Bare those bags! 12 brave people show off their stoma bags for a charity calendar that helps to reduce taboos and stigma

A range of adults have been snapped on full display with their stoma bags
The snaps show how users can live life to the full despite their challenges
A leading charity are behind the calendar and plan to sell 10,000 copies
The 2017 Ostomy Awareness Calendar will also use names of the people

Published: 11:25 GMT, 22 November 2016 | Updated: 21:08 GMT, 22 November 2016

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Twelve brave people have shared photographs of themselves proudly flaunting their stoma bags to prove there is nothing to be ashamed of.

A range of young and old users from across the globe have been snapped with their bags on full display for a new calendar.

The photographs - which show how users live life to the full despite the challenges they face - are all featured in the 2017 Ostomy Awareness Calendar.

Stomawise, a charity for colostomy and ileostomy bag users, created the idea four years ago. Last year, they sold 5,000 copies.

The calendar's 2017 offering includes photographs of individuals taking part in a range of everyday activities and helps to reduce taboos and stigma surrounding the bags.

A range of people from across the globe have been snapped with their stoma bags on full display for a new charity calendar (June, Stefanie Allemong shows off her abs - and her bag)

The photographs - which show how users live life to the full despite the challenges they face - are all featured in the 2017 Ostomy Awareness Calendar (July, Michael Anderson isn't held back from a little pool-side fun)

Charity founder John Walsh says the calendar shows how having a stoma bag doesn't have to hold anyone back from living a normal life.

And next year's calendar, which received 286 entries, will also feature names of the people featured for the very first time and information on their conditions.

More than 10,000 copies are being sent to print.

But those who entered and did not make the calendar will not be forgotten as their pictures are instead to be featured in a Stomawise Ostomy Awareness photo album entitled 'The People Behind The Pouch'.

Stomawise, a charity for colostomy and ileostomy bag users, created the idea four years ago (March, Alys Mikolajczk can still fully embrace her musical side with her stoma bag)

Charity founder John Walsh says the calendar shows how having a stoma bag doesn't have to hold anyone back from living a normal life (September, Amy Care casually chopping wood)

Mr Walsh, 54, from Wrexham, North Wales, said: 'For the winning entries we look for people who are doing everyday things.

WHAT ARE STOMA BAGS?

A colostomy is a surgical procedure to divert one end of the large intestine through an opening in the abdominal wall.

The end of the bowel is called a stoma. A pouch is placed over the stoma to collect waste products that usually pass through the colon and out of the body through the rectum and anus.

A colostomy can be permanent or temporary and may be used to treat the following conditions:

Bowel cancer
Crohn's disease
Diverticulitis
Anal cancer
Vaginal cancer or cervical cancer

It's estimated that around 6,400 permanent colostomies are carried out each year in the UK.

An ileostomy is where the small bowel is diverted through an opening in the abdomen.

Ileostomies are formed to either temporarily or permanently stop digestive waste passing through the full length of the small intestine or colon.

There are a number of reasons why this may be necessary, including:

To allow the small intestine or colon to heal after it's been operated on
To relieve inflammation of the colon in people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
To allow for complex surgery to be carried out on the anus or rectum

Ileostomy procedures are relatively common in the UK. More than 9,000 are carried out each year in England.

Source: NHS Choices

'We're not really looking for people sending selfies of them in bikinis, it's about people getting on with their lives.

'It's helping so many people and giving them confidence. It's still seen as a taboo, but everybody goes to the toilet.

'When we first started the calendar we had about 60 entries, but now we get entries from people all over the world.

'People take pictures throughout the year because they know they would like to send an entry in for the calendar.

'We have had people who two years ago told us they could never submit a picture like that, and who now are sending in entries themselves.'

The winning photographs featured in this year's calendar were chosen by Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which Mr Walsh enlisted to work with the charity after realising people with ostomy bags fear being searched by security staff.

Christina Smith, customer services executive at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said: 'John Walsh from Stomawise is a great advocate for living life to the full for Ostomy wearers and we think the calendar, which is a celebration of living life to the full, is a great idea.

'I was happy to assist John with the difficult task of selecting from hundreds of pictures for the final cut of the 2017 calendar.

'We wish Stomawise every success with this year's publication celebrating some amazing people.'

Mr Walsh launched Stomawise eight years ago after feeling there was a lack of support for people with ostomy bags in the UK and now helps others find suitable bags and products.

The Stomawise 2017 calendar and Ostomy Awareness photo album are available to buy at stomawise.co.uk

Next year's calendar, which received 286 entries, will also feature names of the people featured for the very first time and information on their conditions (October, David Carson shows off his pumpkin who also has a stoma bag)

The Stomawise 2017 calendar and Ostomy Awareness photo album are available to buy at stomawise.co.uk (January, Jacob Woods seems unfazed by his pouch)

The winning photographs featured in this year's calendar were chosen by Liverpool John Lennon Airport (May, Stephie-Jayne Simpson flaunts her stoma bag)

Mr Walsh enlisted the help of the airport after realising people with ostomy bags fear being searched by security staff (December, Taunya Rose undertakes living room yoga with her young daughter)

Mr Walsh, 54, from Wrexham, North Wales, said: 'For the winning entries we look for people who are doing everyday things (February, Mike Dyanand shows how he still enjoys the outdoors)

A colostomy is a surgical procedure to divert one end of the large intestine through an opening in the abdominal wall (November, Jessica Fotty is at ease with her stoma bag)

A pouch is placed over the stoma to collect waste products that usually pass through the colon and out of the body through the rectum and anus (August, Christina Wooten is shown relaxing in the long grass)

Mr Walsh added: 'We have had people who two years ago told us they could never submit a picture like that, and who now are sending in entries themselves' (April, Danielle Gooch is shown in hospital about to give birth)