Breaking the stigma: Mollie Pearce fronts World Continence Week campaign

World Continence Week takes place from 16 – 22 June, to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around bowel and bladder issues.

ERIC, which runs a helpline for families affected by bowel and bladder conditions, says that 1.5 million children across the UK (that’s 1 in 9 children) lives with a bowel or bladder condition, and yet many are too afraid to seek help because talking about wee and poo is so taboo.

Mollie, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and lives with stoma, understands better than most what this feels like.

“When I was 18 I had a stoma formed and I’ve learned to live with my condition. It doesn’t stop me living my life and I’m able to talk about it now. But there are so many young people suffering in silence, feeling scared and alone. That’s why ERIC exists. They offer a listening ear, advice and support to families struggling with bowel and bladder issues. They need our support to keep being there for young people who have nowhere else to turn.”

Mollie has teamed up with Katie Thirling in a new video released on social media this week as part of ERIC’s Summer Appeal. The charity aims to raise £10,000 to support its helpline and support services for families.

Why we need to raise money

Last year, the charity directly supported 6,196 families through the Helpline and 2,031 families through online webinars, while around 1.6 million visitors came to its website in search of advice – but it’s struggling to keep pace with demand.

Siân Wicks, CEO at ERIC, said: “With children’s continence services across the country being cut back in recent years, many areas now have no specialised service for children, which means even more families have nowhere but ERIC to turn. There’s so much demand for our services that we’re only able to answer about 1 in 3 calls that come to us.

“We are grateful for the three year National Lottery Grant which has now come to an end. We of course have planned to continue by diversifying income however this is very difficult in the current climate. We wish to sustain our service. We desperately need to raise funds to keep that vital support for families going.

“Without ERIC, many of these families could really struggle to find support for their children. We don’t want them to suffer in silence. We really need your support to keep providing those services and to ensure our services are sustainable for the future.”

Katie’s story

Eight-year-old Katie has a stoma after years of suffering with painful bowel issues that meant she spent lots of her childhood in hospital, missing school and special moments growing up.
She suffered with constipation so severe, her stomach was regularly distended and she experienced lots of pain. Katie had to go through manual disimpaction in hospital regularly for years to help clear her bowels.

On 2nd April 2024, she opted to get surgery and have a stoma formed, which she has now nicknamed her ‘diamond’ because it’s been her best friend.

Katie said: “We agreed I’d get a stoma because I thought that my body just really needed a rest and I thought it’d be just easier for me.

“I feel better because it’s really changed my life and I just felt like a whole new person when I got it. Now I can be in school a lot more and I don’t have to be in hospital. I get to learn more and more now.”

Katie’s mum Kelly said: “During this time I phoned ERIC’s helpline. The support and the guidance they give you is just absolutely incredible, with so many knowledgeable advisors. It is people who are genuinely trained and they fully know, inside out, what everything is.

Knowing that ERIC was there was a lifeline. ERIC became that one source I knew I could trust for information, that I knew were supportive if I had a question. There are so many questions that people can’t answer. Even around doctors, I felt there was a bit of taboo around poo. I needed some advice from somewhere. It’s just lovely knowing that, where there are some areas that other people can’t help, ERIC can.”

Campaigning with Mollie

Katie shared her stoma journey on Instagram via her account, @katies.stoma.journey where she receives many messages from other families who are struggling with bowel and bladder issues.

As a big fan of Mollie’s, she was delighted to meet Mollie and record the campaign video for ERIC.

Katie said: “I saw Mollie on the TV with her stoma on the day I found out I’d have my stoma surgery. Seeing someone like her on TV with a stoma was really nice, it made me feel good and like I could be proud of my stoma too. I loved watching her on Dancing On Ice too – I even wrote her name on my stoma bag in support.

“After meeting her, I was so happy. She is so nice and really understands. No one should be ashamed of bowel conditions and pooing. We all do it and I want to break that stigma, like Mollie does! If we can raise this money for ERIC, it might help other children to feel less alone and have someone to listen to them. I hope we can do it.”

How to help

You can donate to ERIC’s Summer Appeal via this page on our website.