Login
Login

Andrew Bracher

Donate to Andrew and help them reach their goal of $300

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$77.42

My Goal

$300

Select amount to donate

$50
Helps provide vital resources to those newly diagnosed with IBD
$150
Contributes to a nurse consultation for a person living with IBD.
$300
Can support essential research into the prevalence and impact of IBD
$500
Provides programs to empower children and teens to live fearlessly with IBD

Or enter an amount

$
Donate

I'm living fearlessly this September. Will you support me?

I’m taking on the Live Fearless Challenge this September to raise awareness and funds for the almost 180,000 Australians living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD is one of the most misunderstood chronic health conditions. Yet people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are ‘frequent flyers’ of the hospital system. It strips away income, disrupts education, work, relationships and travel, and can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.

That’s why I’m getting active this September and aiming to complete 150km. Every kilometre is for the thousands of people living with IBD who face this in silence.

Consider supporting me as I take on the LFC! Your donation will help fund research, patient support, education and advocacy - because no one should have to manage this disease on their own.

I will be achieving my September activity goals primarily at the Gym, where I will be working out and also doing some cardio. I will keep everybody updated on how I'm going. 

My Achievements

Profile Pic Uploaded

Created a Blog Post

In a Team

Shared Page on Social

Sent Email

Self Donated

Received First Donation

Halfway to your $ goal

Reached your $ goal

Logged First Activity

Halfway to your KM goal

Reached KM goal

My Updates

My Journey with Colitis

Hi everybody,

My name is Andrew. I am 32 years old and I live in Melbourne. I love my dog, going to the gym, travelling, listening to music and reading Literature. 

 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, or more specifically, Ulcerative Proctitis, after a colonoscopy was performed in August last year. My condition is a chronic, autoimmune disease which causes inflammation specifically in my rectum, and also the last 20cm of my Colon. Over the past year of living with Ulcerative Colitis, I have experiencing a lot of ups and downs. I have had periods of remission from the disease, but also 2 quite acute flare ups. 

When I am flaring I typically have to go to the toilet 10 times a day, and I experience bloody diarrhoea constantly. One of the hardest parts of being in an a UC flare is the urgency in which I have to go to the toilet. I typically have about 10-20 seconds warning before I have to use the toilet, which can be problematic when in public places. Unfortunately, I have had a few accidents in Public Places, but I have learned to laugh these off and to be more strategic when going out!

I started out my Colitis journey last year using the medication Mesalamine in oral granule form. After a few months, I then switched to Budenofalk Rectal Foam, a corticosteriod, which I used for 2-3 months. After my most recent flare up, I went back to my Gastroenterologist, and now I am currently on Daily Mesalamine Enemas, combined with Prednisolone, a Corticosteroid, oral tablets which I am taking daily. 

Unfortunately, as Ulcerative Colitis is a Chronic Lifelong condition, I will have to continue to use medication for the rest of my life. However, I also eat as healthily as I can, and I exercise regularly, which are lifestyle interventions that go a long way to reducing inflammation naturally. I have been a practising vegan for the last four months, which helps a lot, but I also have been learning about the power of reducing dietary fibre when in a  Flare. 

Sometimes I get a bit anxious thinking about what my future might look like with this Disease. I sometimes worry that my condition might eventually evolve into Colon Cancer, or that I might require surgical intervention if my symptoms worsen. However, I try to be proactive and keep myself as healthy as I can on a day to day basis. I endeavour to live in the here and now, rather than the speculative future. 

By completing the Live Fearlessly Challenge this September, I am hoping to raise awareness among my friends and family about the very common diseases of both Crohn's and Colitis, and also to raise money to help fellow sufferers live their lives to the fullest and to enjoy their time the best they can. Your donation would mean a lot to both myself, and also to the thousands of other Australians coping with these conditions. 

Thanks for reading and I hope you can join me on this journey. I will keep my page updated throughout the month of September as I progress in my goals. 

Thank you,

Andrew Bracher 

Thank you to my Sponsors

$11.65

Andrew Bracher

$11.65

Andrew Bracher

$54.12

Anonymous