UOAA hosts Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k and leads advocacy action for National Ostomy Awareness Day.
BIDDEFORD, Maine, Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Saturday, October 3, 2026, people from all walks of life will rally together under the theme "One Community - Stronger Together" to celebrate National Ostomy Awareness Day.
United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) estimates that between 725,000 and 1 million people in the United States are living with an ostomy or continent diversion. These are life-saving surgical procedures most commonly of the bladder and bowel that allow people to overcome cancer, survive vehicle accidents, manage rare diseases, and find relief from the debilitating pain of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
This year's awareness day arrives at a critical juncture. The ostomy community is actively uniting to safeguard essential medical supplies. UOAA and national stakeholders are calling for immediate public advocacy and Congressional intervention to keep ostomy and urological supplies out of Medicare competitive bidding. The recent regulatory ruling directly threatens patient access to their suppliers and the specific, prescribed medical products required to thrive after surgery.
Advocates in almost 30 states around the country have submitted requests to their state's governor to officially recognize Ostomy Awareness Day and help smash stigma.
The biggest gathering for Ostomy Awareness Day is the Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k in support of UOAA's nonprofit programs, educational resources, and national advocacy.
UOAA is celebrating with a worldwide Virtual Ostomy 5k and family-friendly in-person 5k events in Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and South Carolina on the first or second weekends of October.
The Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k is a community volunteer effort made possible through the support of Exclusive Diamond Sponsor Convatec, Platinum Sponsors Coloplast and Hollister, Silver Sponsor Byram Healthcare, and Bronze Sponsors Safe n Simple, Revel, and KEM Enterprises.
Online UOAA is welcoming everyone to a National Support Group meeting and on social media people are invited to share their stories and support networks that make up their unique #OstomyCommunity on this #OstomyDay2026.
If you know someone who has or may have an ostomy let them know that peer support from UOAA's 265 Affiliated Support Groups and trusted educational and advocacy resources are available at ostomy.org.
Media Contact
Ed Pfueller, United Ostomy Associations of America, 1 8008260826, [email protected], https://www.ostomy.org/
SOURCE United Ostomy Associations of America
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