Hi family and friends!

As most of you know, we are currently living in Kenya on a two year posting. It appears moving overseas can impact on one's sanity as I have taken temporary leave of my senses and signed up for the Lewa Safari half marathon, taking place on 28th June.

It’s going to be tough; it’s very hot, we are at altitude (2000m above sea level) and it’s on a wildlife conservancy. Add to that the fact that there are very limited places that we can run in Nanyuki, training has been challenging! Despite my nerves, I am looking forward to the challenge and very grateful for the experience of running on an actual conservancy.

I’d love to raise money whilst I’m doing it, and have chosen Chameleon Buddies, a cause that means a great deal. They are a UK based charity, supporting women living with ostomies both in the UK and Kenya.

Coping with the life changing nature of a stoma is an enormous challenge wherever you are. In the UK, we are fortunate to have the NHS, and those with stomas can easily get hold of the supplies and support they need. This is not the case in Kenya, where healthcare is infinitely more challenging and expensive, and getting hold of stoma supplies is often an impossible task.

Chameleon Buddies are doing amazing work to change this. As part of their mission, they work with an organisation called Beyond Fistula in Kenya; focusing on improving the ostomy services for women and sending stoma supplies to the women in need.

Their aim is to set up a permanent Stoma & Continence Clinic, together with patient peer support groups, staff training and travelling stoma advocates, and regular stoma supplies. This will help to enable all these women to live a comfortable life with their ostomies. Most importantly, they can be reintegrated back into their communities.

I would really like to raise money to help Chameleon Buddies help these women, and any small donation you can make would be a great help.