Aarau, in the anniversary year 2011
The SMCCV celebrates its 25th birthday – and donates CHF 25.000 to research! In 2011, the Swiss Crohn’s and Colitis Association SMCCV celebrates its 25th birthday. On the occasion of the 25th general assembly on 2 April 2011, the SMCCV will donate CHF 25.000 to the IBD Research Foundation.
What is the greatest wish of a sick person? Above all, a sick person wishes to heal and to be able to live a normal life again, without the challenges of the sickness. Unfortunately, this is not possible – yet. There are drugs which can help us lead a more “normal” life and ease the pain. The causes of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are unknown. Thus, there is no ideal treatment strategy or real cure. The immune system is a part of almost all processes in our body. Disorders can have serious consequences and are visible in various diseases. In Switzerland there are numerous people suffering from one of the over 60 known autoimmune diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, but also e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew's Disease, etc.). There is a need for urgent action, in order to better understand the immune systems’ processes. The study of the causes of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be an important contribution to this aim. Whatever helps patients with inflammatory bowel diseases is often also beneficial for patients with other autoimmune diseases. For this very reason the SMCCV has decided to donate CHF 25.000 to the IBD Research Foundation on the SMCCV’s 25th anniversary. Thus the money goes to a foundation run by patients for patients: the European IBD Research Foundation (www.ibdresearch.org). Each year, the foundation awards three grants to promising research projects. In 2010 there was even a project from Switzerland (see attached document or the direct link: http://bit.ly/fgr08g). IBD = Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The SMCCV The SMCCV was founded on 5 April 1986 as a non-profit association by 20 affected patients. The association takes a neutral stance with respect to politics and religion and is a member of the EFCCA, the European federation with over 22 national Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis associations.