Connect - Spring/Summer 2014

Spring/Summer 2014

Connect The newsletter from Penny Brohn Cancer Care

In this issue: l Pat Pilkington remembered l Spring recipes l How you have made a difference

Helping you live well.

Welcome to Connect 2013 was another momentous year for the charity as we helped more people than ever before, and developed new partnerships that will help even more people access our services in the future. Despite these and other achievements our year was tinged with sadness, as in August co-founder Pat Pilkington passed away.

Pat was a very inspirational person. The vision she and Penny Brohn shared, that everyone affected by cancer should have access to life changing whole person support, will continue to guide this charity into the future.

As many of you will know, we have been providing whole person support to people living with cancer for well over thirty years from our National Centre. I was delighted to see that last year the vision that all people can access support truly moved forward as we spread the delivery of our services right the way across the country.

Through partnerships with other organisations, and the expansion of our own Living Well programme, we are helping hundreds of people every month access our services closer to where they live. Courses have been delivered at venues from Inverness to the Isle of Wight, and through our collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK we have delivered courses tailored to men’s needs.

Looking to the future we not only have a new name for our newsletter to celebrate, we can look forward to the development of more new partnerships, and further expansion of the Living Well programme. Our partnership with the NHS will be a key focus, as our services become even more closely aligned with integrated care pathways. We are already developing Health & Wellbeing Clinics that will lead the way for organisations delivering healthcare services, as well as extending the support we give to people after they have attended one of our courses.

As always we recognise your role in enabling us to provide such valuable services to people living with cancer, and thank you for your ongoing support.

November 2013 saw the launch of the new and improved Penny Brohn Cancer Care website.

We listened to your feedback and have made accessing our services, resources and information much quicker and easier.

You can now go direct from the homepage to our online community, Nutrition, Research, Services and Events with everything you need just a click or two away.

But we won’t stop there; we have big plans for more useful and exciting interactive content in the near future.

Michael Connors

Check it out for yourself at www.pennybrohncancercare.org

Acting Chief Executive Officer

Living Well Conference 2013 “Wonderful, worthwhile, wise. Everybody affected by cancer should have access to Penny Brohn Cancer Care.”

New look website

The gathered audience enjoyed presentations by guest speakers, and by members of our senior team on the These are the thoughts of just one of over expansion of our Living Well services across eighty delegates from all over the country the country, and the results of the service who attended our fourth annual Living Well evaluation we undertook last year with the Conference in November. Hosted at our National University of Westminster.

Centre, the conference is a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals working with people Representatives of different organisations living with cancer to meet and share ideas. not only found the presentations enlightening, they also relished the chance It is also an opportunity to showcase how our to meet existing and potential partners. services are being developed in tandem with These partnerships are already bringing new the Department of Health-led vision for opportunities for us to deliver more support, cancer survivors. to more people, nationwide.

Marathon Charity of the Year

Contents

A huge thank you to Walk the Walk

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We are delighted to have been selected as the Bristol Half Marathon 2014 National Charity of the Year.

This exposure will help more people find out about our work, and we are looking for both runners and volunteers to get involved on the day.

How you have made a difference

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Get involved

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The race – which takes place on Sunday 21st September – starts in the city’s harbourside before passing underneath the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. The second half of the course leads through the city centre where runners will be greeted by cheering crowds all the way to the finish line. The supportive atmosphere, and flat course, makes it an ideal

first half marathon for novice runners, and a great way for those more experienced to set a personal best time.

As well as runners we are seeking volunteers to marshal the event, so if you fancy putting on your trainers or can help out on the day we would love to hear from you – call 01275 370073, email bristol half@pennybrohn.org or visit www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ bristol half to find out more.

Find your voice with our Community Choir On Thursday 23rd January, close to 50 people packed the Garden Room of our National Centre and raised the rafters with their singing!

Under the experienced guidance of choir leader Wendy Sergeant, the assembled group – many of whom had never sung in a choir before – learned a Zulu welcome song as well as contemporary classic ‘Lean on Me’, all in beautiful four part harmony.

Get Connect-ed

The brainchild of Helpline volunteer Isobel Trenouth, and Client Support Coordinator Sophie Bayley, the choir brings together our diverse community with one sole aim; to share the tremendous ’feel good factor’ that group singing can bring.

Judging by the smiles on the faces of those present, along with a palpable sense of achievement, it seems clear that this first ever meeting was a great success.

you submitted an entry. Our three favourite suggestions were received from Catherine Kelly, North Somerset; Kathy Allen, Netherlands; and Liz Baker, Bristol; each of whom will receive a copy of ‘Nourish – The Cancer Care Cookbook’ as their prize.

