Did you know that there are over 200,000 people living with a stoma in the UK, all of which could benefit from our many support services completely free of charge.

My Story.

For those of you who were kind enough to sponsor me with my Charity Challenges over the last four years, you will have already read the following words that outline my own story demonstrating the reason why I feel totally connected to this very worthwhile charity. - So please ignore them.

As with many other medical conditions, so many people in this country put up with much pain (physical and mental) and discomfort due to STOMAS, and this condition is pretty well invisible to others. The surgery is 'Life saving' and can initially cause a great deal of depression.

Ostomates, as we are most frequently called, sometimes give their STOMA a nickname. When I first had my STOMA surgery in 2013, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for and I became very emotional and depressed. I remember the day so well when I was told by my Surgeon that if I didn't have this surgery NOW I would not survive to see the next Christmas!

(this happened on November 7th, 2013!!)

I then decided to name my forthcoming STOMA 'JIM'.

He, She, or IT, (Mine was obviously a HE!) was named JIM, in honour of Captain James Kirk, Captain of the Starship Enterprise, who was often being told by Spock...

'It's life Jim, but not life as we know it!'

- That is how I felt about my STOMA!

However, I soon realised how important this new appendage was to me, and I have since learned to treat it with great respect!

JIM, however, is no respecter of how his host feels at any time, day, or night! By this, I mean that if JIM wants to go to 'work' he doesn't give me a gentle tap on the shoulder to say, ‘excuse me but I now need to go to work’, he just goes...to 'work' I mean!

To me, this was the biggest 'New activity' that I needed to get used to, and I have to say that it took a while.

I have had JIM for a little more than ten years now and he can still catch me unawares!

I am grateful to him because without him I would not be here now and would not be able to join in with social occasions with friends and family, and for that I will be forever thankful.

Us Ostomates and prospective Ostomates don't necessarily want other people to know our condition and will obviously attempt to lead a very normal life in order to hide it. I am still trying to do this even after ten years. I have periods when all is good, but I also have periods when things are not. These are the times when we really need the understanding of family, loved ones and sometimes total strangers!

The point of all of this chat is to try and get over the fact that we are not sufferers but SURVIVORS and are truly grateful for your potential generosity and understanding in the face of these fundraising operations. Funds raised will, among many other benefits, provide help in the way of education in ways of making our JIM's or however else they are known, more bearable.

I thank you from the bottom of my JIM for your potential thoughtfulness and generosity, and I will keep you informed throughout this fundraising process with regard to my mileage targets together with any interesting incidents I experience on the way!

Of course, I realise that these targets probably mean nothing to you, except for the knowledge that I am going through a great deal of pain and discomfort in payment of your potential kindness, and I promise that I will continue with this struggle for as long as I have to!!!!

Very best regards

Chris Nash