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Macmillan welfare info

We are delighted to report that the coffee morning help at Richard’s house on Friday 9 June 2017, raised a magnificent £654 thanks to the hard work and generosity of our hosts and the Cancer Care Club committee members and Richard’s fundraising among family and friends.  It was a pleasant occasion and the weather held up well despite the forecast of rain.

Many thanks to Richard, Theresa and all the Clubs helpers.

About the Cancer Care Club

We are often asked to explain a little more about the history of the club, what we do and whom it is for.

The most important thing to say is that although named The Cancer Care Club everyone touched by cancer in any way automatically belongs, the meetings are open to everyone, patient or not, for one visit or many. We do not offer counselling but we are a supportive network of people who have experienced Cancer either as patients, relatives or carers.

Previously named ‘The Optimists’ the club was formed in 1983 by Dr Mark Rake and Andrew Jackson, along with a committee, to raise money for a designated Cancer Unit to improve the care and treatment of cancer patients. It was one of the first Cancer Support groups in the UK. Patients, staff, local supporters and businesses joined them. The Mountbatten Centre, K & C Hospital was built and the club has continued to provide support and friendship to cancer patients. We hold informative monthly meetings, social events and funding for specially requested items and equipment within the hospital. Treatment now takes place in the Oncology Department and the Cathedral Day Unit. We provided the special relaxing chairs for Chemotherapy patients to use whilst having treatment in the Day Unit. We bought an ECG machine for the Cathedral Day Unit, a hi-tech treatment couch for the Supportive Therapies Unit and we also funded a part-time therapist in the Unit. Recently we bought some equipment for the Oncology department which enables them to treat tumours more accurately and those that might otherwise be inoperable. We have also purchased wheelchairs for Oncology and four dermatoscopes to help with the diagnosis of skin cancers.

The club is managed by a committee some of whom are patients, ex-patients or carers. Our Chairman is a practising Consultant and we also have retired NHS staff.

Our aim is to support all whose lives have been touched by Cancer, whether patients, carers, friends or family and to encourage the informal involvement of healthcare professionals.

We hold two meetings a month:
1 The 1st Wednesday evening at 7.00pm in the The Cathedral Day Unit, K & C Hospital (except January & August). We usually have a speaker involved in the professional care of cancer patients, although we do have other speakers of interest.
2 The 3rd Thursday lunchtime between 12.00pm and 2.00pm (except December when we have Christmas lunch), at The Abbots Barton Hotel in New Dover Road. An informal social gathering when the club subsidises coffee/tea and sandwiches and the hotel allows us to use their Garden Room. Members pay a charge of £3.50 per head towards the cost.

We regularly get together for outings, a summer party and Christmas lunch. Some members get involved in fundraising or awareness events. It is up to individuals as to how much they dip in or out of meetings or events, whatever is helpful.

Anyone is very welcome to come along and if you would like further details of our meetings please ring Ann Clewer on 01227 455260