We were delighted with the response to our newsletter naming competition, and the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the cover banner of this edition bears the We hope that everyone likes the name. winning suggestion ‘Connect’. Thank you if

Enjoy a new routine this spring

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Remembering Pat Pilkington

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Open gardens in June Following the success of last year’s National Garden Scheme (NGS) open day, on Sunday 22nd June 2014 we will once again open our gardens to the public; showcasing the wonderful and dedicated work of our Volunteer Gardeners.

The gardens are a key part of what we offer here at our National Centre; as Michael Connors, acting CEO, says, they allow “...anyone affected by cancer to explore nature, to find peace, quiet and a place to relax despite the stress and anxiety they may be experiencing”.

All ticket proceeds from the NGS Open Day go to the National Garden Scheme, whilst funds raised from the sale of teas and cakes, plants and more will come directly to us.

For more information visit www.ngs.org.uk/gardens

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Enjoy a new routine this spring What better way to celebrate spring, the season of renewal, than by rewarding your body, mind and spirit with a healthier regime?

Healthy eating and sensible exercise have always been cornerstones of our wholeperson approach, and we’d like to share some of our recommendations to help you improve your health and wellbeing this spring. We have selected two seasonal recipes for you to try, and our Lead Nurse & Bodywork Therapist Katie Loveday has provided an insight into the benefits of exercise for people living with cancer.

We also take a closer look at Nordic Walking.

For more information on nutrition and exercise please visit our website www.pennybrohncancercare.org which is packed with recipes, guidelines and useful advice.

The benefits of exercise As well as keeping you fit and making you feel good, exercise can help people living with cancer to manage some of the physical and emotional side effects of treatment. It can even reduce the risk of cancer recurring.

Being physically active increases your energy levels and feelings of wellbeing, helping your body heal and repair. Improving your fitness can help to protect you against gaining weight, aid your digestion, and increase or maintain your mobility. Exercise is also a simple way to help people living with cancer regain control over their own health.

A short yoga practice to get you started

Yoga is far more than a form of physical exercise; it is a holistic practice that benefits the whole person – body, mind and spirit. The routine below should only take 5–10 minutes, and can help bring a sense of calm and self-confidence in addition to improving your overall mobility, flexibility and physical comfort.

1. Sitting

3. Side bends

Have legs in front, or sit on your heels if you can’t sit cross legged. If this is not possible sit on a straight backed chair, feet on the floor.

2. Shoulder rolls

Slowly inhale as you draw your shoulders up to your ears; slowly exhale as you drop your shoulders back down.

Bend gently to each side - imagine leaning over a giant beach ball!

4. Cat curls

Come on to your hands and knees. Arch your back up to the ceiling, start the movement at your tailbone and drop your head, then let your back gently drop down as you bring your head up.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Be cautious with this exercise if you have back problems.

But starting or maintaining physical activity after a cancer diagnosis can seem daunting. Choosing a simple exercise like walking, swimming, yoga or cycling is often the best – and select something you enjoy doing. Be realistic about your level of fitness, avoid setting unachievable targets, and always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise.

Keeping in shape is a great way to socialise – so think about joining a small group or partnering with a friend. 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise four or five times a week is the recommended amount, but even just a few minutes of movement each day can play a significant part in improving your health and wellbeing.

If you can walk, you can Nordic walk A great way to improve your health and fitness is to join the millions of people all over the world who regularly practise Nordic walking.

Nordic walking uses specially designed poles, and the body’s whole muscle system, to enhance balance and posture. It also provides important health benefits to people living with cancer, such as improved lymph drainage. The exercise has long been part of our whole person approach, and we run weekly sessions every Tuesday afternoon through Cancerpoint at our National Centre near Bristol. We are always looking for new walkers, so come along!

This spring, thanks to funding from Macmillan Cancer Support, six of our clients are being trained on how to be Nordic walk leaders, and we will get 12 new sets of poles. It will mean that more people can participate in small peer-led groups in the future. We are also planning a walk at the Bristol Walking Festival in May.

Find out more about Nordic walking by downloading our information sheet from www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ nordic-walking-e-info or by calling Cancerpoint on 01275 370 143.

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Delicious fresh recipes to try this spring

In the year 2000 our kitchen won the inaugural BBC Food & Farming Awards for Best Caterer, in recognition of our innovative approach to helping people living with cancer. Earlier this year BBC Radio 4 revisited our kitchen to remember those first awards.

The visit proved to be a timely reminder for us that our recipes are helping people every day of the year, and we wanted to share two of our current favourites with you this season. We hope you enjoy trying them.

Springtime Polenta A light dish to serve on spring and summer days. The lovely yellow polenta is high in B vitamins, folic acid and lutein which is a phytochemical and can provide helpful support to the eyes. The dish has a variety of colour with peas offering an element of protein, and pepper which is one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables.

