Talk about the Colostomy Association

James is a normal 40 something year old bloke.

(Well apart from coming from Halifax and supporting Blackpool.)

He's married with 2 kids, works full time, manages a local Saturday League football team, likes a pint or two with his mates and a nice meal with his wife.

Oh yes, and since 2014 he's had a Stoma.

A stoma is basically a small hole in the gut to allow bodily waste, which can no longer be processed and disposed of in the normal way, to pass into a bag.

James went into hospital with a suspected appendectomy, and ended up with part of his colon being removed to save his life.

There are many thousands of people like James in the UK, and despite the not inconsiderable inconvenience, with NHS support they manage to live relatively normal lives. Their bravery in not letting their illness define their lives is remarkable.

However James did not come to talk about himself or the Colostomy Association, he came to talk about Stoma Aid.

Imagine if you can, what it must be like to live in a Third World country where a colostomy bag would cost a week's wages. Patients, from the youngest child to the very old will try to absorb the discharge in rags, plastic tubs or whatever they can find. Infection is a daily risk and to say it's unpleasant for the patient and their families, would be a hell of an understatement.

Stoma Aid is a new initiative that will collate unused ostomy supplies in the UK and redistribute them to patients living with a stoma in developing countries that cannot afford or access supplies.