Crossed Grain

May 2019 Issue 105 Your charity newsletter GET READY TO ASK THE NATION IS IT COELIAC DISEASE? Awareness Week, 13 – 19 May is just around the corner W e’re raising awareness of the symptoms of coeliac disease so that more people who experience them can ask themselves “Is it coeliac disease?” We particularly want people to understand that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms can often be a sign of undiagnosed coeliac disease. Anyone with an IBS diagnosis should have been tested for coeliac disease first. So if this sounds like you, ask your GP for a coeliac disease blood test. It’s not too late to get involved and lend your support to our ‘Is it coeliac disease?’ campaign and help us get more people the diagnosis they need. You can make an impact in just a few minutes: • Update your profile picture on Facebook and Twitter, using our Twibbon and show your friends and followers you’re supporting our campaign www.coeliac.org.uk/twibbon . • Share our social media posts on your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and use our hashtags #IBSorcoeliacdisease #isitcoeliacdisease #CoeliacAwarenessWeek . • If you blog, then write about how you got diagnosed so more people hear about your experiences. • Upload a short video to our social media channels at www.facebook.com/coeliacuk or tag us in a video on Twitter @coeliac_uk and tell people about how getting diagnosed has changed your life. • Use our symptoms bubbles, write your symptoms on, take a photo and upload to your social media and tag us so you can be part of the campaign. Or if you’ve got more time: • Use our leaflets and posters to tell people about the symptoms of coeliac disease – you could display these on notice boards or at GP surgeries and pharmacies in your local area, or have an information stand at your place of work. • Talk to family and friends about coeliac disease and tell them about our online assessment: www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk . Or if you want to fundraise for us: Why not hold a gluten free tea party and help us support those who need to live without gluten? Your tea party not only raises essential funds, it also spreads awareness of coeliac disease in your local community and helps us get the message out about the condition. It’s also a chance to show that that gluten free doesn’t mean taste free! Hold your party any time between May and December 2019 at home, work, school or any other social gathering. Register your interest for the Gluten Free Tea Party now by emailing fundraising@coeliac.org.uk . When lots of us do the same thing it is powerful. Join in and help us do more.