Ingredients 1 medium onion, chopped some olive oil ½ red pepper, diced 1 tablespoon peas

method 1. Gently sauté the onion in the olive oil to soften and release flavour 2. Add the pepper and peas to the pan with a little water to soften 3. Add the mashed sweetcorn, bouillon, tamari, polenta and water

2 teaspoons capers (according to size of caper) 1 tablespoon mashed sweetcorn

4. Increase the heat and stir all the time until the polenta thickens and starts to come away from the edge of the pan when stirred

1 teaspoon tamari

5. Stir in the capers

1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon

6. Pile into a long slide tray and rough up the top with a fork. Slice and enjoy!

3 cups water (plus a little extra for cooking the pepper and peas)

(These make a lovely alternative cooked breakfast with poached egg)

1 cup polenta

Super-Greens Salad with Chicken serves 4 | PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes plus 20 minutes soaking A tangy and peppery, nutrient-dense green salad that is packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy fats.

The inclusion of nuts and seeds adds crunch and provides the essential minerals magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and selenium. The roasted chicken, for additional protein, can be omitted or replaced with some tinned beans. method

Ingredients 115g/4oz each watercress, rocket leaves and baby spinach leaves 60g/2¼oz/1 cup alfalfa sprouts 60g/2¼oz/¼ cup mung bean sprouts 2 skinless roasted chicken breast fillets 1 ripe avocado, sliced 60g/2¼oz/heaped ¹/₃ cup Brazil nuts, roughly chopped

1. To make the dressing, soak the cashew nuts in water for 20 minutes, then drain. Put them into a blender or food processor with all the other dressing ingredients. Add 125ml/4fl oz/½ cup water, season lightly with pepper and process to make a light pouring consistency. Add a little more water if necessary.

30g/1oz/¼ cup pumpkin seeds

2. In a large bowl, toss together the watercress, rocket, spinach, alfalfa and bean sprouts. Toss in a little of the dressing to just coat the leaves, if you like.

1 garlic clove

3. Slice the chicken. Serve the salad with the avocado slices, nuts, seeds and the chicken slices, and the nori sheet crumbled over the top. Drizzle over a little extra dressing.

(Store, without dressing, in the fridge for up to 2 days.)

1 nori sheet, crumbled Nut dressing 125g/4½oz/heaped ¾ cup cashew nuts zest and juice of 1 lime 2 tsp spirulina or chlorella powder (optional) 2 tsp nutritional yeast flakes (optional) freshly ground black pepper

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING: Protein 25.1g, Carbohydrates 4.2g of which sugars 1.5g, Fat 24.2g of which saturates 5.4g, Kcals 335 This recipe is taken from Nourish: The Cancer Care Cookbook by Penny Brohn Cancer Care with Christine Bailey © Commissioned Photography © William Lingwood/ Duncan Baird Publishers 2013. To order your copy of Nourish visit www.ShopatPennyBrohn.com

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Remembering Pat Pilkington Pat Pilkington MBE, our much loved co-founder, passed away peacefully on 19th August 2013. Though she is sorely missed by all who knew her we celebrate her life and the continuing inspiration she offers, helping people to live well with the impact of cancer.

Pat remained active with the charity until shortly before her death and her legacy is as much a part of Penny Brohn Cancer Care as that of Penny Brohn herself; a history of pioneering services built on compassion and care for the whole person.

Penny & Pat: the two founders of Penny Brohn Cancer Care

In 1968 Pat’s husband Christopher became Rector of St Stephen’s City Parish Church, Bristol, which was to prove a turning point in their lives.

Pat joined Radio Bristol as a producer and made programmes on many topics, but increasingly she became aware of individuals who had faced traumatic illness and been helped by a holistic approach.

One memorable encounter was with a young acupuncturist, Penny Brohn, who had recently discovered she had breast cancer.

Bonding from the start, their crusading energy and pioneering spirit led to the founding of The Bristol Cancer Help Centre, now known as Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

HRH & Pat: Patron and co-founder together

From modest beginnings they moved to a former convent in Clifton. HRH The Prince of Wales honoured the charity by officially opening the Centre in July 1983 and by becoming its Royal Patron in 1997.

HRH The Prince of Wales knew Pat for nearly 30 years and on her death paid tribute to ‘her boundless energy, spirit and positive outlook’.

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Pat Pilkington MBE: pictured outside Buckingham Palace with husband Christopher

The new National Centre: Pat opening the new building

In 2007 the charity moved to larger, purpose designed premises set within beautiful grounds just outside Bristol.

Pat’s constant and enduring service for those affected by cancer and their families was recognised in 2003 when she was awarded an MBE.

The new National Centre embodies many of the ideals and beliefs which Pat taught and it remains a living monument to her achievements even as the charity continues to grow and expand its services across the country.

She was delighted to share this honour with Christopher, acknowledging that his constant support made everything else possible.

Today her MBE is framed and mounted in the library of our National Centre, there for all to see, a reminder not just of a great individual but of someone who offered inspiration to people of all ages and backgrounds.

