Winter Newsletter 2022

team beatson

Team Beatson Winter Newsletter 2022

What an incredible last six months we have had! Our notable achievements include the launch of our Research and Grants Development Fund, which will allow us to conduct vital research, improve practice and equipment for patients attending The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. Details of these individual projects will be revealed soon on our website. I also am pleased to say that the phased reopening of the Wellbeing Centre has been well received by patients and staff, and we hope to be able to welcome back outpatients before Christmas time. Keep an eye on our social media pages for updates. We are also pleased to finally introduce our latest service, Bereavement Support. This service has been in development for some time with full details of the prorgramme, being found on page one.

Our Bauble Appeal campaign continues to grow and we appreciate everyone’s support. Look out for our new TV advert. Four families would like to share their stories with you, each has their own experience of coping with cancer. Our aim is to raise awareness, highlight the importance of care and compassion and convey the message of hope, during what is often a very difficult time.

Let’s continue the great work. Thank you so much for your support – we couldn’t do it without you. Best wishes this Christmas,

Martin Cawley

services update

Looking for information and advice?

My Light is there to support you whenever you need it, wherever you are. Day or night this online platform is available for you to access unique content tailored to every stage of your cancer journey.

Whether you’ve just started treatment, you’re living with cancer, or supporting a loved one, access My Light for advice blogs, information articles and helpful videos. Visit My Light at beatsoncancercharity.org/my-light

bereavement support

We will all experience grief and loss in our lives. How this impacts us can be different for everyone. Each individual experience of grief is unique and can depend on many factors, such as the relationship with the person who has died, family dynamics, work situation or financial considerations, to name just a few.

There is no correct way to grieve. Some may be able to find their own way through their grief while others may feel the need for some help and support. The service offers support through information and advice, 1 to 1 support and group support.

If you are an adult who has been bereaved through cancer and your loved one received care from the The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, please get in touch: bereavementsupport@ beatsoncancercharity.org

gin & sing last christmas Sunday 4 December, 2pm

We are delighted to announce our festive edition of the ever-popular Gin & Sing!

The movie, Last Christmas, is the perfect way to kick off your festive season by singing along to music from the legendary George Michael. Stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. £15 per ticket (*includes £1 admin fee)

christmas celebration Sunday 11 December, 3pm-5pm

Held in Glasgow Cathedral, this free event will bring you the true spirit of the season and give you a chance to remember a loved one, celebrate overcoming cancer and to be thankful for the special moments Christmas brings.

We will have a few moments of reflection where you can write a dedication on a Beatson Bauble which will then be hung on the Cathedral Christmas tree.

give a little support this christmas gin & sing

Last Christmas

Where:

pm

santa dash

Sunday 11 December, from 10am

It’s back! Runners and dashers are limbering up for Glasgow’s first live Santa Dash in three years. The much-loved Christmas event will return to the city with a new route around Glasgow Green and the Gorbals. We are thrilled that profits from this year’s event will be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity and the Lord Provost’s Children’s Fund after a three year break due to the pandemic.

EVENT TIME: Starts at 10am EVENT LOCATION: Glasgow Green (circular loop with Start and Finish) PRICE: £15 Adult, £5 Child (16 years and under), no charge for babies/toddlers (*includes £1 admin fee) Participants can enjoy free bus travel to and from the event courtesy of First Bus. This iconic 5K family fun run will be more sustainable with reusable T-shirts replacing old santa costumes. There will be a chance to purchase a Beatson Santa Hat at time of collection (information on dates and locations shall be within event email). To book your place and find out full details, go to: www.glasgow.gov.uk/santadash

Full details of each event can be found on our website.

christmas trading

tis the season to shop!

Our wonderful Christmas Card range is now available to buy on our Online Shop and at the Beatson Café. Which design is your favourite? We love seeing our gorgeous Beatson Tartan featured! This range is ever popular so do get your order in quick!

We are also delighted to introduce a new addition to our Christmas Tree decorations, a gorgeous robin which features our bespoke charity Tartan. Not forgetting our braw range has expanded! You can now get our distinctive Tartan in the map of Scotland on clocks, tea towels, aprons, t-shirts and hoodies!

For more information contact our trading team via trading@beatsoncancercharity.org

sign up for trading enews

Keep up to date with our newest product ranges and exclusive discounts on our Online Shop by signing up to our Shopify Enews. Visit shop.beatsoncancercharity.org shop here

will you join us in hanging a beatson bauble on your tree this year?

i’m hanging my bauble in memory of my wife brenda

My name is Paul, I’m writing to you to say thank you for your continued support. It’s thanks to people like you that my wonderful wife Brenda was able to receive loving care and support during her time in The Beatson.

