CCC Monthly Recap - October '22
October has been a busy month at Clatterbridge HQ!
A month signified by Breast Cancer Awareness & the need to spread awareness of this complex disease. Since 1985, individuals, businesses, and communities have come together every October to show their support for the many people affected by breast cancer.
It's now the start of a new month and what better timing to check your breasts for lumps, bumps & any other abnormal changes. The more often you get to know your breasts, the easier it will be to spot signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
For more info visit: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-awareness/brea...
Chemo Queens
Supporting awareness raising of metastatic breast cancer this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ann Hannah and Margie Shields, dubbed the “Chemo Queens” met while having treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and have shared their incredible journey and experiences of living with cancer and undergoing treatment for almost two decades.
“Having a friend like Ann means the world,” says Margie. “I look forward to seeing her and I think the social aspect of treatment is so important. The staff at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre are all fantastic and being able to have my treatment at the same time as Ann certainly helps as we can have a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat!”
Read more about their story here.
October also saw the return of the London Marathon, with our incredible supporter Alex Hay taking on the challenge!
Alex Hay takes on the London Marathon
Alex, who previously played professionally for Tranmere Rovers ran the 26.2 miles & raised £4,828.43!
Throughout his training he was supporting a charity which is not only local to him, but a charity that has helped many of his family and friends too, he told us “Giving back to the area and the local community is something I look to do in any way I can, and this is a way I feel I can make a difference."
As always, we are always amazed at the fundraising efforts we come across and October is no different.
Four of our fantastic Haemato-Oncology nurses took on the incredible Yorkshire Three Peaks
Amy, Luke, Emma and Rachel work in the inpatient haemato-oncology cancer care setting, and have fundraised to support projects which offer both physical and mental health benefits to cancer patients
“As Nurses, we are inspired by our patients on a daily basis and the strength they uphold throughout their treatment journeys. They undergo endless investigations, endure prolonged hospital stays away from their loved ones and home comforts, an immeasurable amount of blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, injections - you name it!
Through the ups and downs we are by their sides, we support them throughout the entirety of their journeys by doing all we can to try to ease any pain they may be facing, whether this be physically or mentally
We want to help our patients feel loved, and want to help make a big difference. We speak on behalf of the entire team when we say we are passionate about the care we provide and we want to be able to do more” says Amy
We are so proud of all of our staff at Clatterbridge; they go above and beyond to help care for our patients. Thank you so much!
Hitting the Trail for Clatterbridge
Matt Bacon from Frodsham, along with a team of colleagues from Mark Antony Estate Agents in Warrington set out to complete the gruelling thirty four and a half mile Sandstone Trail in just 12 hours during October in support of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
Matt explains why they decided to take on such a tough challenge to raise funds for the charity: “Our friend and colleague was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. After four weeks of agonising worry, she started treatment at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral, where she has been given the best care and attention, and hopefully the results in a few weeks will mean she will be cancer free.”
We completed the challenge in just over eleven and a half hours, starting and finishing in the dark. We had our fair share of blisters, aches and pains along the way, but it was all worth it to be able to raise a fantastic £1,640 in support of such a great cause.”
Charity fundraiser Antony Jones said: “The Sandstone Trail is normally a two to three day challenge, so we would like to thank Matt, Gill Bates, Sandra and Ciaron Whelan, Mark and Lyn Bridge and Milly the dog for completing such a tough challenge in support of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, and for the support provided by Helen Bacon and Emma McCauley on the day. You’ve all been amazing!”
We also sat down with Beth Calverley, who runs the Poetry Machine on National Poetry Day, a day which has engaged millions of people with poetry since 1994 & this year the theme is the environment.
The Poetry Machine
“I’ve always written poems for people, when I was a child I’d always write for other people. I’d ask my family & friends to give me a word or give me something to write a poem about – the idea of The Poetry Machine was born out of this.
I’ve been with the Poetry Machine since university in 2015 & I’ve been full time for the last 4 years in care settings, hospitals, schools & universities etc… Currently, I am a poet in residence at Bristol & Western NHS Foundation Trust and trust poet at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, so I have a lot of experience of doing poetry in healthcare settings with patients and visitors. These spaces seem to be really good for the Poetry Machine, they are a good place to connect with people about specific moments in time that are important to them - it’s almost like a little time capsule that they can return to whenever they like. It’s important to remember our identity beyond the hospital walls.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is a really wonderful place to be, the space is really well designed and well thought through - there seems to be a sense of calm here.
Sam Wade is the Arts Coordinator for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. She said: “We’re so pleased to be collaborating with the Poetry Machine, to bring poetry sessions for patients and staff to our centres. This is an amazing investment in the mental health and wellbeing of our patients and our staff. We know that the arts, whether that’s music, visual arts, poetry or drama, can help to distract and entertain patients as well as helping them express themselves at a stressful time in their lives.”
It's thanks to your donations that we can continue to support initiatives like this & so much more, so thank you!