30th Anniversary: Celebrating the past while looking to the future

2010 saw the charity celebrate 30 years since its founding, with Pat, in typical fashion, thanking and recognising the contribution of all the members of staff, volunteers, donors and supporters who had helped make her and Penny’s vision a reality.

Thank you…

In the final year of Pat’s life she fell and broke her hip. With typical grit and courage she continued to work, supporting people living with the impact of cancer even as her own health deteriorated.

Pat lived a life of open hearted generosity of love and care for all who met her – be it for an hour, a day, or a lifetime – teaching us how to live well through her example.

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Pat as Storyteller Pat and Ashley Akin-Smith met in the mid 1990’s and though their paths diverged for some years after that their friendship flourished again in the mid 2000’s. They remained very close up until Pat’s death and Ashley continues to support the charity through her amazing work in the gardens of the National Centre.

Thinking about Pat as I often do, I am delightfully reminded of the countless stories she told so well, weaving any listener into her remembered adventures until you could swear you had been there and lived through every second with her! With each story I could see the surroundings, hear the noise, feel the excitement and join in the laughter with her. I shared her relief as each

pending disaster was averted, and as each joyful event was shared. With each memory I get to know her all over again and to revel in her great sense of fun and abundant joy for life.

Whenever Pat talked more deeply about her approach to living a full and valuable life my pleasure matured and spread into a deep sense of safety and exhilaration as she lead me through all sorts of less tangible, but somehow even more real adventures with myself, with my own potential for healing, and the beautiful world we cocreate. Remembering Pat’s words now and following her thoughts as if my life depended on it, I am always encouraged to become more fully aware of myself as

a multi-faceted, profound spiritual being.

Through her gentle, often funny, remembered guidance I come to see myself again as I believe she saw me, and to really believe that I truly can safely let go of my old strictures to create my own version of unconditional love; healing myself and my world in the process. It is such a privilege to have known her. Thank you, dear Pat.

HRH The Prince of Wales, patron of Penny Brohn Cancer Care paid tribute to Pat Pilkington shortly after her death: “It was my great good fortune to have known Pat Pilkington for the best part of 30 years, and to have seen at first hand how her boundless energy, spirit and positive outlook helped to transform the quality of so many lives through her work with Penny Brohn Cancer Care formerly known as the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.

both espoused and I greatly admired what she achieved with a genuinely integrated approach to the care of cancer sufferers.

“I met Pat on several occasions, together with her husband, Christopher, who was a huge supporter of all that she did and I remember being incredibly impressed by their passion and commitment when I opened the charity’s new premises at Clifton, in 1983. There was a real sense of pioneering work that they

“Today, managing the impact of a cancer diagnosis, offering advice and help with vital elements such as nutrition and providing emotional and spiritual support, are all part of the complementar y provision at Penny Brohn Cancer Care, which I have seen for myself, and for which we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Pat.

“Pat, and Penny Brohn herself, always emphasised the importance of treating the whole person – something we often talked about.

“It is my profound hope that her rich legacy will be recognized for every ounce that it is worth and that many others will learn from her inspiring work.”

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This poem was written after I attended one of Pat’s evening talks to clients, and when she told me that she was dying. I know how proud she was of our National Centre and the wonderful garden here. She planted three trees in memory of her beloved husband Christopher; his favourite paper birches. As a Canon of the Church of England he was very important in the development of Penny Brohn Cancer Care’s spiritual openness and acceptance of all faiths and none. Pat would always talk fondly of him.

In her talks and through her connections with clients Pat offered so much hope, compassion and wise words. This helped our clients find the meaning, the inspiration and resources to find their way through sometimes very difficult terrain. This poem highlights that one of her great offerings was the knowledge that there is always hope.

Michael Connors Acting Chief Executive Officer

Remembering the dawn There is always the night, When the remembering of your sunny day has past, and now the lighted windows spill across the lawn

An appeal from the heart

Pat’s daughter Felicity Biggart recently became one of our Trustees, carrying on her mother’s good work at the helm of the organisation. Felicity has immediately recognised the good that has already been achieved, and what is needed for the future: “Mum and the charity shared a vision that everyone affected by cancer should have access to services that help them improve their own health and wellbeing. The Whole Person approach does exactly that, and the charity knows how best to deliver the services – but it cannot hope to make them accessible to everyone without support from those closest to it.”

With over 300,000 new cancer diagnoses in the UK each year, and more and more people living with cancer, demand for our services is growing at a faster pace than we can meet.

This garden, full and rich, embraces a welcome, for the ones who come to find a way through the dark At the entrance, three trees, young and strong, birch, white paper peeled, planted for a beloved one A moment’s breeze moves them And they bow to those hearts that opened, hands that built, minds that knew and souls that led to here At times like this the heart can feel a silent dread, For there is not even a moon to light the way.

The dark only a reminder of the fear. stirring the cry of a wounded life, a lost opportunity; the gift that lies waiting to be opened But in this time, I will always see through the lighted window, a room, 10 souls gathered, Her body frail but eyes filled with the fire of truth and love.

