Do you 'Know your Sh*t'? Saturday's match against Stockport County is dedicated to raising awareness for the Rapid-IBD study.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affect 1 in 100 people in the UK and cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and bloody poo.
Colorectal Cancer is also becoming more common in young people. Fans of the Grecians will remember Adam Stansfield, a striker for the club who sadly died from Colorectal Cancer aged only 31. He is remembered by his family and by the stand that bears his name.
Delay to diagnosis in both conditions is common, often because people feel embarrassed or worried about seeking help. Delay puts them at risk of needing urgent hospital care. Young men experience the longest delay to diagnosis.
The RAPID-IBD study explores whether a free stool test leads to earlier diagnosis and empowers people to take control of their own health.
At Saturday's match, volunteers from the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter will be in the Fan Zone and Adam Stansfield Stand handing out information and are on hand for any questions. You'll find information and an interview in the programme with Jack Fitzwater and content on the Big Screen.
The players will also be wearing special campaign t-shirts during the warm up!
Who is Eligible?
People 16-49 years old living in the EX-Postcode region, with symptoms of lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea or blood in their poo for more than 4 weeks.
How do People Request a Test?
Poo tests can be requested online here or by using the QR codes on the posters or beer mats. A simple home poo test kit will be posted out, which tests for bowel diseases. People with a positive test will be invited to an outpatient appointment at the hospital within a few weeks. How to contact the study team? Feel free to contact us at: Rduh.rapid@nhs.net or call, text or WhatsApp 07484934241
Our Supporters
The RAPID-IBD study is led by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter. Jack Fitzwater, Grecians defender, is supporting the study after his struggles with IBD nearly cut his football career short: “Living with IBD is a constant balancing act that can affect every part of your life. Some days it’s hard to know how your body will respond, which makes even simple routines a challenge. That’s why research like this is so important: it could help people get diagnosed sooner and start the right treatment, making a real difference to their everyday lives.”
The study is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Crohn’s & Colitis UK.