Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden is set to become an ambassador for Penarth headquartered life sciences firm Trellus Health which is pioneering an innovation digital health management solution for sufferers of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Professional dancer and Caerphilly-born Ms Dowden was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, the inflammatory bowel condition, aged 19 after a six week hospital stay.
Trellus’ scientifically-based support helps sufferers of the two conditions to make sustainable behaviour changes that lead to better health outcomes.
The company will list on London’s Alternative Investment Market this Friday having confirmed it is raising £28.5m at 40p a share in a flotation that will give it a market capitalisation of £65m.
Ms Dowden's agent has confirmed that following the float, she is expected to become an ambassador for the life sciences firm.
Trellus, whose work is mainly based in the US, spun out of Penarth-based diagnostics firm EKF through its partnership with New York’s biggest hospital the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Ms Dowden explained how the condition had proved debilitating and why she is backing Trellus in its goal of supporting sufferers worldwide, as well as easing the pressures it puts on supporting family members.
She added: “When I was 11-years-old I started having severe stomach problems. After eight years of gruesome hospital stays and many symptoms I was finally diagnosed at the age of 19, after a six week hospital stay, with Crohn’s disease.
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“Most people don’t realise that stress is one of the most common factors that cause a Crohn’s or colitis flare up.
"Trellus Health has got this amazing programme to help with your anxiety, stress and energy levels, which can help prevent one of those awful flare ups.
“I truly wish I had Trellus Health growing up in my teenage years. I think it definitely would have prevented so many hospital stays and so much pain that I went through. It helps with your diet tracking your mental health, anxiety levels, fatigue, tracking your medication and progress.
" I really feel it is such a useful source for anybody suffering with Crohn’s and colitis. Who knows I might have achieved my success earlier than I did because obviously many opportunities were taken away from me because of my hospital stays and the pain I was in.”
Trellus said its digital support platform has the potential to be applied to many other chronic conditions.