Hosted by Top Gear's Richard Hammond, the 2012 event at The Hurlingham Club on Thursday 23rd February will be the third annual Rock Ball organised by Rick Parfitt Jnr who, following his own personal battle with Crohn's disease, set up The RPJ Crohn's Foundation in 2010. Through this flagship event, Rick aims to bring together rock royalty and fashion for an unforgettable evening; altogether raising awareness and funds for Crohn's & Colitis UK

The Rock Ball 2012 will include live music from chart-topping British band, The Feeling, and solo singer-songwriter Melanie C, as well as a glamorous high-fashion show produced by RPJ Crohn's Foundation patron, Sophie Anderton, with performances from The RPJ Rock Band, infamous auctioneer Jonny Gould and the internationally renowned DJ Lora at the Chinawhite After Party.

Celebrity guests in previous years have included Rick Parfitt and Status Quo, Rick Parfitt Jnr, Richard Hammond, Melissa Odabash, Mindy Hammond, Sophie Anderton, Olivia Inge, Jade Parfit, Nik Kershaw, Caroline Feraday, Chantelle Houghton, Chemmy Alcott, DJ Lora, Chesney Hawkes, Jody Scheckter, James May, multi millionaire businessman Lawrence Tomlinson, Nick Knowles, Brendan Cole,

OK! Magazine coverage of The Rock Ball 2011

Rick’s Story

“I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was nine years old.  At the time, I was constantly being misdiagnosed.  The pain was increasingly worsening and I was losing weight rapidly, until finally, a doctor in Germany identified my symptoms as Crohn’s Disease.

Even though I had been correctly diagnosed, it was always a struggle to gain weight and eat at all. Throughout my teenage years, Crohn’s was a debilitating factor both physically and mentally. My weight (or lack of it) made me feel insecure and the constant need for the toilet prevented me from attending parties and other social events, as I was paranoid about not being able to go. Not exactly something you want in your formative years! My mother and grandmother would set me goals based on me gaining weight, but there was barely a meal that I could eat without excruciating pain. However, saying that, blissfully towards the end of my teens I had a few years of remission, only for it to come back with a vengeance when I was twenty-one.

This is when I had two huge operations. The first operation was to cut out a section of badly infected intestine that had died as a result of the Crohn’s eating away at it, which left it swollen and scarred. However, there were complications with massive internal bleeding and so only two days later they had to operate again. It was my 21st birthday and I weighed only five stone.

Following a long recuperation period, my life truly began when I was twenty-three. The operations had given me a chance of health for a period at least and so I enjoyed six years of relative good health. However, with Crohn’s being a recurring illness, it didn’t allow me the luxury of living pain free and finally it returned with renewed fervour three years ago.

Crohn’s is now a constant companion, and there isn’t a day I don’t go without pain. Whilst I am still scarred both mentally and physically from the years before, I am able to cope better and hope to impart to many others that you can still achieve your goals and not to give up. Crohn’s may be something you have to live with, but it mustn’t stop you from living your life to the full.”

Crohn’s and Colitis UK

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, which also includes Procitis, are forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), affecting roughly 1 in 250 people within the United Kingdom.

Rick and the RPJ Crohns Foundation is proud to be supporting Crohn’s and Colitis UK. A charity organisation, Crohn’s and Colitis UK aims to unite sufferers of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis along with their families, and the health professionals who support and care for them.

To help people who live with Colitis or Crohn’s, the charity has an extensive network of support. There are over 70 Crohn’s and Colitis groups around the UK. These groups encourage local support and self help in conjunction with increasing awareness, whilst providing information about IBD throughout the community. Local fundraising events and appeals, coupled with large scale prolific campaigns and functions, promote and advocate the important presence and work of Crohn’s and Colitis UK as well as generating much needed funds.

In addition to their dedicated UK support team, Crohn’s and Colitis UK conduct and commission various research projects into specific aspects of IBD. The Crohn’s and Colitis Research Fund is instrumental in supporting studies into the physical symptoms of IBD. In recent years, Crohn’s and Colitis UK has progressed into highlight and investigating all areas that the illness impacts on, including its social and psychological effects.

Registered Charity Number: England 1117148; Scotland SC038632

Crohn's Disease

• Affects approximately 60,000 people in the UK, around 1 in 1000

• Between 3,000 and 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year

• Research shows that the number of people with Crohn’s Disease has been rising steadily, particularly among young people. More recently, numbers have stabilised.

It can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus but most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon. It causes inflammation, deep ulcers and scarring to the wall of the intestine and often occurs in patches

• The main symptoms are pain in the abdomen, urgent diarrhoea, general tiredness and loss of weight. Crohn’s is sometimes associated with other inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, skin and eyes

• Crohn’s is a relapsing, remitting condition. Most patients remain under hospital follow-up. Urgent consultation or hospital admission may be required for ‘flare-ups’

• There is no cure Crohn’s at present but treatment can control the disease in most cases

• Crohn’s can affect young people during their education or as they become established in their career. Most sufferers can be maintained in remission for most of the time and are able to lead a full working life. However, some who have severe disease do not achieve their educational and career potential

For more information on The RPJ Crohn’s Foundation or “The Rock Ball”, including details on table and ticket availability, please contact Fireball on  +44 (0)20 8704 4141, email rockball@fireball.co.uk or visit www.rickparfittjnr.com or www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk