Key Points

• World Record Achieved: Jo Bailey, aged 65, completed 68 tethered hopper balloon ascents in one hour during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Friday, August 7, setting a new world record.
• Charity Fundraising Success: The challenge, dubbed the “Paloma Ascension Challenge” (also referred to as “Paloma’s Big Lift Off”), raised more than £3,500 for South West healthcare causes, specifically supporting the Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity (specifically the Southmead Hospital ICU Pathways Course) and Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
• Overcoming Medical Trauma: Ms Bailey, a former hot air balloon pilot who previously co-owned Bailey Balloons with her husband Clive, undertook the feat just over a year after surviving a twisted bowel, three emergency bowel surgeries, sepsis, and two intensive care stays at Southmead Hospital that left her with a permanent ileostomy.
• Raising Stoma Awareness: The challenge was named in honour of her permanent stoma, which she affectionately named “Paloma,” with the objective of dismantling social stigma and inspiring individuals recovering from major surgeries or traumatic health conditions.
• Social Media Campaign: Ms Bailey documents her personal recovery, daily living with an ileostomy, and lighthearted updates through her dedicated social media channels titled The Paloma Diaries on Instagram and TikTok.

Bristol (Bristol Express News) August 12, 2026 — Bristol ballooning icon and adventurer Jo Bailey, 65, successfully set a new world record at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Friday, August 7, by completing 68 tethered hopper balloon ascents within a single hour. Operating at the Ashton Court Estate during the morning session, Ms Bailey undertook the endurance challenge—officially titled the “Paloma Ascension Challenge” and also known as “Paloma’s Big Lift Off”—to raise awareness about living with a permanent stoma and to generate vital funds for regional healthcare charities. As reported by the news team at Weston Mercury, Ms Bailey successfully raised more than £3,500 through the challenge, with public donations continuing to accumulate via her online fundraising page.

The achievement comes little more than a year after Ms Bailey experienced a sudden, life-threatening medical emergency. A former commercial hot air balloon operator who previously founded and managed Bailey Balloons alongside her husband Clive, Ms Bailey was admitted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a twisted bowel. Her condition quickly deteriorated, leading to severe complications, including sepsis, three emergency bowel operations, and two separate admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU). The life-saving interventions resulted in the surgical creation of a permanent ileostomy, a stoma which she affectionately named “Paloma.”

Reflecting upon the completion of the record-breaking ascents, Ms Bailey shared her emotional reaction to the feat. As reported by Weston Mercury, Ms Bailey stated:

“After three emergency bowel operations, two months in hospital and learning to live with my stoma, Paloma, this is a moment I’ll never forget.”

What Motivated Jo Bailey to Undertake “Paloma’s Big Lift Off” Following Life-Threatening Surgery?

The motivation behind the tethered flight challenge extended beyond personal achievement or record books. Ms Bailey designed the project to offer direct visibility for individuals coping with bodily changes, long hospital stays, and post-surgical recovery. Unlike traditional hot air balloons that carry passengers in standard wicker baskets, the hopper balloon utilized for the attempt features a specialized harness or single-seat structure, requiring physical dexterity to manage continuous ascents and descents over sixty minutes.

As reported by Ellie Kendall of Bristol Live, Ms Bailey explained her underlying purpose prior to taking to the skies:

“I nearly lost my life several times during my illness. There were moments when I wasn’t sure I’d ever get home, let alone return to the world of ballooning. This challenge isn’t really about records. It’s about showing people that life doesn’t end after major surgery. It can still be adventurous, fun and full of possibilities.”

Addressing the broader psychological impact of surviving major surgery and managing an ileostomy bag, Ms Bailey highlighted the importance of re-engaging with dynamic physical activities. As reported by Jess Payne of Hits Radio (West of England), Ms Bailey remarked:

“If one person sees this and feels a little less afraid, a little more confident, or a little more able to say yes to life again, then it will have been worth every ascent.”