Voice lifted by the passion of heart and conviction of soul.

Reminding us, reminding us of who we really are and how we still have time, to find what we know we must find and what we think we have lost Soothing the hearts that fear Her words point through this darkest hour Trusting something more than this Reminding us to know ‘the dawn will always come, the dawn will always come’ As her hand clasps her beloved’s hand, at the white birch trees.

In the east a soft light is opening.

Michael Connors

Pat with Felicity and granddaughter Rachael.

We have recently launched an appeal to ‘Help us keep Pat’s vision alive’ and we would very much welcome your support to help us achieve everything Pat wanted for the charity.

To join the others who have already donated, please visit www.pennybrohncancercare.org/patsvision or call us on 01275 370073.

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A huge thank you to Walk the Walk Acting Chief Executive Officer Michael Connors acknowledges over a decade of support.

There can be few charity success stories of recent years to compare to that of Walk the Walk.

In just 18 years it has raised a staggering £90.5 million, funded significant research into breast cancer, and helped many thousands of women already living with the disease.

We at Penny Brohn Cancer Care are grateful to benefit from Walk the Walk’s funding, and are proud to have supported its founder, Nina Barough, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself.

Breast cancer is the UK’s most common cancer, and close to half of the people that we care for each year have been affected by the disease.

It is no exaggeration to say that without Walk the Walk we would be a very different charity today. Since 2001 we have received a generous grant each year to help people live well with cancer, and in 2007 Walk the Walk donated a significant sum towards our purpose-built National Centre – which we named The Barough Aubertin Building in Nina’s honour. Just two years ago Walk the Walk funded our first Living Well courses away from the Centre, and since then we have delivered over 50 courses at 29 locations from Inverness to the Isle of Wight.

in the UK and abroad. Just last year Walk the Walk America organised the first MoonWalk New York City.

To date over 250,000 people have taken part in a Walk the Walk event, including celebrities like Jennifer Saunders, Lorraine Kelly and Susanna Reid. The funds that walkers and their supporters raise are distributed by Walk the Walk to the charities, campaigns and projects that will make the most impact managing and overcoming breast cancer.

Walk the Walk raises money through Power Walking events, most famously its annual MoonWalks in London and Edinburgh. It also organises the family-orientated SunWalk London, as well as trips to other challenges

Nina Barough’s story

The story behind the success of Walk the Walk is very much the story of its founder, Nina Barough. With no fundraising or marathon experience – and despite not knowing anyone with breast cancer –Nina and 12 female friends raised awareness, and £25,000, for the cause by Power Walking the 1996 New York City Marathon in decorated bras.

that saw 65 women walk a ‘MoonWalk’ overnight on the eve of the real marathon; setting off at midnight and finishing at 7am. Nina walked both events – that’s 52.4 miles in less than 24 hours.

People immediately started to enquire The MoonWalk sparked a lot of interest about Nina’s next challenge, but just and Nina set about finding sponsors for two months after New York she was charity. In 2004 HRH Prince unexpectedly diagnosed with an aggressive an official e Patron of Walk the breast cancer tumour. During her treatment Charles becam Nina was honoured 2007 in and Walk, for the disease Nina attended a residential CBE. a with course at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, which later changed its name to Penny n for health and fitness led Brohn Cancer Care in honour of the charity’s Nina’s passio a book on the subject in publish to her co-founder.

2011, “Walking for Fitness” and Walk the Walk events have converted many people To show their support, a group of Nina’s into ardent Power Walkers. However n friends Power Walked the 1997 Londo Walk the Walk touches people’s lives the Marathon in bras – which were later results are often transformational; and auctioned off – designed by the likes of we are proud to help change the lives of Paul Smith, Mary Quant and Richard thousands of women living with breast Branson. Unable to secure enough places cancer each year. in the 1998 event, Nina struck upon an idea

Can you go that extra mile for Walk the Walk?

This year’s MoonWalk London takes place on 10 May, and The SunWalk London on 6 July. It is too late to enter the MoonWalk marathon, but we do need 50 volunteers to help at the start and finish on Clapham Common.

If you can help, please contact Andrew Tilling on 01275 370 275.

Visit www.walkthewalk.org to find out more about the SunWalk.

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How you have made a difference Thanks to Wessex Garages A special raffle by a very for all their support special boy We were grateful to be chosen as ‘2013 Charity of the Year’ for Wessex Garages’ Pennywell Road branch in Bristol. The dealership’s staff certainly rose to the challenge as over the year they recorded a special ‘Harlem Shake’, bowled for 24 hours, raced a dragon boat, spent 24 hours in a car, ran 10ks, abseiled, and wore a lot of purple – raising over £4,000 for us in the process. The team enjoyed supporting us so much that their Feeder Road branch, also in Bristol, has now picked Penny Brohn Cancer Care as its ‘2014 Charity of the Year’!

