The Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k is back and this time is celebrating World Ostomy Day! Join us for the Worldwide Virtual Ostomy 5k you can do anywhere or attend a festive in-person event near you! U.S. residents who want a t-shirt sent to them in early September should register by JULY 25th to guarantee your T-shirt size availability and save $5.00! Start a team and fundraiser with family, friends, support groups or coworkers! These events are a key fundraiser to support the programs and services of United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.

PDF File:  OAD-Infographic-2024-NO-OAD

You could even print out our friendly Sailor_Ostomy Pouch and name it after your own stoma, and take photos with it around town Flat Stanley style.

Help us start preparing for World Ostomy Day in 2025! UOAA efforts to raise awareness wouldn’t be possible without the inspiration and generosity of the ostomy community. Choose ‘Ostomy Awareness Fund’ to direct your contribution to our mission. Your dollars help get our New Ostomy Patient Guide into the hands of those who need it the most and to spread ostomy awareness to new sectors of the medical field and society at large. Your donation also supports annual events such as Ostomy Awareness Day. https://www.ostomy.org/donate/)

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The tabs below are examples of activities in 2024 we’ll update the 2025 proclamation and letter templates and more soon!

Be a Mythbuster! Smash ostomy stigmas with ostomy fact social media graphics.

Save the images above or fact graphics such as People of All Ages have an Ostomy or or You Have Likey Met an Ostomate and Never Knew It

You can also share our #OstomiesAreLifesavers “giphy stickers” on your own social media posts! (search @UOAAOstomy)

Share your personal story about how having an ostomy has saved or changed your life with your friends on social media and use the use the hashtag #OstomiesAreLifesavers #OstomyDay2024 #IAmLivingProof and tag UOAA. Help smash stigmas and raise ostomy awareness on a national level or perhaps just confide in few friends for the first time.

Even if you are not on social media you can click here to record a video automatically or leave a text response or photos for our online wall of love gallery of “Ostomy Are Lifesavers” stories.

Get creative with our special Instagram or TikTok video green screen or our social media profile frame.

Each year UOAA advocates from across the United States engage their elected officials in their state about the importance of raising awareness for lifesaving ostomy surgery to smash stigma.

We have a new webpage with lots of information and a map to see the progress we are making across the country.

Please let us know if your state’s governor has passed a proclamation at advocacy@ostomy.org and we will change your state’s status on the map.

Spread ostomy awareness and connect people in your community to ostomy support and information. Here is a sample template to help you get started. SAMPLE-LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR-2024 Reach out to your local newspaper, TV, radio station or website and share your story and the resources of ostomy.org. You’ll be amazed by the power of your story!

You could also work behind the scenes by sharing our Ostomy Awareness PSA videos with your local TV outlets. Contact ed.pfueller@ostomy.org for a video file with the specs that your station asks for. 

Looking for other fun ideas to celebrate Ostomy Awareness Day or your Stomaversary? Check out these ostomy activities from our partner at Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Request a free stoma sticker Hollister. Wearing a stoma sticker is a powerful way to educate, start a conversation, or show support for people living with or caring for ostomies. We suggest you place this sticker over clothes, on your lower right or left side between your navel and hip, where ostomies are typically located. To receive your Stoma Sticker by October 5, 2024, please request your Sticker by September 21.

https://www.hollister.com/en/stomasticker