I’m sure you will have your own reason to hang a Beatson Bauble on your tree. Like me, it may be in memory of a loved one, or you might simply want to say thank you to The Beatson for caring for a relative or friend.

Any donation, no matter how big or small, will make a world of difference to families like ours. Please send Beatson Cancer Charity any gift that you can, along with a message on your Bauble today.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.

Brenda

Text Bauble to 70470 to donate £10 today. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.

event and fundraising highlights

beat 6 hit the dance floor

The team behind Beat 6 restaurant, which opened last year with 100% of profits going to our charity, announced they have raised a staggering £300,000. Since launching the partnership with the Six by Nico team, they have held a series of events to raise funds in their ten locations across the UK. Restaurateur Nico Simeone and his team continued their fundraising efforts by participating in our first ever Strictly Beatson event in October. Nico, his wife and their family want to help Beatson Cancer Charity help others following the support they received while Nico’s wife benefited from The Beatson’s worldclass treatment. Beat 6’s restaurant in Dennistoun closed in October, with plans to relocate to another area early 2023, where it will continue to provide dining experiences while raising funds for our charity. Keep your eyes peeled!

best otbt ever!

We were delighted to welcome our supporters back to the Riverside Museum at the end of August for our first Off the Beatson Track live event since 2019. An outstanding total of £163,000 was raised by walkers who took part in Beatson Cancer Charity’s ninth annual Off the Beatson Track 10k walking event on Sunday 28th August – which makes it the most successful OTBT ever! Around 1,500 people were involved in the walk, which started at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

Supporters this year included corporate teams such as Optical Express and teams from East Dunbartonshire schools: Bishopbriggs Academy and St Ninian’s High School. BBC’s David Farrell and STV’s Laura Boyd were on the main stage and interviewed several participants to find out why they were taking part, before they introduced supporters to Glasgow’s Zumba Sisters who hosted a Zumba session to get everyone warmed up. The weather was in everyone’s favour too as the sun shone throughout the day. Well done to everyone who took part!

corporate support

epic edrington cycle

We were thrilled to be one of the two chosen charities for Edrington’s epic cycle challenge at the beginning of September. 64 employees took part in the two-day long 155-mile cycle through Denmark to raise funds. Edrington agreed to double match their total and they raised an incredible £142,084 – meaning Beatson Cancer Charity received £71,042. Thank you all so much for your incredible efforts!

general events round up

What an incredible year of live events we have had! Over the last few months, we have supported a staggering number of golf days, challenge events and recently danced the night away at the Beatson Ball and cheered five teams of our key supporters who took part in our Strictly Beatson event. Both were very successful and secured over £100k and £113k respectively.

our investment Research & Grants

wellbeing update

satellite services reopen

As well as reopening our Wellbeing Centre for inpatients at The Beatson during summer, our satellite services at other locations across the West of Scotland have also reopened.

This means you can access our Wellbeing services at the following locations:

Dr Kathryn Graham, Clinical Oncologist secured a second research grant worth £14,635 for optimising the management of locally advanced inoperable endometrial cancer by integrating molecular profile (a genomic test that identifies abnormal gene changes inside a tumour) at diagnosis.

Endometrial (womb) cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer. In the majority of cases, it is diagnosed at an early stage and can be cured with surgery, sometimes followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to lower the risk of cancer returning.

This project aims to identify which patients are most likely to respond to chemotherapy and have an operation.

In the future, Dr Graham hopes to extend this work and identify patients who may need additional or alternative forms of treatment to improve their lifespan.

• The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

• Clinic P – New Victoria Hospital

• Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

• Lanarkshire Beatson

• Royal Alexandra Hospital

• Vale of Leven Hospital & Health Centre

• Glasgow Royal Infirmary

• Inverclyde Royal Hospital

For the most up-to-date information please call the Wellbeing Centre directly on 0141 301 7667.

We received 30 grant applications with the launch of our Open grants programme for a variety of items including research projects, clinical fellowships, medical equipment, patient support and staffing posts

last chance to enter

car prize draw

Proudly supported by Arnold Clark

we have joined forces with arnold clark and they are offering one lucky supporter the chance to drive away with a hyundai i10 n line. entering the prize draw is super simple by visiting our website or by scanning the qr code!

