Charity News

Charity NEWS Making Surgery their Legacy

Choosing to leave the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) a legacy in your will can have a direct impact on the future of surgery and on the patients it saves. Past legacies have enabled the charity to purchase essential equipment and support a range of projects in surgical education and research. A recent legacy has funded a one-year research fellowship, which costs in the region of £65,000. The fellowship awarded with this generous bequest was to a urology surgeon whose project is looking at determining the genetic drivers of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer affects approximately 10,000 people each year in the UK. It is more common in older adults and men with one of the most common symptoms being blood in the urine. This research aims to help sufferers of bladder cancer by looking into the genes, which play an important role in driving the cancers and their responses to treatments. In the short term, the project hopes to discover new ways to diagnose bladder cancer and predict patients’ responses to treatments and in the longer term, will aim to identify treatments that are more effective. The number of excellent fellowship applications received has doubled since the scheme was introduced in 1993 and the RCS are unable to support 80% of applicants. They are always in need of more funding to enable projects that address the health challenges of modern society, supporting the development of pioneering ideas across the NHS. With each small success, the RCS takes another step towards the next big breakthrough. www.rcseng.ac.uk

Caring for vulnerable older people

The Little Sisters of the Poor charity addresses the growing need for affordable older-person care, with admission to our Homes open to lowincome elderly regardless of race, nationality or religion. With a rapidly ageing population, how can they support older people to be able to live well, when existing health and social care systems already struggle to cope? 3 million people aged 65+ in the UK are living in relative poverty or just above the poverty line and increasing numbers of them are at risk of missing out. This is where the Little Sisters can make a real difference. They strive to ensure the neediest are included in society and can lead fuller, more independent lives. Unfortunately, the cost of running their Homes far exceeds the income they receive. Emergency lockdown measures have had a massive impact on their fundraising activities, which they rely upon to help meet their increasing running costs. Without financial help, their charity is in real danger of being unable to remain financially viable, impacting on the thousands of people relying on them for their care. Help them safeguard their care homes and continue to provide safe, affordable, quality care and assistance to older people in need – not just now but for future generations. Please visit www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/donate-here to make a secure online donation. All gifts, no matter what size, will be very gratefully received and will make a real difference to people’s lives.

THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DEMENTIA

Getting outdoors and engaging with nature has a hugely positive effect on people living with dementia. Evidence shows that it can improve wellbeing, reduce anxiety and even delay the progression of the disease. Dementia Adventure believes in thinking differently about dementia. With the right support, people with the condition can continue to enjoy an active life. The charity provides dementia training, supported holidays, short breaks and outings. Gill cares for her husband John who was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2012. She has found things very difficult during lockdown. They have not been able to go out and Gill feels that his dementia has deteriorated because of this. Dementia Adventure recently supported them to visit a local RHS garden. Gill said “It was lovely to

look at the plants and relax. I wouldn't normally be able to do this, as I would need to keep an eye on John all the time. Gill continues “Queueing can be really stressful. John doesn't understand social distancing, can become frustrated and walk off. With Dementia Adventure, I could leave John and queue up for an ice cream without having to worry”. Ruth from Dementia Adventure noticed a real change in John. “At the start of the outing John was not really communicating but by the end he was using more words and interacting with both Gill and I”. Since the trip, Gill feels that John has continued to be more responsive and she feels more confident about getting out and about. With the support of the Player’s of the People’s Postcode Lottery, Dementia Adventure has enabled thousands of people to think differently about dementia. But, with the number of people living with the condition predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2040, we need to do more. A regular donation to Dementia Adventure will support more people like Gill and John to live healthier, more active and enjoyable lives. Visit dementiaadventure.org