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Why Cancer Connections is a godsend
CANCER is one of those words that fills you with dread, and most of us have, at some time in our lives, seen a friend or relative affected by it.
However, there is a beacon of hope in South Tyneside for sufferers and their families and friends - the charity Cancer Connections, based at West Harton Churches' Action Station in Boldon Lane, South Shields.
We went to meet the group as it embarked upon the final fundraising push to buy a new 'home from home'.
The Gazette has run many campaigns over the years, but the response to the Cancer Connections – Quids In project has been unprecedented.
The charity, having been set up three years ago, has always been based at West Harton Churches' Action Station.
However, having already raised 290,000, it now needs one final fundraising push to help raise the 50,000 needed to buy a state-of-the-art bungalow.
It sounds a lot, but if everybody in South Tyneside were to donate just 1 to this campaign, this target could be reached in time for the charity's third birthday on April 1.
With so many charities vying for your money though, you might wonder why Cancer Connections is such a special cause.
To give you an idea of how vital the services it offers are, we went to visit on a typical afternoon.
With the coffee shop almost completely full, it was difficult to find a place to sit and drink the tea and biscuits we were offered.
Apparently it is always like this, as the charity's co-founder Professor Reg Hall, 70, explained.
"It's crowded and noisy, but the atmosphere is great. However, you can see why we need to get a new place."
This new home is going to be a four-bedroom bungalow in nearby Harton Lane, which the former surgeon and cancer specialist was very excited about.
"It will have more space and specialist rooms for the counselling service we already offer.
"We'll also be able to expand on our complementary therapy work by having two dedicated rooms for this.
"There will also be a kids' room, more office space, and parking facilities," said the married dad-of-two, from Newcastle.
The charity is, in addition, hoping to possibly expand its existing remit of activities to include such things as art and music therapies, as well as providing food with the much-improved cooking facilities.
Perhaps the biggest bonus though will be the garden, where people will be able to sit and take a break from their worries.
"It will provide a specialist home from home for anybody affected by cancer," continued Reg.
"They can come knowing they will find the friendship and help that they need."
Reg, along with Deborah Roberts, Miriam Ahmed, Brenda Errington, Maire Hartley, Wendy Fortune and Jean Lawrence set the charity up in Boldon Lane as they thought the area had all the right attributes.
"We agreed there was a need for this kind of support in the North East," Reg said.
"South Tyneside was a good place to start it up, as there is a hospital and also St Clare's Hospice in Jarrow. There's also a close sense of community, so we thought people would appreciate this help."
Being the only cancer expert there, he helps advise those who might be confused about their condition and its treatment.
"A lot of people when they go to hospital don't understand much of what their specialist tells them. I make it easier to understand for them."
In addition to medical advice, and the afore-mentioned counselling and complementary therapies, the charity also offers guidance on benefits and financial matters, as well as giving bereavement support.
One person who took particular advantage of quite a few of these was Joan England, 64, from South Shields, but who now lives in Washington.
A mum-of-six, she was there for our visit with grand-daughter Ava.
Between helping two-year-old Ava with her picture book colouring in, she described how her husband Geoff had been diagnosed with stomach cancer four years ago.
Having previously attended cancer care meetings together at The Old Ship pub in Sunderland Road, South Shields, they began to visit Cancer Connections soon after it opened.
"Geoff came and had reiki (a form of complementary medicine) sessions, which helped him to relax. After he died I had bereavement counselling, which really helped me.
"This place was a Godsend. It helped the whole family after he died, and it still does."
Asked if she was backing the Quids In campaign, she replied: "I think everybody in South Tyneside should get behind it, as almost everyone knows someone who has died of, or has had cancer."
Sitting enjoying the tea among a group of fellow survivors and friends he'd met there was Jim Leggett.
The 61-year-old, married dad-of-two, told how he he'd been left disabled after suffering bowel cancer in 2005, and how the charity had subsequently helped him and his family rebuild their lives.
"I was the first through the door in 2007. They helped me get through it. They were invaluable.
"There's lot of people who need help, and apart from Macmillan's and St Clare's which are more medical, there's nothing else.
"But Cancer Connections is not just for sufferers. There's parents, helpers, friends, kids who all need help to get through it too."
The last word was left to the charity's co-founder and fundraiser supreme, Deborah Roberts, 51, who between making tea and taking donations, said: "One pound is an accessible figure to everyone.
"The bungalow is going to be here for our children and grandchildren. It's especially important as South Tyneside has one of the highest cancer rates in the UK."
The mum-of-two, from South Shields, continued: "When people are not well, they often can't afford to travel miles out of the area for support or counselling.
"Everything we offer is on their doorstep and free. We are there for their family, parents, friends. Everybody."
Pointing out the charity's logo of 'stronger together', she added: "That's what we are.
"If someone sits with fear and anxiety on their own, it escalates. If you can get someone to listen, it is a problem halved.
"It's such a special place. We are lucky to have such a set-up here. Now we just want to make it better."
You can add to the Quids In campaign at Cancer Connections in Boldon Lane, South Shields, or at the Shields Gazette reception in Chapter Row, South Shields.
If taxpayers fill out their details and tick the gift aid box at either of these locations, the Government will give an extra 28p to the charity.
To make a donation or for more information, call Cancer Connections on 456 5081.
Alternatively, you can donate at the charity Justgiving page here.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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