There’s a range of bundles to choose from, starting at just £5 and you can also make a free entry by post, see our T’s & C’s for details. Every entry you purchase will go a long way in helping us support more people affected by cancer. Keep an eye out for this promotional car on the road and at some of our future events as there may be a few surprise additional draws and prizes along the way!

scan

date for

date:

Full terms and conditions are available online. If you’d like to

more then please contact

play now

could win this brand new car with just a few clicks. The more entries*, the more chances to win.

spend limit of £100

coming soon for 2023

Starting to plan a challenge for next year? We have lots of fundraising events and ideas to get involved with. Contact fundraising@ beatsoncancercharity.org

the bard & his belles burns supper

bard & his belles burns supper

Sponsored by AutoRek

Be one of the first guests to secure a spot at our alternative Burns evening “The Bard & His Belles”. Hosted by Dougie Vipond, this event is always a great night for those who enjoy the celebration of Rabbie Burns and experience the immortal memory performed by the outstanding Karen Dunbar. Join us with friends or colleagues and strip that willow to the Well Plaid Ceilidh Band.

Friday 20 January 2023, Hilton Glasgow

Price - £85 per person

Tables of 10 or 12 available

glasgow ladies lunch

Sponsored by AutoRek

Who loves a ladies day? We certainly do... This is a sell-out event hosted by one of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants, Kaye Adams. An array of fun, entertainment and surprises awaits.

Sunday 26 March 2023, Hilton Glasgow £60 per person

Tables of 10 or 12 available

sporting dinner

Hosted by the sporting broadcaster David Tanner, this is a definite save the date. Secure your table now, our guest speaker is still to be confirmed but last year we were joined by legendary footballer, Ruud Gullit, so you know you’re in for a treat!

Thursday 4 May 2023, Hilton Glasgow £99 per person

Tables of 10 or 12 available

Sponsored by

our support to you

group programmes

We currently offer two group programmes for people who have had a cancer diagnosis. These aim to help people identify what is important to them and to develop techniques to live in line with those values.

The Fear of Recurrence group programme aims to help those who have completed active treatment and have a fear of cancer coming back which they find difficult to live with.

The Living with Uncertainty group programme aims to help people to develop skills to live a meaningful life in line with the things that are important to them, alongside cancer.

“It explained so much and gave me hope for the first time since being diagnosed. It showed me a different way of thinking and being. It was just great! It has helped me beyond belief.”

Fear of Recurrence participant

“Meeting other people with cancer who I can totally connect with and understand the fears and emotions was so helpful. The exercises to help manage stress were amazing and I use them most days. Also, I made some new friends, and we email which was a surprise, pleasant bonus.”

Living with Uncertainty participant

an email

or call 0141 212 0505 and ask to speak to someone about the group programmes.

volunteering room to reward – hidden heroes!

We’re delighted to say we have honoured another two wonderful volunteers with some help from our friends at Room to Reward. Room to Reward help charities and good causes across the whole of the UK recognise the importance of, and say thank you to inspirational volunteers who give up their time to help others. We were previously able to recognise one Hidden Hero, Martin, as part of the Room to Reward Outstanding Contribution during the pandemic campaign. We were thrilled to be able to say thanks to two more incredible volunteers, who were both nominated by fellow volunteers!

Joyce Andrews was nominated by the Thursday Girls who volunteer with Joyce in our Beatson Café. This was a nomination wholeheartedly supported by our Volunteer Team. Alexis Patrick was nominated by fellow Give and Go and MDU Tea Trolley volunteer, Bill.

Well done, ladies! Very well deserved.

ward volunteering has returned

We are delighted to announce ward volunteers have returned to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. The programme focuses on volunteers spending time with patients to provide company and emotional support. It started in 2018, but was suspended in March 2020 following the pandemic. Volunteers support patients during their time in the wards by making a patient a cup of tea and spending time with them.

Nasreen has been volunteering on the wards since the programme returned in July.

She said: “I find that ward volunteering provides me with an opportunity to give something back and hopefully makes a difference. It’s good to chat to someone who’s feeling lonely and wants some company - especially those with few or no visitors. It can make their hospital stay less lonely, reduce their boredom and act as a welcome distraction from feeling ill. I once had a patient referring to me as his ‘lucky charm’ because after offloading some of his anxieties to me about being in hospital, he was told he could go home that day. On occasions I have had partners and visitors offloading their anxieties.”

Anyone who wishes to find out more about our ward volunteering programme is welcome to get in touch with Marlyn to find out more: volunteer@beatsoncancercharity.org

befriending befriending service hits 2000 calls

We were delighted to tell our supporters in March this year that our Befriending Service hit 1000 calls. Only a matter of months later and we are proud to say that number has doubled, with many patients now benefiting from the service on a regular basis. Volunteer, Marty Jackson, assists with calling patients as part of our Befriending Service.

