its founding, CCFC has invested more than $71 million in IBD research, making the foundation a world leader in non-governmental funding of IBD research
• Canadian researchers funded by CCFC are conducting cutting edge research and are sustaining the hope for a cure worldwide.

For more information about CCFC, please visit www.ccfc.ca.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 91,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott has been operating in Canada since 1931 and its Canadian operations are headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Abbott Canada employs more than 2,000 people. Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's web sites at www.abbott.ca and www.abbott.com.

* The CCFC Impacts of IBD survey was carried out online amongst a nationally representative sample of more than 500 Canadians.

In addition to CCFC's professional staff, CCFC has committed volunteers and members across Canada who are willing to speak with media about their experience with IBD. If you would like to speak with one of our volunteers, or for more information, please contact Ive Balins or Adriana Lurz at Strategic Objectives.

CCFC:  Tel: [phone].  Fax: [phone]. Email: [email protected]
Abbott:  Tel: [phone],  Fax: [phone],  E-mail: [email protected]