It's time to Step Up For Ostomy!
Written by Jessica Kempton
Join Ostomy Halifax as we raise funds for Step Up for Ostomy
Last year Ostomy Halifax stepped up to the challenge of fundraising for improved ostomy advocacy and key programming across Canada. Our team was incredibly successful in raising over $4500 and this year we are hoping to surpass the $5000 mark!
The funds we raise will play a critical role both nationally and locally by bolstering Ostomy Canada’s Ostomy Visitor Program, Ostomy Youth Camp, opportunities for collaboration and education across all chapters/support groups, and advocacy for national policy reform.
The Step Up campaign serves a dual purpose, to fundraise, and to empower people living with ostomies.
Read along to learn how you can take part:
FUNDRAISING
Throughout the month of September we encourage our members to either donate directly to Ostomy Halifax Society’s Just Giving team fundraising page, or one of the individual fundraisers who has already joined Team Ostomy Halifax.
You can also join our team by creating a linked fundraising page of your own. By creating an individual linked page you are able to represent yourself as a “team member” of Ostomy Halifax and set your own fundraising goals/initiatives to encourage donations. Individual funds raised by each team member are then counted towards Ostomy Halifax Society’s overall total and reflected on the team page.
Information on how to sign up and navigate the Just Giving platform can be found here: https://ostomyhalifax.ca/posts/step-up-for-ostomy-2024.
If you have any questions Jessica is more than happy to set up a page for you or help you through the process via a video call. You can connect with her by emailing operations@ostomyhalifax.ca.
Ostomy Canada suggests getting active/taking on challenges as incentive ideas to receive donations. This could include completing a certain number of steps for each donation, trying a new sport or entering a marathon if a certain goal is met, etc! However, do not feel limited to physical activity in your fundraising attempts, other activities such as painting or crocheting, or doing a knit-a-thon, are great ideas. We have also included some of our favorite fundraising tips in the blog post linked above.
Not comfortable with online donations? That’s more than ok! We still encourage you to fundraise throughout the month and you can bring your proceeds in person to our next meeting on October 6th (which will also be our awareness/celebration day!).
AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY
The Step Up campaign helps to empower people living with ostomies by encouraging them to get together and to enjoy doing activities in a more public setting. This, in turn, serves to raise awareness and reduce stigma related to ostomies.
To empower our members, Ostomy Halifax will be hosting an array of activities for you to enjoy at our next general meeting on October 6th from 2pm-4pm.
Firstly, we will have a fitness instructor coming in to teach a short class. You can then join us in an awareness walk around the pond on the church grounds. This will be followed by a small reception with coffee, tea and cake. We’ll also have the pickleball court reserved if you’d like to try a swing at it! This day is really about celebrating you and thanking you for stepping up!
Can’t make it for October 6th? No worries! Ostomy Canada’s official date for Step Up is October 5th. How you participate is really up to you. This could be by posting to social media, getting out in your community for your own awareness walk, or stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new.
More ideas and information on Step Up can be found on the official website for the Step Up campaign: https://www.ostomycanada.ca/events/step-up-for-ostomy