“For as long as I can remember I have had a passion for working with and helping people in need. As soon as I started volunteering, I began helping with the Befriending Service. Some people were going through treatment, and some were living with cancer through a family member or partner. The befriending service was a way for us to reach out to those affected and offer a safe and open space for them to talk about the things they felt were the most difficult for them. The service has an amazing signposting feature where we can listen to a service user’s situation and offer help in a number of ways. Support is a premium at all times and it really reinforces that they’re not alone, and talking about their fears, worries or concerns really helps them cope much better. I feel so lucky to be able to chat to all my service users each

week and to reinforce that support and encouragement ethic that some may not have had for a long time. Strangers immediately become friends - that’s so powerful and important for everyone that uses our service”.

58-year old Paul Kennedy from Johnstone is a Befriending Service user since his cancer diagnosis and was paired up with volunteer, Marty.

“I have been using the Befriending Service since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer just over a year ago. The Befriending Service has been a godsend to me and my family as being diagnosed with cancer affects all the family, not just me. Before I started using the service, I didn’t have an outlet - everything was bottled up because you don’t want to worry your wife and children with the thoughts that go through your head on a daily basis. I have phone calls on a weekly basis with Marty. It is increasingly important to have Marty and sometimes it’s better not to talk about cancer but just life in general - especially now. I would strongly recommend the Befriending Service to everyone that is touched by cancer as it’s always better to talk”.

fundraising corporate and community

new ambassadog winner Say Hello to our 2022/23 Ambassadog... Teddi! Teddi is a 3-year old German Shepherd. Owners Hazel Ann Gilbert and Kevin Gilbert live with Teddi in Grangemouth, Falkirk.

The couple entered Teddi in the competition as Kevin was diagnosed with stage three tonsil cancer and recently rang the bell at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre to signal the end of his treatment.

Hazel said: “When we saw the competition, we thought it was a nice way for us to keep connected with the Beatson and all the good work that they do. We can hopefully promote it and try and raise some funds.”

tee-rific

Pollok Golf Club have supported our charity since 2020, beginning with the Beatson Bunker initiative, which has been extremely well supported by the club… The 17th hole is one to watch with three bunkers to avoid, which judging by the number of donations, many do not manage!

Led by Graham Thomson and Scott McKenzie, they held two events this year: the ladies Tri-Am in June and the Shotgun event in September. The Beatson Shotgun Day raised just under £15,000, and to date the club have raised more than £25,000!

Thank you to Kirkhill Golf Club for choosing to support us for their first Charity Day. The event took place on 9th June and they raised an incredible £9,218.70.

Duncan Williamson PGA Pro and the team at Kirkhill have supported Beatson Cancer Charity for many years and we were delighted to have been nominated to benefit from the event. Fabulous day and amazing support.

Teddi | 2022/23 Ambassadog

Pollok Golf Club

Kirkhill Golf Club

first aid training

We would like to say a massive thank you to The Malcolm Group, who put on first aid training days for 23 Beatson Cancer Charity employees in October.

First aid training is invaluable and we are very grateful to trainer Derek Milne for giving up his time to help keep our staff safe.

evolving fundraising

Introducing our wristbands and can collections. We’re always looking for innovative ways to fundraise - our donation cans and fabulous new wristbands (we are one of the first charities in Scotland to use these!) not only have QR codes to facilitate contactless donations but also include the latest NFC technology to allow personalised fundraising tailored to our supporters’ requirements. Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more.

Christies Bakers in Coatbridge have collectively raised £6,141 between their 2 shops in Coatbridge and Airdrie over last 4 years. This averages out at over £127 in donations a month which we think is quite incredible!

meet the team

Karen

Head of Individual Giving & Supporter Care

What do you call a penguin in the desert? Lost!

Kerry HR Manager

What did Santa do when he went speed dating? He pulled a cracker!

Rachael

Digital Marketing Officer

What do you get if you cross a duck with mistletoe? A Christmas quacker!

Niall

Community and Challenges Fundraiser

What is the best Christmas present? A broken drum —you just can’t beat it!

set up a tribute fund in memory of a loved one

You can make a donation to Beatson Cancer Charity via our Tribute Funds in memory of your loved ones, so everyone who cared about them can celebrate their life and raise money in their name for years to come.

A Beatson Cancer Charity tribute fund is easy to set up and donations can be made to the fund securely online.

There is space to add your loved one’s story and photographs that are important to you, and each fund includes a web page where your family and friends can add their donations and leave their own personal messages and photos.

When the value of your fund reaches £1,000 we will send you a yellow rose bush to plant in recognition of your support and as a lasting reminder of your loved one. As your roses bloom they will embody the support, friendship and good wishes that your fund is sending other families affected by cancer.

set up a page in memory of your loved one