acceptance,  advocacy,  awareness,  colorectal cancer,  Colorectal Surgery,  coping with flare,  Crohn's,  living with IBD,  Ostomy,  stigma,  Ulcerative Colitis

All of these exceptional women have won awards this year for their public advocacy efforts

Winner, winner! Inspirational role models we look up to. Ostomy awareness involves advocacy, and to be effective in advocating for change we need influencers. Advocacy can be standing up and speaking out for a cause, voicing concerns about misconceptions, or connecting with individuals and organizations who need support. All of these exceptional women have won awards this year for their public advocacy efforts.

Amber Wallace won a WEGO Health Award.

The WEGO Health Awards program was created to recognize and honor those making a difference in the online health community.

Gaylyn Henderson won a Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Catalyst Award.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Catalyst Awards honors exceptional individuals who are true catalysts for significant and positive change in the IBD community.

Rachel Jury won a National Diversity Award.

The National Diversity Awards celebrates the excellent achievements of grass-root communities that tackle the issues in today’s society.

Sam Cleasby won a Northern Blog Award.

The Northern Blog Awards recognizes bloggers, vloggers, influencers, and content creators in North England.

Talya Goding won a Great Comebacks Award.

The Great Comebacks® Award in Australia and New Zealand honors those who have overcome the challenges of living with serious intestinal diseases and ostomy surgery.

Tina Omprakash won a Take Steps Honored Hero Award.

Take Steps Honored Heroes represent advocates in the Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis community who share their story to inspire others.

We are extremely proud of everyone and appreciate the opportunity to share your achievements!

Tina is a health advocate for patients living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Via her writing, social media and public speaking engagements, she spearheads public health causes, including those creating awareness for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's & Colitis), life-saving ostomy surgery and initiatives supporting global women's and minorities' health. The intent of this blog is to give those suffering in silence and in shame a voice that creates greater awareness and acceptance. She owns her chronic illnesses and disabilities and her goal is for you to as well!