We are an inspirational story.

We are apart of the broader global community of the invisibly disabled.

More particularly, we represent three communities:

  1. Sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD - Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)

  2. Cancer

  3. Ostomy

We have no large intestine. We have an ostomy. We have inflammatory bowel disease. We have had cancer. We undergo 10-25 surgeries in our lifetime.

And yet, we persevere to explore earth’s most raw, hostile, extreme natural environments. We push the limits of our human capabilities physically, emotionally and psychologically.

The Ostomy Athlete is a mountaineering team of men & women from Canada, the United States & the United Kingdom.

Together we are climbing many of the world’s tallest mountains including the iconic Seven Summits and executing the Explorer’s Grand Slam by skiing to the North Pole (540 km journey) & South Pole (1138 km journey).

This pursuit is an epic athletic & physical achievement unlike any other. The majesty of the mountains tell stories and so will we.

Mountain range with grassy hills in foreground and a clear sky

Hope, Inspire, Achieve

Our team members each have a form of IBD (Intestinal Bowel Disease), Ostomy & Stoma because they have had their entire large colon/bowel surgically removed.

Mountaineer wearing a blue headscarf, goggles, and red jacket, with snowy mountain peak in the background and clear blue sky.
Person skiing across a snowy mountain landscape, pulling a sled with gear, with snow-covered peaks in the background.
Person skiing with a large backpack in snowy terrain
Man in winter hiking gear standing on snowy mountain with poles and ice axe, overlooking a valley with mountains and a sunset in the background.

Our Objectives:

  • To inspire & ostomates and those suffering from Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD) and cancer by demonstrating that they can return to regular physical activity without limitation. Each of the Ostomy Athletes have gone from hospital bed to mountain summit - so can you (we each have our own version of Mount Everest to ascend so find yours and get after it).

  • To educate the public about Intestinal Bowel disease and cancer and what an Ostomy/Stoma are and how they save lives.

  • To raise $10 million USD in charitable donations.

  • Where possible, to partner with research & development teams at medical appliance, pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals - R&D centered around bowel disease & ostomy.

Meet the Team

  • Man in bright winter gear standing on a snowy mountain with arms outstretched, surrounded by clouds and a vast landscape view.

    Patrick Belton

    Ostomy Athlete - Canada

    Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy, J-Pouch, Pro Lapsed

  • Woman in a mint green jacket and black cap with a backpack smiling in a snowy landscape.

    Charlotte Foley

    Ostomy Athlete - USA

    Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy, J-Pouch

  • Mountain climber in yellow jacket holding an ice axe on a snowy peak against a clear blue sky.

    Rob Hill

    Ostomy Athlete - Canada

    Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy

  • Person wearing cycling gear sitting on a rock, with a scenic mountain view in the background.

    Jessica Upton

    Ostomy Athlete - United Kingdom

    Crohn’s Disease, Ileostomy

View from inside a tent at a mountainous campsite with colorful tents and rocky terrain in the background.
Person sitting inside a pitched two-tone tent on rocky terrain, holding a white object.
Person in pink shirt posing with bicycle next to snow-covered road sign in winter landscape.
Person skiing in snowy landscape with backpack and ski poles
Woman rock climbing on a cliff edge with a scenic view of a river and forested hills in the background.
Person standing on a snowy mountaintop holding an ice axe, wearing cold-weather gear, against a backdrop of clear blue sky and distant mountains.