#GivingTuesday | November 2023

Dear?Friend,

In 2021, I faced a life-threatening crisis due to diverticulitis, a lesser-known bowel condition that led to sepsis and emergency surgery. This experience, during the Christmas period and lockdown restrictions, was incredibly challenging.

This Christmas, I urge those with bowel issues to seek help if they experience symptoms like sudden abdominal pain. Early detection can make a significant difference. Diverticulitis affects a large portion of the UK population, yet awareness and research are limited.

Please watch my video below to hear my story.

Your support has enabled Bowel Research UK to launch an international research project, "DAMASCUS," led by Mr Dale Vimalachandran, a consultant colorectal surgeon. This study aims to improve diverticulitis treatment worldwide, benefiting patients like me.

Your donation today would help researchers like Dale to increase our understanding of these diseases and improve care, treatment and diagnostics - alleviating the burden on the NHS and saving patients' lives

Diverticulitis is a lesser-known but potentially fatal bowel disease, often overlooked. Early detection is crucial for easier treatment and to save lives. Despite?diverticular disease affecting over 50% of the UK population?by the time people reach 50 years old*,?many remain unaware of it.?Dale's study has already recruited over 6,000 patients worldwide, making it one of the largest-ever studies for this condition.

Bowel Research?UK?is also funding a priority-setting partnership into diverticular disease that will set the patient priorities around bowel disease and will help researchers understand what matters to people with diverticular disease.?By donating today, you can help save lives and improve outcomes for people like me who suffer from diverticulitis.

The more money Bowel Research UK can raise this Christmas, the faster they can stop people dying needlessly from bowel diseases like diverticulitis. Will you join me in supporting them today? Your donation could help fund vital research which leads to breakthroughs that give people like me more options and more hope. Together we can help people with bowel disease live long and happy lives with their families. Please make a donation today.

Thank you so much for supporting Bowel Research UK.?

Best wishes,?

Eric DouglinBowel Research UK supporter and diverticulitis survivor