DAFT!
Newsletter January 2016
The Ne ws and volu letter for staff nteers! A BIG D aft as a B to every one wh rush thank you oh reached our goa as helped l for 20 can help 15! We more p with fre a ti e n ts than e transp eve ort to a hospita nd from r l.
www.daftasabrush.org.uk
Take a loo voluntee k at our r read all profiles and ab upcomin out our g events .
CONTENTS
nds,
Dear Frie
aft reading D r fo u o y r of Thank newslette t rs fi h s as a Bru u take pe that yo o h I . 6 1 great 20 call some re to e m the ti ar, and of last ye re in memories many mo to rd a look forw future. ie the near Brian Burn
A look at what’s inside...
Page 2 Past events
A look back on 2015 past memories
Page 3 Our staff and volunteers
Meet the team here at Daft as a Brush and find out who is our volunteer of the month
Behind the scenes Page 4 An insight as to what goes on in our Newcastle office base
A day in the life Page 5 See what Dafty the ambulance gets up to on a normal day with the charity
Get involved Page 6
A peek at what needs to be added to your calendar
Contact details Page 7
A chance to appeal for more volunteers and get in touch
We really appreciate the support from the volunteers and staff at Daft as a Brush for helping us create this newsletter. A big thankyou from the Editorial team!
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Alwinton Show : Saturday 10th October A fun day out for all the family, proudly supported by Daft as a Brush. Around 5,000 people came to the Alwinton Border Shepherds’ Show on Saturday 10th October 2015. Charity sponsored the Alwinton Show Fell Race, approximately 3 miles long. This amazing event included over £4,500 in Prize Money.
Past Events
It’s been great, 2015!
Last Night at the Proms: Saturday 17th
October
Daft as a Brush was delighted to host this year’s Last night of the Proms concert at Newcastle City Hall on Saturday 17 October. The concert continues the 25 year tradition for the benefit of those suffering cancer and undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Performances by: - Bede Wind Orchestra (45 piece) and Musical Conductor Ernest Young - Principal Soloist Kathryn Harries, Katie Bird (Soprano) and John Pierce (Tenor) - The Swing Bridge Singers - Combined School Choir from Broadway East, St. Oswald’s R.C and Gosforth Park Schools
Eldon Gardens Store Opening Patients Susan and Ronald Eunson opened the official Daft as a Brush store on Monday 26th October at Eldon Gardens, Newcastle. The store is not a typical charity shop. It showcases everything that the charity does. The elderly couple started using Daft as a Brush in September 2014. Susan had a 1 year course of chemotherapy and used Daft as a Brush for most of these sessions.
- Susan and Ronald Eunson.
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Our staff and volunteers Thank you for all of your hard work in 2015- You give our patients something to look forward to everyday.
Did you know?
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FInd out more about our volunteers! 1. Margaret Aitman used to teach line dancing. 2. Anne Johnson likes to restore furniture. 3. John Davies sings in a Madrigal group at the Sage. 4. Jane Donnelly makes cards, and was the Lord Mayor’s Principal Secretary for Newcastle upon Tyne. 5. Pauline Halsall spends many hours nurturing fruit and vegetables on her two allotment plots. 6. Maurice Nicholson graduated from the Open University with a BA Honours Degree in Management and Administration at the age of 48. 7. Leslie Caisley went to school with Sting!
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av Has (Driver id Cu for been and C thber om with ay t Daf panio Wha ear. t as n t ha aB ) ve y rush Mee re ou f volu ting the ward ound m in ntee ost rs fr patient g? s an om d all w alks of li fe. Anne Johnson
(Companion) Length of service has been since the launch almost 5 years ago!
How would you describe this experience?
Wonderful very gratifying, the patients are inspirational
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What have you found most rewarding? “Being thanked personally by one patient who was given the all clear following his treatment. It was a very emotional experience as I felt that I’d played a small part in his road to recovery.”- Maurice Nicholson (Driver)
Drivers
Our drivers drive the ambulances that transport patients to and from the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, from all over the North East.
Companions
Our companions travel in the ambulances alongside the drivers, to ensure that the patients have someone to focus on them and chat with them, if that’s what they want. Our companions aim to keep the patients calm, comfortable and stress-free, at a very nervous and anxious time.
Behind the scenes
There are many volunteer roles available at Daft as a Brush – Here are some examples of what our volunteers do.
Co-ordinators Co-ordinators organise the journeys, arranging pick up times for patients, and matching volunteer drivers and companions. They help patients make it to their appointments without worrying about timings. Coordinators work with the hospital, finding out appointment times, how long they will last, and are informed of any changes to appointment times/dates.
Receptionists Our receptionists are based at the Daft as a Brush information desk at the Freeman Hospital. They give patients receiving treatment at the Cancer Centre information about Daft as a Brush, to see if the charity would benefit them. They also answer any queries clients, or potential clients, may have and reassure patients at nervous times.
r e e t n u l o V h! t t n f Da e mo Meet h of t Eddie Carson
Despite being one of Daft as a Brush’s longest serving volunteers, Eddie Carson was also the charity’s second patient. After experiencing first-hand the wonderful work of Daft as a Brush, Eddie was compelled to become part of the team. As a patient, Eddie made nine trips in Sparkle, the original ambulance, and when he first started volunteering, drove the very same van. Eddie was a driver for three and a half years, before he helped set up and manage the information desk at the Freeman Hospital, before retiring at age 74. Eddie is still involved in Daft as a Brush today, and after Brian discovered his passion for photography, now considers himself to be their unofficial photographer, having covered many of their events.
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A day in the life of an ambulance Hello everyone, my name is Happy-o-saurus and I am going to take you through my everyday journey. I am a custom-made vehicle and my main responsibility is to transport outpatients, free of charge, to and from the Freeman Hospital, who are undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy cancer treatment. The regions that I am covering are Northumberland, North Tyneside, Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and surrounding areas. My service entails collecting and transporting the patients in a safe and comfortable environment, from where they are living to taking them to where they will be having their treatment. Sometimes I stay with the patient while they have their treatment and then bring them back home to relax. My latest venture is to provide transport for children aged between 0-19 years who require treatment at the Great North Children’s Hospital at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmarary. Although, I have a lot of responsibilities I am glad that I am able to help so many people in need. Daft as a Brush Cancer Care needs you! We are offering lots of great volunteer positions. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fantastic charity and help people just like me.
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In the office, the staff have a special device to track the ambulances journey’s making sure they are always on time. With such high demand, Daft as a Brush now have 18 adult vehicles and 1 for children. The target/goal is to create an organisation that is capable of transporting 50,000 cancer patients per year!
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How daft is your brush?
Want to keep up to date with regular events? Then here’s your guide to social media!
facebook.com/daftasabrushcpc @daftasabrushcc
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“To those of you who are already volunteers and making reular donations to support Daft as a Brush - a huge THANK YOU. BUT ... if we are to meet the demands for our services at a time of public funding cuts we need even more support. The more friends we have who give regularly the easier it is for us to plan for the future.�
Want to name our Brush characters? Give us an email with your ideas!
A treat from us! 20% off Empire Cinema ticket for 1 Terms and conditions apply please see the offcial DAAB website for more details
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Please email us with any suggestions for our next issue. We hope you enjoyed reading this!
F ind us! Great North Road, Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 2DR Tel: (0191) 28 55 999