SASKATOON – Imagine having a chronic condition that causes you to go to the bathroom upwards of 20 time a day. It happens more often than you think, one in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn’s or colitis. Canada has among the highest rates worldwide.

“Ulcerative colitis affects only the large bowel and Crohn’s disease can affect anywhere from the gum to the bum. So basically from your mouth to your bum you can develop ulcerations, said Carol-Lynne Quintin, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada development chair.

“These cause considerable problems for people with the disease and right now there is no cure for it.”

READ MORE: Crohn’s disease sufferer pens brutally honest account of living with the condition

Although the physical symptoms of the disease can be debilitating, it is the social stigma and isolation that can affect quality of life the most.

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“Anxiety, depression and things like that are very common,” said Jamey Hughton, president of the Saskatoon chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is on a mission to improve the quality of life for those living with the disease and increase the general public’s awareness by introducing the ‘Go Here’ project. It’s an innovative initiative to increase washroom access for those in need.

“The features in the app include uploading washrooms that you use frequently, as well as the ones the businesses register themselves. You can also add bathrooms to your favourite routes that you normally would drive or walk. You can plan your day around where you need to go and what washrooms are available,” says Quintin.

There are three components to the project:

Washroom finder app: a cellphone app that shows locations of washrooms in your area. They’re either ‘Go Here’ friendly or open to the public. ‘Go Here’ decals: a sticker for store-front business windows and/or doors to show support for those with Crohn’s and colitis. The sticker symbolizes the public is allowed to use the washroom, no questions asked. Personalized washroom access card: virtual card that shows proof of medical need if a store doesn’t have a ‘Go Here’ decal.

The project has received support in the Greater Toronto Area and Calgary. One local store in Saskatoon has already put in the first order for a sticker. Organizers hope others will follow suit.

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