The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) was founded in 1974 by a small group of parents whose children had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These parents wanted to further medical research in the area of IBD - to better understand the disease and, ultimately, to find a cure. To raise the necessary funds for this research, the group began holding fundraising events.

Today, the CCFC has around 80 local Chapters and tens of thousands of members, volunteers and supporters across the country. We have come a long way, but our purpose remains the same - to find a cure for IBD.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of IBD. They are chronic intestinal disorders which cause abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Severity of symptoms can vary widely and flare-ups of the disease can occur without warning, sometimes resulting in hospitalization and surgery. The diseases can strike anyone at anytime. Over 200,000 Canadian men, women and children have IBD. For more information on IBD, please visit our What is IBD? and Education Resources pages.

There is currently no known cause or cure for IBD.

The CCFC continues its work to change that. We believe medical research is the best hope for finding a cure for these painful diseases. The CCFC is one of the world’s leaders in non-governmental, per capita funding of IBD research. The Foundation is pleased be a leading sponsor of IBD research in Canada, having invested more than $61 million in major medical research projects, initiatives and the training of research personnel since 1976. For more information on the Foundation's research program, including the CCFC IBD Research Institute, please visit our research section.

CCFC Education Display Board

Educating patients, particularly those newly-diagnosed, and their families is also an important part of what the CCFC does. Our series of patient education brochures provide a general overview of IBD and related issues, such as medication, nutrition and surgery. Local CCFC Chapters in 80 communities across Canada host public education events featuring expert health professionals and researchers. These events are typically held in spring and fall. Click here for a list of upcoming education and fundraising events being organised by CCFC Chapters across the country.

The CCFC's national member publication, The Journal, provides members with the latest on IBD research and treatment, information on Foundation programs and policies, reports on national fundraising events and much more!

Interested in joining our team? You can become a member or volunteer, or make a donation, today. You can help us find the cure for IBD.