Colostomy charity launches its own rugby league team

The Colostomy UK charity has launched its own rugby league team, in partnership with Medway Dragons.

As part of the agreement, the Medway Dragons first team will be supporting Colostomy UK by wearing jointly branded warm up tops for the duration of the 2018 season, and they were worn for the first time at the game against Newham Dockers last weekend.

Colostomy UK is a national charity that offers support and advice to people with a stoma. Individuals with a stoma have had their bowel diverted through their abdomen so that bodily waste can pass into a stoma (colostomy) bag. This may be due to illnesses such as cancer, Crohn’s disease or following trauma to the abdomen. Almost one in every 500 people in the UK are affected.

“Team Colostomy UK”,  which aims are to spread awareness of both the charity and the condition and to highlight that having a stoma isn’t a barrier to being active and to playing the toughest of team sports, will make its debut against the Medway Dragons Masters team on July 21 at the Dragons’ Garrison Stadium home in Gillingham, Kent.

Mark Roughsedge, from Medway Dragons, said: “Medway Dragons takes its responsibility as a Community Sports Club very seriously, we believe that every member of the community should be able to access sport and physical activity.

“We are proud that a national charity like Colostomy UK has chosen us to become a partner for the 2018 season. Active Ostomates is a fantastic initiative and the kind of project that our club is proud to be associated with.”

Activities on offer will include Primary Rugby League taster sessions for Boys and Girls aged 6 to 11, Team Colostomy UK v Medway Dragons Masters, and Medway Dragons V South London Chargers. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for the Colostomy UK 50K Challenge, a six month long initiative highlighting that having a stoma isn’t a barrier to being active and achieving a target.

Admission to the Active Ostomates day is free of charge and further details can be found by contacting Giovanni Cinque at Colostomy UK on 0118 939 1537 or info@colostomyuk.org