Hero photograph
 
Photo by Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust

Meet Nelson’s and Manawatu’s New Support Group Coordinators.

Hettie Arends - Co-opted Board member —

It is my pleasure and privilege to introduce two new Support Group Co-ordinators - Birte Kleinloog and Regan Harvey, who are restarting groups in Nelson and the Manawatu, respectively.

Having support groups operating in these parts of Aotearoa once again means people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can receive support, companionship, and education about their conditions.  Before introducing these fine people and outlining their plans, I would like to acknowledge the work carried out by past coordinators in these regions: Chris Budgeon in Nelson and Hannah Morton in the Manawatu who have contributed so much over the years. 

Birte Kleinloog was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) ten years ago. On moving to sunny Nelson she found there was no active support group in her area, and was now no longer living near the one person she knew who also had IBD. As she missed being able to talk to her friend - someone who understood the disease and everything that IBD entailed - she decided to initiate a Nelson Support Group. Her first step was to find others with IBD (via Facebook) who would benefit from a group in the wider Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough area, to enable them to just chat together and not feel alone.

She envisages the Nelson Support Group as a “go-to-point” for those who have been newly diagnosed, as well as those living with IBD for a long time. Birte’s plans include social events, educational seminars with speakers, and casual catch ups - such as the first meeting held over a couple hours at a Nelson café on the 14th of November. The meeting was well-attended and everyone found plenty to talk about. She is hoping the group can meet in some capacity every four-six weeks, but very much wants to be guided by what people in the area want.

Birte hopes that once the Nelson group has been kick-started, there will be others who are keen to help her with administrating. In communicating with Birte through email and at our Support Group Co-ordinators’ Zoom meetings, it is clear she is making great use of the support CCNZ offers and happy to learn from others. That’s what we are there for - a resource to help co-ordinators (re)start and run support groups in their districts; so if anyone is toying with the idea of starting a group, please know you will not be on your own. Belinda Brown, CCNZ’s Operational Manager, extends a lot of support to the co-ordinators by promoting events on Facebook, through regular Zoom meetings, and a myriad of other ways. 

Birte Kleinloog — Image by: Birte Kleinloog
Nelson Support Groups Mascot! — Image by: Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust

Our other new co-ordinator, Regan Harvey, is a part-time Montessori teacher in Manawatu, as well as wife to Callum and proud mum of two beautiful children - Ruby and Tom. She loves to exercise and keep fit. Her ulcerative colitis diagnosis came nearly 22 years ago and Regan says she has been on a journey ever since.

Her motivation in volunteering as Manawatu co-ordinator stems from her experience of not being understood at times when she was very unwell. Her desire is to establish a network that people with Crohn’s disease and UC can contact for support, comfort, or just a chat. Regan would like to start with the first catch up for the Manawatu group before Christmas, and, not long after, hold a seminar featuring guest speakers. She is very much looking forward to meeting others in her area and seeing the support group re-established.

CCNZ is thankful to both these people for taking up the reins, and, in doing so, helping others with IBD and raising awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis. 

Regan Harvey — Image by: Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust