The Lingen Davies cancer fund

From Colour Runs to Bonfire Balls, Supporting Those Affected by Cancer

Up to a few years ago, the main role of the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund was to fund equipment for cancer patients that cannot be afforded within the NHS budget, such as an expensive new CT scanner in 2022. Since COVID Lingen Davies’ services have expanded to support all the ways in which people’s lives are touched by cancer, from education on screening, grants for new equipment to rehabilitation after treatment. Consequently, in recent years the team has expanded rapidly from 4 to 15.

We spoke with Emilie Kerr, who has been with Lingen Davies for just over a year as their Events Marketing Co-ordinator, she has always been creative and is interested in photography. “I was going to do Economics [at university] and I can’t think of anything worse now!” Working in the charity sector is ideal for her.

She supports the fundraising team and Events Organiser by promoting their events far and wide.

“It takes a lot to spread the word about all the different things going on.” She is part of the communications team and does a bit of everything from social media, copy for the website and press releases to graphic design and radio interviews.

“We are a fund-raising charity, so have a very busy year of fundraising.”

They organise large-scale events, between eight and twelve per year, such as colour runs, cycling challenges, walks, meals and the annual ball. “I think the colour run was my favourite. It’s a 5K colourful fun run. You work your way around the course and get covered in paint. Basically, the fields are like rainbows and it’s just such a laugh. We had 750 people there… Paul Shuttleworth from BBC Radio Shropshire was doing the commentary and fitness trainers doing a warm-up. There was a barbeque afterwards, milkshakes and glitter face-painting. It was such a great atmosphere.” It was so successful that they www.samebutdifferentcic.org.uk added another colour run in Newtown, Wales, which was enjoyed by all, despite the pouring rain.

Recent events also included ‘Pedal the Borders’ in September, which enticed 160 cyclists, joined by Olympian Ed Clancy, to cycle over the border from Shropshire into Powys. In October was the ‘Titty Trail’ for breast cancer, 250 people walking 10 miles. “As we were signing everyone in… at one point everyone was just singing a Lionel Richie song. That was really electric, that atmosphere.

If I could capture those two minutes and relive that, you know.” There was also a bonfire ball, giving everyone chance to get dressed up for a change, with a photo booth, live band and beautiful lights display.

“This time of year it’s chaos because we’re selling Christmas cards and the cards are running out of stock. Everyone wants a festive robin!” They also have a Christmas raffle where you can win the donated prize of £1000.

2024 plans are just being finalised, hopefully with the addition of an open-water swim. The colour runs will be included again, as they were key money raisers, as well as the cycling and walking trail. “I think there is something for everyone. Those who aren’t interested in running around a field or cycling, can, like me, just enjoy the food.”

A large amount of income comes from these events and Lingen Davies’ own costs are minimal. Corporate sponsors, of all sizes, support the events, for example, there were six sponsors for the colour run. There are lots of different income streams and a good supporter base. Local people help through volunteering, donating or attending an event.

“Volunteers go into their local pub and collect a can that’s on the bar and it’d be so heavy…” People also host thirdparty events to raise money, such as coffee mornings and cycling events, raising anything from £300 to £10,000. They receive a lot of donations from funerals too, from families whose loved ones were treated at the Cancer Centre. “So really everyone is very, very generous.”

Many people will first hear of the charity when they visit the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. A lot of patients and their families try to support the Centre in any way they can from donations and taking part in events to volunteering.

“There’s one lady that volunteers. She went through a breast cancer diagnosis at a very young age and during COVID, that’s not easy at all. She volunteers for us a lot, she organises fundraising events. She is the biggest advocate of the charity and for trying to get an early diagnosis as well, getting people to make sure they are checking their breasts.” Other people who have had cancer walk out of the Centre, having been given the all-clear and want to close that chapter of their life, “which is understandable.”

The fundraising has reached £1m per annum for the last two years, “which is a massive achievement,” to spend on grants for those affected by cancer. They have an application process and grants committee, who look over grant applications every couple of months that can be £10s to £1000s. Proposals can be for equipment or to run services that benefit cancer patients, such as a new breast cancer support group in Telford.

“We’re now helping people in the Centre. We’re there for them after treatment with rehabilitation, as well as raising awareness. So, it’s sort of all three stages, before, during and after now.”

The Lingen Davies Trust run a cancer awareness service, which is about getting into the community “shouting about spotting the signs and symptoms of cancer, attending any cancer screenings and promoting early diagnosis because we know that saves lives.”

They train ‘Cancer Champions’, members of the public who go out and spread the messages encouraging checks and early diagnosis, through conversations with family, friends, and colleagues. Large organisations are targeted to have Cancer Champions within their staff. They have trained over 150 cancer champions so far. The initial project was with NHS England. However, they have now separately employed a lady in Wales, who has already trained over 100 champions in Powys.

All sorts of equipment are funded. They have recently purchased a piece of technology which autocontours people’s organs, and basically outlines them, in preparation for radiotherapy treatment, saving specialists’ precious time. “I think on a brain tumour patient, they said the average time was about 55 minutes to an hour, it takes a lot of time. Ultimately that has freed up their time so they can allocate it elsewhere, see more people.” There are a lot of smaller things that are supported, such as a knee block for radiotherapy. “A patient actually ended up giving us a donation to buy a new block so other patients don’t have to wait, improvise or be uncomfortable.”

Cold caps are funded for chemotherapy too, to help people retain their hair. They also recently funded a pathology station for cutting small pieces of tissue used in diagnosis.

Some patients need to be isolated in their own rooms, as they are susceptible to infection. The Lingen Davies has funded smart televisions for the eight isolation rooms on the oncology ward, so they have entertainment. “They can access all the extra streaming channels like Netflix, and they can also access the internet to contact friends and family. They’ve got a nice big smart TV because they could be in there for up to three months.”

Lingen Davies Cancer Fund supports a cancer rehabilitation programme called iCAN to which patients can self-refer. It’s a five-week programme which focuses on getting people back into exercise, mindfulness and good nutrition, followed by an optional further six weeks. Sessions are held in Shrewsbury, Telford, and Oswestry. So far over 300 people have enrolled. It has been so successful that Lingen Davies is independently setting a programme up in Powys. “People often don’t trust their bodies after cancer, it’s all about getting people into exercise and building up their confidence. A 70-year-old lady on the programme said to me that ‘trained professionals actually taught me that my body wasn’t letting me down.’ People don’t necessarily think about those consequences that a cancer diagnosis has on people.” The programme has unintentional benefits in that it’s becoming a social club, with people bringing in cake and meeting up outside of the sessions. “So, it is sort of friendship through a similar experience.”

Lingen Davies Cancer Fund is growing rapidly and running out of space. Besides their office across from the cancer centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, they have now opened an office in Powys. “It makes it easier for people who are volunteering or fundraising in Wales. They don’t have to come to Shrewsbury to collect things or hand things in.”

The time Emilie has been at the Lingen Davies Trust has flown by with lots of events, coloured paint, and lots of meeting people. “I’ve done interviews, like this, with people who are telling me their cancer story and they are so remarkably strong and that is so motivational within your job role. Seeing that really motivates the team to do as much as we can.”

Lingen Davies Cancer Fund is the main cancer charity dedicated to supporting the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and MidWales. It was founded 45 years ago by Bernard Lingen and Frank Davies. They exist to improve the lives of everyone impacted by cancer in their community. Whilst supporting the Lingen Trust Cancer Centre in Royal Shrewsbury Hospital they also run a range of holistic services designed to deliver cancer relief.

Contact the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund

Visit the Lingen Davies website