To be able to support families like our own is a real privilege.  My passion for the cause is down to my daughter’s experience and the many bowel surgeries she has had. I have been described as relentlessly positive, not sure when it was said  or if it was meant to be a compliment but I think it does sum me up nicely.  I’m definitely a cup half full person and through A Bear Named Buttony I can focus on something positive when times are difficult.  The families we support go through similar struggles and Buttony becomes part of their stories too.  A Bear Named Buttony is a hugely important part of my life.

I was a trustee of a local children’s charity prior to starting Buttony and this gave me the confidence to run with the idea.  Along with some brilliant friends I launched A Bear Named Buttony in 2015 and from there it has just grown.  Every day is a Buttony day in our house.  It is very much a family thing with everyone involved in some way.

Through Buttony we have seen the best of community with our whole village and many further afield supporting our efforts from day one. So many people give their time to the cause and when we talk at events it is so encouraging to hear folk be confident enough to talk about their own bowel issues.  Buttony is something I am very proud of.

When I’m not busy with Buttony or talking about bowels I’m with my lovely girls, Eilidh & Louise, husband Steve and Scout our spoilt dog.  I also work in the office of our local secondary school.

There are two reasons why I became involved with A Bear Named Buttony - Jenny and Eilidh. Jen and I have been friends for over 20 years so I have witnessed just a tiny bit of the challenges faced by the Gow family.

The creation of the charity by Jen to address the gaps in information and support to children, young people and their families was inspired and borne from a position of experience and empathy.

It has been a pleasure to have been involved to date and I am excited for what we will do in the future. We are very proud of what we achieve with a team who are all volunteers.

My background is in NHS general and project management and I have held a trustee post with a children's charity previously. I am the current Chair of the Board of Trustees.

“When my son was born with Hirschprung Disease and had emergency stoma surgery at 10 days old, we struggled to explain to their young siblings what was happening in both a simple and fun way. Fast forward two decades and Buttony Bear is now here to help. I’m privileged to be part of the Buttony team at this exciting time as we develop new ways to support children and young adults living with a stoma”

Helen is a retired civil servant with over 30 years’ experience working in HMRC and the corporate sector. She has a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Helen brings her knowledge of finance and administration to the Board. She takes an active role in ensuring the charity follows appropriate governance and accounting procedures and monitors any new regulatory requirements. She also enjoys giving talks and presentations about A Bear Named Buttony.

Helen’s leisure interests include Zumba, strength training and skiing.

I discovered A Bear Named Buttony through my friend and colleague Jenny, whose passion for the charity inspired me to get involved as a Trustee. I’m continually amazed by the impact the charity has — from the comforting bears and educational resources to the awareness raised through talks and events.

As a mum of two young boys and school office staff at Aboyne Academy, it’s heartening to see how engaged pupils are with Buttony’s message. Educating young people about stomas and their positive impact is so important. With a degree in Business Law and a background in administration, I’m proud to contribute to such an incredible cause.

I am a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Urologist who was appointed to the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital in 2000. I qualified from Aberdeen University Medical School in 1989 and trained in Aberdeen, Manchester, Liverpool and Melbourne. My surgical interests are in continence management, neuropathic bladder and minimal access surgery. 

I am a strong advocate for delivery of healthcare as close to home as possible and have personally delivered outreach services in Inverness, Dundee and Shetland. I also have a passionate interest in Patient Safety and am clinical lead for the internationally regarded Scottish Paediatric Patient Safety Programme.

I am an enthusiastic supporter of the BB’s and have had these delivered to several children I look after. I also helped expand the Buttony range to cover various 'ostomies' including bespoke ones for children. I have known Buttony’s big sister and mother for many years and star in a world famous video about the anatomical apron BBS filmed by Big Sis….

My current career highlight was being asked to join The Proclaimers in welcoming the ARCHIE Marchers into Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival live on the main stage but I am is looking forward to topping that at the next 'A Bear Named Buttony' lunch!!

A Buttony Bear can make a huge difference to a child with a stoma. It does make a child feel different and having teddy that they can relate to can make the process of acceptance much easier.

I am delighted to join the board of trustees and become part of the Buttony Team. I have been inspired by the many stories of young people and their parents/carers who have all been supported and reassured by Buttony. I am looking forward to helping Buttony continue to develop education about bowel and bladder diversions so that we can all talk about these important topics with comfort and confidence.

I became Head Teacher of Aboyne Academy in 2021 after teaching in secondary schools in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire for the last 20 years. Prior to this I studied Geography at Edinburgh University and then completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Aberdeen University. I am passionate about values-based leadership in education and am a graduate of the Columba 1400 Leadership Academy.

I believe in taking a positive approach and in doing everything possible to ensure that the future is a positive place for young people. A key element of this is involving young people at every stage and ensuring that their voice is heard and influences outcomes.

Having been involved in the Buttony background for many years, and continually moving around the globe with my husband in the Royal Air Force I have always tried where possible to support Jenny and Team Buttony as much as possible.

Now that my children have grown up and I have a much more established routine I felt the time was right to commit some more of my time to the charity, so joining the board of trustees for A Bear Named Buttony was a very easy decision to make.  

Looking forward to being involved in the future of Buttony where poo is no longer taboo!

I was involved with Buttony from day one having designed the button stoma after it was 'suggested' it would be just be a few bears! I quickly earned the title of 'bear surgeon' and even managed to teach Jenny to sew.

Being part of the Buttony Team has been a rewarding experience and to see the difference our wee bear makes to children all over the UK is just brilliant.

Buttony has always been on my radar with it being a charity founded in my hometown of Ballater.

However, in 2023 I saw firsthand how much Buttony helps families dealing with a stoma when my children received a bear ahead of my ileostomy surgery.

Since then, I have volunteered as much as possible with this amazing charity and it was an easy yes when I was asked to become a trustee.

Buttony means a lot to me both personally and professionally.  I'm a Paediatric Clinical Psychologist and I've worked in children's hospitals ever since I qualified in 2012.

I like to work creatively and playfully with children facing all manner of challenging situations with their physical health. I've seen first hand what a difference Buttony bear can make to children, giving them understanding, representation, and pride. 

My own family recieved a Buttony bear when my daughter needed a stoma as a baby, and he has had a special place in our hearts ever since. I wrote Buttony's first book, A Friend Just Like Me, to capture the feeling we had as a family when he arrived in our lives.

I was delighted to be invited on to the Board of Trustees in 2025 and it is an honour to continue to be involved in the work of such a wonderful charity. 

A Bear Named Buttony was founded by my Mum directly due to my experiences as a child.  I’m proud of what it has become and glad to have the opportunity through becoming a Patron to help more children with stomas to feel more normal and hopeful in the world. Even helping a few children to feel more confident in themselves is brilliant thing with long lasting and far reaching effects, but this charity has helped so many more.

As a grown up version of one of those kids, I hope seeing that my life is good and only helped by my stoma can make today’s children feel optimistic about their own futures, and show that even if life is sometimes very hard it can also be very good. I look forward to raising positive awareness of stomas as part of the Buttony Team.

I was both honoured and surprised to have been asked to be a Patron of such a special charity, who have been carrying out fantastic work for so many years for both children and their families.

I’m always drawn to stories of positivity, and the ethos of Buttony Bear is to show children that having an ostomy needn’t hold them back, but in a kind and encouraging way.

I’ve lost count of how many times the photos of happy children clutching their precious Buttony Bear have made me smile, and I know the fabulous new book launched this year will bring even more joy to children with ostomies.