world ibd day: an inspiring story of passion and community
this ibd scholar turned her lived experience into an opportunity to contribute to the crohn’s and colitis community.
published may 19, 2026
3 minute read
3 minute read
caitlynn danchuk was among the 2021 recipients of the crohn’s and colitis canada abbvie ibd scholarship. all photos supplied
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caitlynn danchuk is among the more than 300,000 canadians who live with crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (ibd). diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 7 years old, it has been a constant for most of her life. the realities of this sometimes “invisible” disease have influenced her life in many ways.
“i feel like ibd has robbed me of opportunities,” says caitlynn. “for example, before i had my ibd under control, i had to pull out of a wonderful professional ballet training program because i was so sick. when you are in an active flare (with ulcerative colitis), you are incapacitated. you cannot think of anything else outside of, ‘will i be able to leave the washroom long enough to make it to work, or even step outside?’”
caitlynn continued to dance professionally once her ibd was well-managed, and set her sights on nutrition, both from an ibd perspective and as a trained dancer. as a university student, caitlyn was among the 2021 recipients of the crohn’s and colitis canada abbvie ibd scholarship.
ibd scholarship helps students focus on their health and studies
adding a demanding university curriculum to health challenges that may include debilitating pain, tests, hospital stays and even surgery is enough to derail even the most dedicated students. the abbvie ibd scholarship takes these extraordinary challenges into account, allowing awardees to focus on their studies and health.
“i was sick during my time at university. to manage, i would not eat before class, which was hard enough, but exams were my biggest challenge. three hours without fuel was exhausting and made it very difficult to function,” she says. “there would have been times that i worked directly after school and would not eat for a whole day. i cried tears of joy when i won the scholarship. it allowed me to be in control for the first time in a long while. having recovery time was incredible. it was such a relief.”
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to mark world ibd day on may 19, abbvie is grateful to have the opportunity to support the ibd community and celebrate 15 years of the abbvie ibd scholarship. since its launch, the scholarship program has supported 169 students living with crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who exemplify outstanding leadership in their community while balancing their personal health and academic goals.
the abbvie ibd scholarship is intended to help alleviate financial barriers, enabling students to focus on their studies, pursue their passions and engage in meaningful community work. a remarkable number of these students share professional goals to contribute to the community, with their studies reflecting this personal advocacy. the power of the patient voice is inspiring.
the deadline for the 2026 abbvie ibd scholarship is june 1, 2026. visit the crohn’s and colitis canada support page for more details on how to apply.
“i am proud to be among the group of scholarship awardees and to have the life-changing opportunities to stay involved within the ibd community that came from it. i am thrilled that this impactful scholarship remains an opportunity for students. the fact that someone thinks that we are important enough to invest in for 15 years and counting is wonderful,” says caitlynn.
ibd warrior toolkit
past scholars like caitlynn continue to contribute to the ibd community in tangible ways, including crohn’s and colitis canada’s annual gutsy walk, provincial chapters and the brand new ibd warrior toolkit. this tool was developed to help people with ibd through their treatment journey, including how to understand test results, preparing for health-care provider appointments and getting involved in their own treatment goals. the toolkit was entirely co-created with people who live with ibd and canadian ibd nurses, and is endorsed by the gastrointestinal society, canadian ibd nurses (canibd) and crohn’s and colitis canada, with support from abbvie.
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sharing her experience in the development of the ibd warrior toolkit, caitlynn says, “this is an amazing toolkit. the group of people who all had ibd were lost in conversation about the realities of the disease. we were treated like the experts we are and having the opportunity to be heard and to see it translated into such a valuable tool is amazing.”
now a clinical dietitian in winnipeg, man., caitlynn volunteers much of her free time to the ibd community to raise awareness and help others dealing with the disease.
this story was provided by abbvie for commercial purposes.
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