Girls With Guts! Please FB share and tweet #crohns #colitis #crohnscolitis #ostomydonations #tweettheheckoutofthis

I'm having one of those days. Everything I touch--breaks. Even my computer. *sigh* Sorry for posting so late but for the life of me I could not get my host to work right. *looks around* Well, I don't see any more problems so maybe I can get this blog up. 

Ack! 

Now I can't even get the pictures to load. 

Yay! There they are: Girls with Guts! Aren't they cute?

Today, I'd like to introduce you to  Jackie Zimmerman and Charis Kirk. These are two very brave young women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, otherwise known as IBD. As we all know, I have Crohn's disease and I blog each Thursday about my condition. It isn't any fun, and it's hard to talk about, but these two people have gone above and beyond my little spot in the universe. They not only created a Facebook page where people like me can look for support, they are dedicating their lives to helping those with osteotomys. 

I'll let them explain:

“Girls With Guts began in May of 2012 when Jackie Zimmerman and Charis Kirk, decided to form an online support group with the eventual goal of facilitating in-person get togethers for women around the country. However, soon after GWG’s inception, Jackie and Charis realized they had an opportunity to really make a difference in the IBD and ostomy communities and moved forward with establishing GWG as an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 

They began to make and sell Girls With Guts bracelets and earrings and eventually moved on to design and sell sweatshirts, sweat and yoga pants, stickers, etc. However, they wanted GWG to truly touch the lives of the women they interact with online and in person, so they began developing outreach programs. 

In November 2012, GWG partnered with Groupon Grassroots and worked to raise $3000 (in one week!) to put towards the establishment of a Butt Basket Program, essentially a program where women and children who are in the hospital or have just had surgery for internal pouches or ostomies can apply to receive a “Butt Basket” filled with goodies like colon-shaped pillows, t-shirts, jewelry, product samples, and ostomy puppets (for children). 

GWG then created and implemented POOP, or the Philanthropic Ostomy Outreach Program, which involves the collection and redistribution of ostomy supplies to women who are experiencing financial hardship around the country. Lastly, GWG began planning a 2013 Retreat, to be held at the end of September in an overnight camp in Michigan, that will have women from around the country attending to participate in outdoor activities, focus sessions with medical professionals, volunteer training, and that will also allow them to meet and bond with others like themselves who have IBD or ostomies.

Currently, GWG is seeking retreat sponsorships and donations that will help allow us to pay the way for women who would like to attend the retreat but cannot afford to do so. To find out how to help, contact Liz Jordan, GWG’s Development Chairperson, at [email protected].

If you have unused ostomy supplies that you would like to donate, OR if you would like to apply to receive supplies due to financial hardship, please contact Charis Kirk, GWG’s Vice President & COO, at [email protected]. “

What a great way to turn a hardship into a helping hand. These ladies are seriously motivated and I'd like to take this time to thank them for what they have done. 

Get started on their Facebook page by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/IBDgirls or visit their webpage at http://www.girls-with-guts.org/

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Here are the girls wearing their t-shirts. Purchase link http://www.girls-with-guts.org/shop/.

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And here is a cool bracelet, one of which I have. Purchase link here. 
 







For those of you seeking support, Girls with Guts is a great place to start. IBD can start at infancy and last a person's lifetime. It wears on you, you get tired of going to doctor appointments, hospital visits, lab work and more lab work. Take time from your day to connect with those that are walking the same walk. 


(((hugs to all)))


Louann

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