Latest news with #TheCatherineMcEwanFoundation
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Special charity golf day being held next week
A charity golf day will be held next week with those taking part hoping to raise thousands for a charity they have supported for the last decade. With 32 golfers taking part in the first charitable day organised by GBSS Civil Engineering Ltd the hope is to raise a four figure sum for The Catherine McEwan Foundation. This is a charity which supports those affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease, set up in 2003 by Derek McEwan, in memory of his late mother, Catherine. Providing a range of non-clinical support services, including wellness programmes, scholarship programmes, and community days, The Catherine McEwan Foundation additionally provides mental health support for both children and adults. Since 2015, GBSS has attended the charity's annual fundraiser, The Red Hot Ball, which the foundation holds in Glasgow to raise vital funds. This year the company took the decision to increase its support for the charity by staging its first ever Charity Golf Day at the local golf club, Glenbervie. Derek McEwan will attend to offer his support and encouragement to the golfers taking part, a mix of GBSS staff, suppliers, customers, and friends, together with friends and supporters of the charity. Managing Director of GBSS, David Owens, said;' It's not long now until the first ball will be teed off at inaugural charity golf day. We're all really looking forward to this event, and having encouraged our staff golfers to get involved in teams, we'd like to offer our thanks to everyone taking part, plus the management and staff at Glenbervie. We really appreciate everyone's support, and it's great that Derek is coming along himself too.' 'We can promise a fun filled day, with prizes.' Derek McEwan said: 'I can't thank the guys at GBSS enough for staging this fantastic event, in aid of The Catherine McEwan Foundation, which has now grown to complete some pretty significant impactful work across Scotland. GBSS has always been a fantastic supporter of the Red Hot Ball for many years too, always taking a table, but they really have gone the extra mile by staging the golf day. I'm sure it will be a fantastic success, and I look forward to being there on the day.' Founded in 2009, and based in the heart of Central Scotland, GBSS Civil Engineering Ltd services a range of industry leading clients, of all sizes, across Scotland and Northern England, in sectors including education, health, infrastructure, leisure, retail and residential. Like this: Like Related
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Purple portaloo outside Glasgow's SWG3 puts spotlight on IBD
Installed outside SWG3 in Glasgow, the reimagined festival toilet is part of an immersive campaign by the Catherine McEwan Foundation to raise awareness of Crohn's disease and colitis. The campaign, delivered in partnership with creative agency MadeBrave, uses the familiar setting of a portable toilet to highlight the daily realities of life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Read more: Woman who overcame drugs and alcohol struggles now helping others (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) The new purple installation transforms the humble portaloo into a mini-cinema. Once inside, visitors are immersed in a powerful short film that features real stories from people living with IBD, as well as messages of support from high-profile names such as Glasgow DJ George Bowie, singer-songwriters Callum Beattie and Robyn Red, and Britpop band Starsailor. Derek McEwan, founder of the Catherine McEwan Foundation, said: "IBD is a battle for those who live with it, as their families. "My mum lived with severe Crohn's for most of her life. "I grew up in waiting rooms. "She never once complained, but I saw how hard it was." (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) IBD affects more than 500,000 people in the UK and includes often invisible conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Scotland has one of the highest rates in the world, with 1 in 100 people affected. The condition includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both chronic and often invisible illnesses that can lead to fatigue, chronic pain, weight loss, anxiety, and life-altering treatments like long-term medication or surgery. Derek said: "Even things that are meant to be fun, like going to a music festival, can become a source of stress. "Many people with IBD just don't go. "The fear of flare-ups, access to toilets, the planning is exhausting. "We created this space to help people stop, think, and understand. "For some, a festival loo is something to avoid. "For others, it's the reason they miss out entirely." (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation)Lesley Lee, 49, from Stepps, was one of the first children in Scotland to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease. She is all too familiar with the impact IBD can have on everyday life. Lesley said: 'You don't just wake up and leave the house - you plan where every toilet is. "I've skipped events, left festivals early, not because I didn't want to be there, but because I knew the facilities wouldn't be good enough.' 'It's not about sympathy. "It's about awareness. "It's about knowing what to do if someone's struggling. "This campaign gets people talking – in a way, that's visual, public and real.' Edinburgh singer Callum Beattie has also lent his voice to the campaign, highlighting the struggles people with the condition can face. He said: "Do you know what really sucks? "There are people who want to be at the festival but they're stuck inside yet again. "Not because they didn't want to be at the festival, but because of Crohn's and colitis – their body just says no." (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) (Image: The Catherine McEwan Foundation) Read more: £1 million project to test AI's effectiveness in Scottish NHS This isn't the first time the Catherine McEwan Foundation has made headlines with bold awareness efforts. Last year, the charity unveiled a giant toilet roll billboard in Glasgow city centre — another striking campaign developed with MadeBrave. The foundation continues to fund research, raise awareness, and provide practical support for individuals and families affected by IBD across Scotland. More information about the charity's efforts is available on the Catherine McEwan Foundation website.