Following her discharge from Southmead Hospital, Ms Bailey enrolled in the Southmead Hospital ICU Pathway Programme, a clinical recovery initiative established to support former intensive care patients in overcoming psychological trauma, physical weakness, and long-term adjustment challenges. As reported by Weston Mercury, Ms Bailey stated:

“The ICU Pathways course gave me so much at a time when I was still feeling deeply traumatised by everything I had been through. It changed the way I thought about myself and helped my begin to accept and live with this new version of me. I know how much the course meant to me as well as the other participants, and that’s why I feel so strongly that more people recovering from life-changing surgery should have access to it.”

How Are the Funds Raised Being Distributed to Healthcare Charities?

The financial contributions generated by the Paloma Ascension Challenge are designated to support two main organizations: Crohn’s & Colitis UK and the Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, specifically directed toward funding the ICU Pathways Course at Southmead Hospital. Originally setting a target on her JustGiving platform, public response during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta pushed total contributions well past initial expectations to over £3,500.

In addition to direct event fundraising, Ms Bailey has actively utilized digital platforms to address the social stigmas associated with stoma care. Through her Instagram and TikTok accounts, collectively named The Paloma Diaries, she documents the practical realities of daily life with an ileostomy, post-operative rehabilitation, and maintaining humor during medical adversity.

As reported by Ellie Kendall of Bristol Live, Ms Bailey noted the assistance provided by both organizations throughout her ongoing rehabilitation:

“I was lucky to take part in the ICU Pathways Course months after leaving hospital that was and still is a tremendous help to me. I also got great information from the Crohn’s & Colitis UK Charity who help people with stomas.”

Background of the Particular Development

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, hosted annually at the Ashton Court Estate, stands as one of Europe’s largest hot air ballooning events, regularly drawing thousands of visitors and aeronautical pilots from across the globe. Jo Bailey and her husband Clive have long been central figures within the Bristol ballooning community. Having established Bailey Balloons over 25 years ago, the couple accumulated extensive flight experience across the United Kingdom and internationally, holding previous altitude records at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta dating back to August 1994.

However, Ms Bailey’s ballooning career was abruptly halted when she suffered acute intestinal volvulus (a twisted bowel), necessitating immediate surgical intervention at Southmead Hospital. The resulting septic shock and consecutive emergency surgeries required a two-month hospital stay, culminating in the creation of a permanent ileostomy—an opening in the abdominal wall that allows waste to leave the body into a stoma bag. Following her recovery and participation in post-ICU rehabilitation programs, Ms Bailey devised the world record hopper balloon attempt to combine her legacy in aeronautics with patient advocacy, creating a public demonstration of recovery during the August 2026 Balloon Fiesta.

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Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Ostomy Patients and Critical Care Survivors?

The successful completion of the Paloma Ascension Challenge and the national media visibility surrounding Jo Bailey’s world record are expected to have a measurable, positive effect on ostomy patients, surgical recovery communities, and regional medical fundraising initiatives.

For individuals living with a stoma, public feats conducted by high-profile figures serve to directly reduce the social stigma and personal anxiety frequently associated with ostomy appliances. By openly naming her stoma “Paloma” and broadcasting the physical realities of post-surgical life through The Paloma Diaries, Ms Bailey provides a modern blueprint for bodily acceptance. This heightened visibility is likely to encourage recently operated patients to re-enter public, athletic, and adventurous pursuits without fear of social judgment.

Furthermore, the funds directed to the Southmead Hospital ICU Pathway Programme and Crohn’s & Colitis UK will secure ongoing resources for post-intensive care psychological support. As healthcare systems increasingly recognize post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) as a critical factor in patient rehabilitation, high-visibility fundraising drives such as Ms Bailey’s ensure that peer support groups, psychological counseling, and occupational assistance remain accessible to patients transitioning from acute hospital care back into daily community life.