Lauren has been helping people through music and community work, since she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at the tender age of 11. She has become involved in advocacy efforts, such as testifying at Beacon Hill for Ally’s Law, she has written a song and recorded it with the lead guitarist of Pearl Jam, who also has Crohn’s and Colitis, and is also working with UCB inc. Pharmaceutical company to raise awareness of the disease.

1.Tell me a little about what you do.

I live to inspire people with a struggle. Whether through music or community work, I try and give a message of hope, because hope is the essence of humanity, and I also try to inspire others to get involved. I am a singer/songwriter, youth activist, and patient with Ulcerative Colitis and feel that , although we are alone in this world , it only means that we are all alone together. And if you think of it that way then you will know you are never alone.

2. What inspired you to start this kind of work?
 
When I was 11 years I was hospitalized due to a misdiagnoses of my disease, which is very common in the world of IBD. When I was finally diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, an irritable bowel disease(IBD), I was down to 51 lbs, was not eating, and would have died if I had not been admitted to the hospital that week. After my recovery, I attended the Painted Turtle Camp, which is a camp for kids with chronic diseases. After my view on life was totally altered, due to the positive energy and reinforcement at the camp, I became a LIT(leader in training) and it was then that I met a little 8 year old sweetheart who inspired me to do this kind of work. She had gone through 3 surgeries and now had a colostomy bag(which is a bag that covers your protruding intestine). She could not run, play, or even go out in sun for long periods of time and it was heartbreaking for me to know she was not the only one like this. Once, when she needed to go change her bag, she asked me to come with her. Smiling the whole way there, we talked
about how she was so brave and strong and then she stopped and grabbed my hand and said, "you're helping me be strong." That was my inspiration.

3. Describe your typical work day.

Being a student at the Berklee College of Music, I try to stay involved as much as possible. My typical work day consists of going to classes, having meetings with people such as the Senior VP of Berklee, Assistant District Attorney of Massachusetts, local non profit organizations pertaining to my cause, and I also have weekly rehearsals with my band. I am having a The Red Balloon benefit concert for Crohns and Colitis on April 27th 2008, so my day also consists of trying to raise awareness and get all the necessary things
in place and accomplished to have a successful concert. I have also been involved with a lot of advocacy efforts, recently I testified at Beacon Hill for Ally's Law- the restroom access act.

4. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy knowing that I am helping people, especially through music, because I know that many people with Crohn's and/or colitis live with a daily struggle, so knowing , even just for one day, I made their lives better, is enough for me and makes my efforts worth while.

5. What message would you like to send to today's youth?

A common misconception among today's youth, due to many factors of growing up in the 21st century, is that we are powerless and have no control of our daily lives, especially kids with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's. They have no way of knowing that they are not alone because there is no one out there to tell them that.

We are brought up by media to think that the government controls
everything, and even when the laws say we have freedom of choice , we really don't have very many choices at all, and being one person equals being powerless. I've talked to many young teens and they just seem to think that one person cannot make a difference, and if the life they're living is sufficient for them, why care about anyone else's?

The message I want to send to today's youth is you are not alone and you do have a choice. A choice to live a better life and through doing that help others make their life better as well. I want to create a culture of empowerment where no one questions their ability to help one another. Specifically youth with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's because everyday they question whether they were even meant to be on this earth, and everyday they are asking themselves if it really is possible to live a better life? And it is! You are not alone and that's what I need them to know. And I want Red Balloon to become a national Symbol of Hope for Crohn's and Colitis.

6. How can more people get involved?

First, educate yourself, empower yourself, speak for yourself. Learn about Crohn's and Colitis , get involved with the fight to bring these diseases out of the darkness by joining advocacy efforts , and BREAK THE SILENCE.

We are having a benefit concert at the Berklee College of Music on April 27, 2008 to promote Red Balloon, Ally's Law, and breaking the silence. We have sponsorship from a pharmaceutical company, UCB Inc., and a nonprofit organization, CCFA, but we need more sponsors that are nationally recognized to gain more awareness. We have gotten a lot of local media involved and have been recognized in various states, but we need to attract national attention by having our story published through various networks, publications, and medias. We have marketed to doctors, patients , and drug companies of Crohn drug Crohn's and Colitis, but now we need to educate the average person and generate knowledge of the Red Balloon Benefit Concert.

So anyway you can get involved would be appreciated.

Lauren Bruno
503-752-8746
Berklee College of Music
lbruno@berklee.net