In the build up to Christmas most eightyear-old boys were dreaming about what Father Christmas would bring them. But not Jack Power, who instead organised a special raffle which raised over £1,000. What makes this story especially touching is that Jack only found out about Penny Brohn Cancer Care when he happened to see our National Centre and “wanted to do something to help the sick people”.

Charity ball raises over £4,000

Vintage Afternoon Tea

Rich Meacham is not only one of our clients, he is also one of our most dedicated supporters. His latest fundraising event, a Black Tie Ball, attracted 300 guests and raised an amazing £4,100. To date Rich has raised over £12,400 to support us.

In October we hosted our first fundraising event in London. Held at the private members’ club Shoreditch House, our Vintage Afternoon Tea tempted 80 guests with treats served on traditional bone china crockery.

The venue, which generously sponsored the food, provided a warm welcome in its bunting-laden ‘Secret Garden’, and we were joined by some famous faces including Suranne Jones and Doon Mackichan – who also acted as auctioneer on the day.

Altogether we raised £5,500, and we’re already planning the next event.

Bath Half 2014

A big thank you to the team of 30 runners who hit the streets of Bath in early March. We are still collecting money from the event but the group are on target to raise over £7,000.

A successful tee-off for the inaugural Golf Day

A special hand-crafted trophy – made by volunteer Dave Quinn using wood from our garden’s fallen cedar tree – was at stake for the winner of our first ever Golf Day. The weather may not have been perfect, but everything else was as 23 teams battled for the title. Clevedon Golf Club, boasting spectacular views across the Severn Estuary, was the course chosen for the event which raised over £6,000.

Team adventure in the Himalayas

An intrepid team of 25 supporters headed to India in November for a trek through the base of the Himalayas. During their five day trek they explored some fascinating sights in the Dalai Lama’s spiritual homeland – including ancient Hindu settlements and Buddhist Monasteries. The group also got to visit The Taj Mahal, one of history’s greatest monuments to love. To date the group has raised an incredible £24,000.

Our appeal donors

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated to our fundraising appeals in 2013, we were able to help more people living with ovarian cancer, to deliver more Living Well courses, and we are also already providing more support afterwards. Appeals are essential for us to raise the funds we need to deliver services when and where they are most acutely needed.

Thank you to everyone who has raised money for Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

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Reconnecting with the body Markus Heimpel, Shiatsu therapist at Penny Brohn Cancer Care for five years, shares his experience of how ‘therapeutic touch’ therapies can be supportive to cancer patients and their carers.

Through supporting people on their cancer journey using Shiatsu therapy, I have come to deeply appreciate the role that ‘therapeutic touch’ therapies – like Shiatsu, Massage and Reflexology – can play in coming to terms with the cancer experience.

Therapeutic touch can support a person in coping with the impact of cancer treatments – like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – through easing discomfort and providing nurturing and relaxation. People regularly report on how the touch helps them to find “deep relaxation”, “inner peace”, “a sense of being myself again”, “feeling more connected to my body”.

Shiatsu seems to be very beneficial after surgery. During surgery the body is

‘wounded’ and in the healing process that follows people are naturally very protective of the affected area.

This protectiveness can cause extra tension in the area which may slow down the healing process. I have observed that therapeutic touch often helps with restricted movement or brings relief to areas of pain and chronic tension.

Another time when touch therapies can be helpful is when the medical treatments have finished. This is often a difficult time, the urgency of ‘survival’ is over and people are faced with the ‘new me’. This is also a time when medical, and sometimes family, support may decrease and questions about returning to work and other areas of life can become more pressing. Receiving support at this time is very helpful. During a course of treatment with therapeutic

Cancer news

touch I have witnessed many people developing the strength and resources they need to deal more efficiently with the challenges and stresses posed by this period.

As for supporters, therapeutic touch often gives them the space to acknowledge the impact of the cancer diagnosis experience on their loved one. It provides supporters with much-needed ‘me time’, and helps them to find relaxation and to feel supported themselves.

News

Blog-watch

Cancer ‘tidal wave’ on the horizon, says the World Health Organisation BBC News 04/02/14

In every edition of the newsletter we try to feature an external blog by someone who is living with the impact of cancer. If you are interested in blogging, have questions or wish to read more then join the Penny Brohn Cancer Care online community at healthunlocked.com/pbcc

The WHO predicts the number of cancer cases worldwide will reach 24 million a year by 2035, but half could be prevented. The organisation said there was now a “real need” to focus on cancer prevention by tackling smoking, obesity and drinking.

Giant leaps of evolution make cancer cells deadly New Scientist 23/01/14 How does cancer do it? How does one little cell transform itself into an invader that rages out of control? Surprisingly abruptly, according to new results that are pointing the way to Darwinian-inspired treatments.

