Support the Pitkin family through life-changing surgery

As many of you know, our friend Luke Pitkin has been battling ulcerative colitis recently. He's endured many long stays in hospital and attempts at treatment and medication, and now he’s preparing for major, life-changing surgery to remove his large intestine and create a stoma - a permanent and life changing surgery. The operation will take 8-9 hours, requires a week long hospital stay and will mean a long recovery period estimated to be around 6 weeks if there are no complications. The very nature of the surgery itself means that this period is uncertain, and could be significantly longer than planned.

For those of you that don't know what ulcerative colitis is; ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. The lining develops tiny open sores (ulcers) that can bleed and produce pus, leading to symptoms like diarrhoea (often with blood), abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. It’s a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and while symptoms can come and go in flare-ups, there’s currently no cure - treatment focuses on controlling inflammation and managing symptoms.

Luke is a self-employed painter and decorator. For months, he’s been pushing himself to continue to work, despite feeling extremely unwell, just to keep things going for his family before the surgery. He’s now working 7 days a week trying to save enough so they can get by while he’s unable to work, planning for this period to be anywhere from 1-3 months.

If you know Luke, you know he’s the first to show up when you need a hand, whether it’s helping you move, fixing something around the house, sharing something you needed, or putting you in touch with “a guy who knows a guy.” He’s generous with his time, his skills, and his kindness. Now, it’s our turn to show up for him.

A donation, big or small, could make a huge difference over the next few months. It would mean Luke can rest properly in the weeks leading up to his surgery, spend time with his family, and focus on recovery afterwards without the stress of wondering how to keep a roof over their heads.

Putting pride aside has been hard for Luke, even though many of his friends and relatives suggested that a GoFund me page is a great way for us to help them shoulder this burden. Let's be gracious and quietly support them, even a few pounds here and there from the big network of people who know Luke and his family could revolutionise the next few months for them.

As a community we've got the power to drastically influence the outcome of this situation for Luke and his family. We cannot help Luke navigate his health issues, but the surrounding circumstances will make all the difference to his recovery. It can take a long time to financially recover from even just 3-6 months of affected income like this, a stress this family simply don't need.

Every bit of support helps them prepare for whatever comes next. Let’s give Luke and his family the breathing space they need to get through this challenging chapter.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.

Cariad & Matt