It began in March this year when we received an email asking for new, unopened ostomy supplies to help those in the Ukraine who were desperately struggling to get hold of such items. Various charities and addresses of where to send these items were provided.
I spoke with Mike Jameson, our Chairman, and suggested I would be more than happy to arrange this. We agreed to email our Birmingham members to ask if they had any spare unwanted supplies which they could send directly to me or bring to one of our coffee mornings. The company I work for was more than happy to pay for the courier.to have them sent out in one batch, to save our members paying any postage.
I would personally like to say a massive thank you to all our Birmingham IA members who contributed, and I’m pleased to report that a very large box of supplies was despatched to the Polish Integration Support Centre where they take the supplies straight in to the worst hit parts of the Ukraine the following week. Another very special THANKYOU is due to my AMAZING friend Suzanne, who knew what I was doing and mentioned it to her aunt Carol who had a connection with someone who had an ostomy. A few days later, Suzanne contacted me to say that she had some supplies for us and that she would deliver them at the weekend. (Suzanne lives in Farnham, Surrey and her aunt Carol lives in Welshpool, Wales, so not exactly on the doorstep!!) The supplies arrived and were very well received over a coffee or two.
Back in August I had another phone call from Suzanne saying her Aunt Carol had provided another load of supplies which she would deliver in October. When she said a load, she wasn’t joking! Her Aunt Carol had mentioned the appeal to her neighbours, who decided off their own back to go and buy some medical supplies from the local supermarkets. What amazing people! A further email went out to Birmingham IA members and yet again they didn’t disappoint.
So, another very large box will be leaving here this week (October 7th) for the Polish Integration Support Centre. I had a phone conversation with them today and it will be dispatched once again from there to the Ukraine.
Again, a massive thank you to the Birmingham IA members who contributed and again, a very special THANK YOU to my AMAZING friend Suzanne and her equally amazing aunt Carol. And of course, a special thankyou to Aunt Carol’s neighbours for their generous contributions.
Birmingham IA 4 days ago |
Don't miss out on early bird ticket offer, which ends soon. Places still available to attend popular annual event #GetYourBellyOut
Birmingham IA 5 days ago |
Birmingham IA 28 days ago |
Save the date!!! We will be holding our Birmingham Information Day on May 11th 2024 at a new venue St John's Hotel in Solihull. Keep an eye out for booking details, we hope to see you all there \ud83d
Birmingham IA 33 days ago |
Join our friends GetYourBellyOut on Saturday 18th May for their 10th year annual event #crohns #colitis #stoma #pouch
Birmingham IA 36 days ago |
Another great social, this time at Redditch
Birmingham IA 42 days ago |
Anyone a fan of the traitors and spot this article? The Traitors' Mollie: 'There's such a taboo around stomas'
Birmingham IA 79 days ago |
As 2023 comes to a close, it's time to reflect back on what a year it has been. We lost friends, we made new friends, we supported each other through the hard times and laughed through the good. We look forward to what 2024 brings and enter the New Year with hope and positivity. Happy New Year from all of the Committee at Birmingham IA x
Birmingham IA 85 days ago |
Merry Christmas from Birmingham IA
Birmingham IA 86 days ago |
It's Christmas Eve! We all have foods we can and cannot eat and with all the Christmas Dinners we're having, we wondered, what food(s) from your Christmas dinner do you struggle to digest or cannot eat?
Birmingham IA 111 days ago |
Don't forget, tomorrow is our final coffee social of the year. We have Alex Browning from Dansac joining us and talking about skin health for ostomates. 30th November - 10:30am at The United Reformed Church, Brassington Avenue, Sutton Coldfield B73 6AA. Let's have one last catch up and a cuppa