Kelsie Boucher

Living with something like IBD has the potential, after adapting both physically and mentally, to significantly improve your life and bring about a profound sense of empowerment - but the journey to that point is an incredibly tough one. It shifts your perspective on life; nothing compares to poor health as a stark reminder of what truly matters and helps put everything else into perspective. 

Reflecting on this time last year, it was particularly tough, especially with the challenge of new scarring— that barbie-butt scar was an incredible trigger for several months. Confidence for me means embracing my scarring and ostomy bag fully; some days I feel incredibly confident, while other times setbacks bring new challenges. Most of the time, you don't even see it under my clothes. Embracing activewear, almost daily, has been a significant part of this journey too; I've dedicated myself to endurance, core and strength exercises to build confidence this past year. Sometimes it involves modified workouts, but often, it's a powerful experience that inspires me to keep pushing forward. 

Interestingly, some of the most confident and self-assured individuals I know are those with unique qualities—perhaps I'm now part of that group. 

People often tell me I appear happier and healthier than I have in years (excluding my medical team who like to remind me from time to time, I’m actually a really unwell human), which is truly wonderful. So if you're feeling scared, let me reassure you that things do get easier with time.

It's not about being "fearless," but about embracing being "fearing-less." It's about acknowledging fear and then boldly choosing to live life despite it. For me, that meant taking baby steps to face my fears head-on. Every time I tackled something new or challenging — whether it was stepping into nerve-wracking social events, or gearing up for yet another surgery — I felt myself becoming more "fearless."

Being "fearless" isn't just about bouncing back after health setbacks; it's about having the guts to dust yourself off and keep pushing forward. It's about gaining the confidence to live life fully, to build resilience, and to embrace the twists and turns that come with health challenges. That, my friend, is where the true strength lies.

Please consider making a donation to support my Live Fearless Challenge, as all I want is for the next young individual that has their world turned upside down to have awareness and understanding to be strong enough to navigate the path they land on, because it certainly isn’t an easy one. In order for this to happen, Crohn’s and Colitis need community donations to provide nursing, research, and advocacy for people just like me.

It doesn’t need to be a huge donation; even just $5 would be a significant help.

It’s the impact of fundraising, YOU are the impact. Last year, myself and 537 others achieved more than 85,000 kilometers and raised just over $238,000. Together, we made a substantial difference in supporting crucial initiatives for Crohn’s and Colitis. Every contribution counts towards creating a better future for individuals facing these challenges.

XO Kels