Meet Us at the Starting Line
Ostomy Awareness Day is October 7 and the excitement is building at United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). This year’s theme is “Navigating the Journey Together” to recognize those who have supported people with ostomies along the way. For the fourth year in a row, UOAA will sponsor the Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K and our team at Hollister Incorporated will be right beside them as a platinum sponsor of the event.
Back in 2014 when Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) nurses, Lara Leininger and Angela Richardson, launched the inaugural WannaWearOne Ostomy AWEARness 5K race in Durham, North Carolina, they couldn’t have imagined how big it would become four years later. Though the name changed last year to Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K, the goal is the same—to raise ostomy awareness.
This year, the Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K events will take place in Durham, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Cookeville, Tennessee; and Mesa, Arizona.
“It’s the local organizers who have the passion to make these events a success,” says Ed Pfueller, Communications Manager, UOAA.
The excitement will also spread from coast to coast as people run or walk the free Nationwide Virtual Ostomy 5K. Participants receive an official race bib and are encouraged to fundraise using the UOAA site.
“We want everyone to know that if they can’t make it to an event they can still walk or run at a local park or even on a treadmill to raise donations and awareness,” explains Ed.
Much more than a walk/run, the Run for Resilience has become a family-friendly event that participants look forward to all year. At some of the events, parents with infants and toddlers run in the stroller-division, and kids flock to a special 50-meter dash—complete with awards! The Durham event offers face painting, games and coloring books. Mascots and players from local sports teams often show up. Last year a robust silent auction raised over $2,000 thanks to donations from local businesses and restaurants!
Of course the main focus is the run. It attracts avid runners as well as people with ostomies who have their own race division.
“It was so exciting that a race participant with an ostomy came in first,” says Lara Leininger, Co-Race Director and Co-Founder of the Run for Resilience. “Having an ostomy doesn’t have to limit you.”
To raise awareness, mile markers with ostomy facts pepper the routes. Runners get a bag packed with educational materials, as well as pouches as educational tools for non-ostomates at the races.
Some of the runners form teams of co-workers, friends or family members and solicit donations which go directly to support UOAA.
Ultimately, the Run for Resilience changes lives. Megan Herrett, Race Director in Boise, Idaho, and her husband have two children with ostomies. Phillip Moyle of the UOAA support group in Spokane, Washington, has had an ileostomy for over 30 years and traveled to their event. He wrote to UOAA:
“The Herrett Family journey and the ways that Megan and Matt handle their lives, as well as their children’s by openly reaching out to and engaging with the community is very inspiring to me, and encouraged me to change how I interact with my family, friends and community.”
Phillip’s epiphany is just one among many that have occurred thanks to the Run for Resilience and the efforts of UOAA. Yours just might be next! Ostomy Awareness Day is just around the corner, so make sure to go to ostomy5k.org to either participate in an event or do your own virtual walk or run. Either way, you will be helping raise ostomy awareness.
2017 Run for Resilience Events
“Navigating the Journey Together”
October 7
Durham, NC
Cookeville, TN
Mesa, AZ
Virtual Ostomy 5K—National!
October 14
Boise, ID
Birmingham, AL
Portland, OR—Fun Run
To register, visit ostomy5k.org
