We are an inspirational story.
We are apart of the broader global community of the invisibly disabled.
More particularly, we represent three communities:
Sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD - Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
Cancer
Ostomy
We have no large intestine. We have an ostomy. We have inflammatory bowel disease. We have had cancer. We undergo 10-25 surgeries in our lifetime.
And yet, we persevere to explore earth’s most raw, hostile, extreme natural environments. We push the limits of our human capabilities physically, emotionally and psychologically.
The Ostomy Athlete is a mountaineering team of men & women from Canada, the United States & the United Kingdom.
Together we are climbing many of the world’s tallest mountains including the:
Seven Summits
Volcanic 7 Summits
Explorer’s Grand Slam
Skiing the Messner Route to the South Pole (1138 km journey).
This pursuit is an epic athletic & physical achievement unlike any other. The majesty of the mountains tell stories and so will we.
Meet the Team
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Patrick Belton
Ostomy Athlete - Canada
Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy, J-Pouch, Pro Lapsed, Cancer
https://innovativemedicines.ca/newsroom/patient-stories/meet-patrick-belton/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zrMPG3zlP5QZCBpLF8PtG?si=RWJB4TRgRn-_rumB7fiFSA
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/03/09/ostomy-athletes-seven-summits-toronto-canada/
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Charlotte Foley
Ostomy Athlete - USA
Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy, J-Pouch
https://restorativeostomysolutions.com/
https://ostomysolutions.samcart.com/products/the-ostomy-surgery-recovery-guide
https://www.youtube.com/live/mxsL8QZEMGk?si=zeziN1nuhnV3VsJg
You're not alone.
Ostomy surgery is overwhelming. There's a lot of information to learn about your stoma and managing your ostomy appliance.
It's also uncomfortable or even painful to move around after surgery. Your abdomen can feel heavy and tight. And you might not be moving as well as you once did.
I know because I've been there, as someone living with an ostomy. And as a hospital-based Occupational Therapist, I work with clients who are struggling with these exact issues. Helping clients feel confident as they begin to gain strength and become active again after surgery is my passion!
So, how can I help?
I’m going to give you the information, tools and strategies to trust your body, and to feel strong enough that you can start participating in your favorite activities again without hesitation.
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Rob Hill
Ostomy Athlete - Canada
Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy
We all know that as a disabled person, we have many mountains to climb. In Robert Hill's case, this is not just a metaphor - he is the real deal as a mountain climber with an Ostomy. Robert was diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis when he was 23 years old. He led a very adventurous life and this diagnosis devasted Rob. He found meditation very helpful, as suggested by his brother. Once he got his Ostomy, he went into Ostomy supply sales. He realized that most people were not even that aware how a person with an Ostomy functions, nor do they notice as much as the person themselves do - in other words, it is not something to be self conscious about, and who cares (as Rob says). Rob climbed 7 mountain summits - a feat impressive in itself, but more challenging with an Ostomy, There are also some advantages to having an Ostomy pouch and mountain climbing - Rob explains this in a candid manner. We feel that this episode we have put together is very interesting and inspiring, whether you have an ostomy or not.
https://on.soundcloud.com/MHulXPr2aji8v9NvWI
https://goingup2010.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/rob-hill-a-pioneer-mountaineer-with-ileostoma/
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Jessica Upton
Ostomy Athlete - United Kingdom
Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy, Cancer
https://nalmclinic.com/about-1
registered specialist gastroenterology Dietitian
Jess is an HCPC registered, highly specialist gastroenterology Dietitian. She has over 11 years experience working as a Dietitian in the NHS and Private sector both in an inpatient and outpatient setting.
She has a specialist interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), having published a research paper in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled ‘Nutritional Status and Anthropometry in Children with IBD’, and also working clinically with clients. Jess also has significant respect and empathy for clients with IBD, having had the disease herself for the past 24 years. She has personal experience of IBD medications and surgery, and now lives with a permanent ileostomy (stoma). Jess is therefore able to offer both professional nutrition support, and a compassionate understanding to clients seeking IBD support and those living with a stoma.
Jess believes that nutrition plays a significant role in the IBD puzzle and takes pride in supporting clients with evidence-based, tailored advice to enable them to thrive from symptom relief and witness a significant improvement in their quality of life. Jess has experience working with clients requiring Enteral Nutrition and the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet and also has experience with other IBD complications such as Bile Acid Malabsorption.
Jess is incredibly passionate about empowering clients with IBD to take back control over what many view as a life sentence illness by helping to optimise nutritional intake, support symptom management, and ultimately improve their quality of life.
Outside of being a Dietitian, Jess is a keen sportsperson, racing both road and mountain bikes, and playing competitive tennis; trying to show that having IBD and a stoma doesn’t have to stop people living life to the full!
Hope, Inspire, Achieve
Our team members each have a form of IBD (Intestinal Bowel Disease), Ostomy & Stoma because they have had their entire large colon/bowel surgically removed.
Our Objectives:
To inspire & ostomates and those suffering from Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD) and cancer by demonstrating that they can return to regular physical activity without limitation. Each of the Ostomy Athletes have gone from hospital bed to mountain summit - so can you (we each have our own version of Mount Everest to ascend so find yours and get after it).
To educate the public about Intestinal Bowel disease and cancer and what an Ostomy/Stoma are and how they save lives.
To raise $10 million USD in charitable donations.
Where possible, to partner with research & development teams at medical appliance, pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals - R&D centered around bowel disease & ostomy.
