FOR the last 21 years, Tim Woollard has lived with Colitis, a chronic digestive disease that involves inflammation of the large intestine.

Ulcers, pain and bloody diarrhoea are just some of the symptoms of this lifelong and possibly life-threatening condition.

It is one of the two conditions described as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The other condition is Crohn's Disease, which involves similar symptoms, but which can affect anywhere within the digestive tract.

Tim is the chairman of the Grimsby and District Branch of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease (NACC), which has about 120 members.

And he believes the Bottoms Up Appeal is incredibly important – not only to him, but the estimated 600 people in the Grimsby area who have IBD.

As reported the appeal, which was launched in the Grimsby Telegraph in January, is aiming to equip the bowel cancer unit at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, with six high observation beds to help reduce the wait for surgery and help patients recover quicker.

Tim said the new facilities will benefit, not only bowel cancer patients, but Colitis and Crohn's Disease sufferers who require surgical treatment for their condition.

Tim, who was diagnosed with Colitis 21 years ago, said: "Your colon gets inflamed, ulcerated and you get diarrhoea-like symptoms but they never go away.

"If it is diagnosed early it can be treated, but if not, people's digestive systems can get in such a state that they need surgery – and that's where the Bottoms Up Appeal comes in."

To keep the condition under control, Tim takes regular medication and has check-ups at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease clinic at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital twice a year.

Read more about Tim's story in today's Grimsby Telegraph.