Prostate Cancer Risk: Many Men ‘Dying Through Ignorance’ Huffington Post UK 24/01/14

Men should start talking to their doctors about prostate cancer after a survey found GPs often fail to initiate discussions about the disease, a charity has said.

Ellie Jeffery: ‘Written off: making the big C smaller’ Though Ellie died in 2012 her spirit, and her blog, continue to inspire many. Her friends, family and fiancé all worked together to found a charity in her memory and today ‘The Eleanor Rose Foundation’ connects people living with cancer with local support services. http://writtenoff.net/author/elliejeffery

Disclaimer: Penny Brohn Cancer Care’s inclusion of links or article titles does not imply any association with their operators, writers or publishers. Information is provided to you only as a convenience and the inclusion of any link or article does not imply reliability and endorsement by Penny Brohn Cancer Care of, and we accept no liability in respect of, the content.

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Make a lasting difference

1 in 3 people in the UK say they want to leave a gift to a charity in their Will, but not everyone gets around to doing it.

Whatever your age, an up-to-date Will is incredibly important. It’s the only way to guarantee that your wishes are carried out and that the people and causes you care about get the gifts you want them to have. Also, if you are able to leave 10% of your estate to charity, the amount of Inheritance Tax due may be reduced.

When making your Will you need to consider your family and friends first but then, we hope, there may be a place for Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

Wording for your Will

We always recommend that you use a Solicitor when making or updating your Will. If you would like to leave a legacy to Penny Brohn Cancer Care, we would suggest you ask your Solicitor to use one of the following forms of wording:

Nick Burgin – a Life Well Lived

Before he died in March 2012, Nick Burgin wanted to find a way to help people affected by cancer on the Isle of Wight.

He left a legacy of £5,000 to start this.

Nick was an accomplished sailor (a former GB International), a highly regarded International Race Official, a member of the Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat crew, a great adventure partner and a good friend to many.

“Penny Brohn Cancer Care supported us in all the ways the NHS could not. Nick and I both credit Penny Brohn Cancer Care with the fact that he could get – and stay – fit enough to race ‘Riot’ throughout his treatment, that he could walk 2 miles and more every day and that he could enjoy and cook good food for friends, while maintaining a robustenough immune system to be able to continue socialising more widely.

Through Nick’s legacy the first Living Well course took place in October 2012, and we will continue to deliver courses in 2014. Nick’s was “a life well lived” – and we honour Nick’s memory by delivering his legacy to support people living with cancer and their carers on the Isle of Wight.

Residuary Legacy (a share of your Estate)

I give to Penny Brohn Cancer Care (Registered Charity No. 284881), Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, Bristol BS20 0HH a (…………….) per cent share of all the residue of my Estate for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.

Pecuniary Legacy

(a specific sum of money) I give to Penny Brohn Cancer Care (Registered Charity No. 284881), Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, Bristol BS20 0HH the sum of £(…………….…………figures) (…………….…………….…sum in words) absolutely and free of all taxes, for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.

We would be deeply grateful if you were able to remember Penny Brohn Cancer Care in your Will. Your gift will help to ensure that we are still here in years to come – working with people with cancer, and those close to them, to help them improve the quality of their lives.

How you can make a difference We rely on voluntary donations the disease is likely to double to deliver our services to within the next 16 years. anyone living with cancer, and their supporters.

Your legacy will ensure that we can provide people with the A gift in your Will would help information and support they us to continue offering Living need to live well with cancer.

Well, residential and single day courses free of charge to If you want to know more about everyone who needs them, how to leave a gift in your will I at a time when demand is would be delighted to hear from increasing every year. Over you on 01275 370 073 or email 300,000 people are diagnosed legacies@pennybrohn.org with cancer in the UK every year, and the current figure of Tami McMahon, two million people living with Head of Fundraising

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Courses & workshops As always we have a busy schedule of courses and workshops in the coming months.

For our full list of Living Well (including Residential, non-Residential and weekly options) and Introduction to Living Well courses, visit our online booking service at my.pennybrohn.org

The courses listed can be booked by email to bookings@pennybrohn.org or, for more information, you can get in touch with our bookings team on 01275 370 111 All of the courses listed will be held at our National Centre.

For details on more courses and workshops from June, please contact us on 01275 370 111 or check on our website.

Course Frequency Time The Approach

7–10 April, 14–17 April, 12–15 May

All day

Reconnecting with The Approach

28 April–1 May

All day

Introduction to healthy cooking

9 May

10.30am–4.30pm

Healthy cooking demonstrations

3rd, 10th & 17th April 8th, 15th & 22nd May

10.30am–12 noon

The journey of transformation Nature retreat

19–23 May

All day

Invitation to the Practice of Meditation

29 May

10am - 3.30pm

Community@PennyBrohn events All Community@PennyBrohn events take place at the Centre on the first Thursday of each month 1.30pm–3.30pm.

