THE  VH + F ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

About Our Annual Scholarship

I would like to write a blog post sharing my personal experience of being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at a young age and living with a permanent ileostomy bag. In the past, I had no interest in fitness and even disliked sports during my school years. I took my ability to move my body for granted until a near-death experience made me realize how privileged I am to have that ability. This realization led me to make a promise to myself that if I ever had a second chance at life, I would strive to be the happiest and healthiest version of myself. And that's exactly what I have achieved.

To raise awareness for individuals suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), I created an Instagram page called @lifewithastoma_. Through this platform, I aim to show that IBD does not define who you are and that it is possible to live a normal life while being fit, even with a stoma. I share aspects of my daily life and training on my page in order to inspire hope and because I genuinely enjoy working out at the gym.

Initially, I had plans to become a personal trainer in order to support as many people as possible on their fitness journeys. However, I have been fortunate enough to receive a generous offer from Paul at Active IQ. After reading an article about my journey, he kindly granted me the opportunity to pursue my personal trainer qualification and I am extremely grateful for Paul and his team's generosity and kindness, as this will give me the opportunity to become more of an advocate for people with stomas and IBD in the fitness industry.

I am now so excited for what lies ahead in my journey.