Strong advocacy for Crohn’s and Colitis sufferers

Continued from page 1 urgently, to avoid having an “accident”.

Nicole Thornton is well-known for her advocacy work, both in the community and in Parliament. She has also received accolades for her work, including being recognised last year by Kiwibank’s Local Heroes’ Award for the “I Can’t Wait Campaign” she established.

Nicole was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of eight.

When she was 12 years old, Nicole began a petition to Parliament, seeking legislation that would require businesses to allow IBD sufferers to use their bathrooms in emergencies.

She presented her petition, which attracted some 3,000 signatures, to Parliament in 2017.

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Les Whiteside les@wsn.co.nz 021 360 008

Crohn’s disease and Ulterative Colitis are chronic incurable illnesses known collectively as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Symptoms are severe, urgent, bloody diarrhoea, bowel blockages, abdominal pain, perforated intestines, and abscesses and inflammation in the anal area.

This means that sufferers frequently need to use a bathroom

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Sam Barnes sam@wsn.co.nz 021 109 4406

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In 2018 she gave nationally televised testimony to Parliament’s Health Select Committee to allow workplace toilet access to those that might need a bathroom urgently.

“I truly cannot imagine anything worse than being out with my friends and having an accident in front of them because some store owner wouldn’t let me use their toilet,” Nicole told MPs.

“Sometimes, you just don’t have time to explain.”

Unfortunately, the legislation