For more information on any Community@PennyBrohn events contact Sophie Bayley on 01275 370 136 or email community@pennybrohn.org

Laughter workshop – Led by Joe Hoare

3 April

Exercise and Dance – Gentle dance to get you moving

1 May

Planning Meeting – Come and bring your ideas to the Community group

5 June

Spirit of the Garden – Tour and Talk

3 July

10% off every online purchase

You may already know that our online shop offers a wonderful variety of products – from beautiful jewellery to vitamin and mineral supplements, and from natural and organic cosmetics to healthy cookery books – at amazing prices.

You may even know that all the profits made from our shop sales go towards supporting people living with cancer.

But did you know that for a limited time you can receive 10% off every purchase by quoting code ‘Support10’?

Visit www.ShopatPennyBrohn.com or call 01275 370 112 now to take advantage of this great offer.

Shop@PennyBrohn

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Get involved

Whether you’re after an adrenaline-fueled adventure, or a more relaxed way to raise funds for Penny Brohn Cancer Care, there are always lots of opportunities to get involved.

To find out more about any of our forthcoming events, or to register your place and begin helping people with cancer, please call the fundraising team on 01275 370 073, email events@pennybrohn.org or visit our website www.penny brohncancercare.org/events

Celebration Women – Long Table Lunch

Tickets have already sold out for our signature Long Table Lunch event in Bristol on Friday 16th May. However, we still have places available for our new Long Table Lunch event in Cornwall on Friday 20th June. Get in touch now to book your seat for an exquisite lunch, entertainment and a guest speaker.

If you can’t make it to Cornwall please do make a note in your diary for the 2015 event in Bristol, which will be held on Friday 15th May.

Golf Day

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, our Golf Day is back. Taking place on Monday 7th July, the event will once again be held at Clevedon Golf Club, one of the most picturesque golf courses in the South West. The Par 72, 6,500 yard course offers an exciting challenge to golfers of all abilities.

Entry costs £180 per team of four and includes breakfast, refreshments and lunch.

Half Marathons and 10k Abseil down Avon Gorge

Will you take the leap and join us for our Summer Abseil down the Avon Gorge? We are looking for brave individuals and teams to take on the challenge of a 100ft descent that will give you stunning views of the Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge. The £15 entry fee per person includes a full safety briefing before you descend, and we ask you to raise a further £85 to take part. Get in touch now to book your place.

Challenge 500

We are challenging businesses all over the country to raise £500 in 2014!

Do you work for a company that could take on the challenge? We’d love to hear from you. Once your company has signed up we will give you all the tools and ideas you need to successfully complete your challenge. From cake sales to dress down days, there are lots of ways you can easily reach the target, so please get in touch to start making a difference.

Bristol’s first iconic running event of the year will take place on Sunday 11th May, and we still have places available if you would like to take part.

Passing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Bristol 10k has become incredibly popular over recent years – attracting over 10,000 runners in 2013, and this year is likely to be even bigger. To avoid disappointment, you can secure your place in the event for just £25, we then ask you to raise a minimum of £125.

If you fancy going a little further, then why not sign up for the Great North Run on 7th September, or the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday 21st September instead? We are delighted to have been named as the Bristol Half’s official National Charity of the Year for 2014.

Comedy night

On Sunday 18th May we will be hosting a comedy night in the grounds of our National Centre near Bristol. Compared by Mark Olver the night will feature a host of comedians to entertain and raise funds.

Challenge Cambodia

We invite you to trek the hills, valleys and dense forest of Cambodia this coming November to discover the impressive sights of South East Asia, including the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat. On this once-in-a-lifetime trip you will trek through beautiful green rice paddies dotted with Buddhist temples, and explore the culture of a rural community unchanged for centuries.

As well as the spectacular views of the Kulen Mountains, the trek will end with a visit to the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat temple.

Vintage Afternoon Tea

After the success of last year’s event we will be holding a second Vintage Afternoon Tea at London’s exclusive private members’ club Shoreditch House on 12th October. Contact us at events@pennybrohn.org for more details and to register your interest.

Could you become a friend in deed?

Two million people in the UK are already living with cancer.

By 2030 that figure is likely to double. That’s a lot of people needing support to improve their health and wellbeing.

From as little as £3 a month

To help us meet the increasing demand for our services we need more people like you to become Friends of the charity by setting up a regular donation of £3, £5 or £15 a month.

Regular donors not only reduce our administration costs, they also really help our future planning. In return they receive every edition of this newsletter and our e-newsletter – and they get invited to some very special and exclusive events.

To become a Friend of Penny Brohn Cancer Care, please set up a Direct Debit by calling us on 01275 370 073 or visiting https://support.pennybrohn.org/ monthlydonation

Penny Brohn Cancer Care, Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, Bristol BS20 0HH Tel: 01275 370 100 Helpline: 0845 123 2310 info@pennybrohn.org www.pennybrohncancercare.org Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales

Reg Charity No. 284881 Reg Company No. 1635916

Helping you live well.