‘Stoma Babe’ poses in bikinis on social media to raise awareness

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Then one evening, I had this sudden urge to go to the toilet and I passed loads of blood.” open image in gallery Holly calls herself ‘Stoma Babe’ in tribute to her heroine Dame Deborah James who so bravely battled bowel cancer Heading straight to the doctor for a colonoscopy, Holly was told she had proctitis, inflammation in the lining of the rectum. open image in gallery Holly met Callum after her stoma bag surgery through a dating app in April this year She said: “I was waiting for the results of a colonoscopy one evening and I tried to have a bath to relieve some of the pain but it was just beyond belief. “Instead, there is this perception that you should cover up – but that isn’t me, I like to wear crop tops and tight dresses and a stoma bag shouldn’t mean you can’t do that.” As well as sharing her journey on social media, Holly is walking 39 minutes every day this month – because every 39 minutes another person in the UK has a stoma surgery – to raise money and awareness for Colostomy UK. She said: “It is so important to me to raise awareness so people can get diagnosed as early as possible because it can make such a difference.” open image in gallery Holly says she is more body confident now than she was before her stoma Holly added: “I am alive today because of my stoma bag and for that, I am so grateful.” Follow Holly on Instagram and TikTok at @stomababe, or to support her fundraising go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Holly-Fleet2