Six-Year-Old Raises Over £5,200 to Aid Children with Stomas

A young boy, who lives with a stoma, has expressed that he is “really proud” to have accumulated more than £5,200, which will go towards assisting other children who utilize the medical device. Riley, aged six, from Melksham, undertook a walk covering 6.8 miles (11km) on 28 October. This endeavor was in support of A Bear Named Buttony, a charity dedicated to providing cuddly toy bears to children who have a stoma. Each bear, which includes its own stoma, costs approximately £30, meaning Riley’s fundraising efforts have generated enough funds to purchase over 170 bears. “He was really proud of himself, he was really chuckling, it was amazing,” stated his father, Andy. Andy further recounted, “He got to about the seven kilometre mark and said, ‘No, I don’t want to do it anymore; my legs are hurting, my feet hurt and I’m cold’, so we ended up stopping for some chips at the local just to get him going again.” Riley has undergone 11 surgical procedures, including a vesicostomy at the age of two, a procedure that enables urine to drain from his bladder into a bag. In an effort to help him manage his condition, Riley was given a cuddly toy by the charity along with a storybook that explained why the bear also has a stoma. Driven by a desire to assist other children with stomas, Riley had initially aimed to raise £150 to acquire five bears, but he swiftly surpassed this preliminary objective. Before commencing his walk, Riley remarked: “I am very excited to do my walk as I know it’s helping lots of children like me who don’t have a bear yet.” Riley carried his own bear in a backpack as he journeyed through the village of Bromham, receiving cheers from his teachers and classmates. “His bear is really supportive for him. He’s always able to have that comfort with him wherever he goes,” Riley’s dad commented. He also noted, “It’s also the way he explains to teachers and other children at school what he’s got.” Andy concluded by adding, “It’s been amazing to see that he’s realised that it’s not just him who has a stoma; there are other people with one, who are going through all this too.” For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.