Beverly Sexton
Steve's Colostomy Association Awareness Page
Fundraising for Colostomy Association
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
I suffered a perforated bowel in 2011 and, following extensive surgery, ended up with a permanent colostomy. The Colostomy Association provided me with something the hard working medical team couldn't - contact with hundreds of people like myself who are living with a colostomy. I was very depressed about my future and the CA pulled me through. I have now returned to my job as a taxi driver in Fareham and want to give something back.
Having a colostomy is still a social stigma and your donation will help the Colostomy Association to raise awareness and continue to help people like myself to come to terms with their new 'friend.'
About the Colostomy Association (from their web site www.colostomyassociation.org.uk)
How we help and support you, your family and carers
Our Mission
From the beginning our mission has been to listen, to inform and to be your voice.
What is the role of the Colostomy Association?
The primary role of the Colostomy Association is to represent the interests of people with a colostomy. We are experts in living with a colostomy and that experience is available to all colostomates, via personal contact with our volunteers.
We are here to provide support, reassurance and practical information to anyone who has or is about to have a colostomy. We strive to raise awareness of what it’s like to have a stoma and what it means to live with a colostomy and by doing this, we hope to address the general lack of public knowledge.
Our ultimate goal is to champion issues that affect colostomates, their families and their carers.
How do we carry out our mission?
The organisational structure of the Colostomy Association is made up of seven Trustees, a General Manager and 3 other full time staff who are fully trained and responsible for the administration of the Association. We also have a number of highly valued volunteers who give us help and support.
Our head office is based in Reading, Berkshire and our office hours are from 9am-5pm Mondays to Fridays. The Helpline is available 24/7 and we aim to have a colostomate online able to listen and discuss your concerns.
Covering the country are over 100 trained and experienced contact volunteers who are colostomates. Our contact volunteers are dedicated individuals who bring a human touch in what can sometimes be a delicate and emotional time. Our contact volunteers are often asked to talk patients before their colostomy surgery, and afterwards in hospital, usually at the request of the stoma nurse. Home visits by our contact volunteers can also be arranged at your request.
We have a range of advisory literature, written by colostomates and nursing professionals, readily available on request. Plus our quarterly magazine "Tidings".
We attend organised stoma care nurses' "open days", where you can come and learn more about your colostomy in a friendly atmosphere and discuss any problems you may have or just enjoy the company. We give these events our full support.
The Colostomy Association receives no government funding and relies entirely on public generosity to fund its services - without you we simply cannot function.
Your financial help has never been more important - with a continuing income and planned agenda, we can budget for and carry out the important work of the Association. However much is raised by you for the Colostomy Association, you may rest assured that our end goal of providing help and support for Ostomates everywhere will continue to grow and evolve - with your help we can really make a difference.