the new name for the Ulster Cancer Foundation

Issue Two: Autumn 2012 FOCUS ON SECTION FOCUS ON SECTION

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S FOREWORD Think Pink!

We are urging everyone to Think Pink! during October, breast cancer awareness month. The month long campaign continues to raise awareness of breast cancer and its signs and symptoms, while raising much needed funds to help local women with breast cancer.

Welcome to Focus On, our quarterly newsletter. We’ve had Beauty Advice for a very exciting few months changing from the Ulster Cancer Foundation to Cancer Focus . Cancer Patients

To mark our name change we have extended our LivingWell programme In October we will launch a new booklet Pink events services for cancer patients and their families that we provide on a one-to-one ‘Look Well to Feel your Best’ which We will be holding a number of ladies or group basis. We are working in partnership with Lilac (Life Is for Living offers beauty advice for cancer nights in October in Limavady After Cancer), a local cancer charity basedNorthern in and BankCookstown. patients to help them feel good within (5th October at the Classic Restaurant At Lilac premises we are providing a regularFundraising support group for cancer Frenzy themselves, be more self confident and Wine Bar), , , patients, our free Beauty for Life service and our specialist bra and and boost energy levels. Garvagh, , Enniskillen, swimwear fitting service for women who have had breast surgery. Coleraine, Brookeborough and many The booklet is part of our Beauty for more! For more information contact We will also be extending our fitting service to Care for Cancer based at 1 Life service, in association with Clarins, Sylvia on 07789 757165 or email Campsie Place, Omagh (please call 028 8224 6599 to make an appointment). and it provides simple practical tips on [email protected] Local people in the mid-Ulster area can now access these free services on looking after your skin, nails and hair their doorstep. during and after treatment. We will be holding a ‘Take Me Out’ with a twist - Ladies Night Out! on We’ve introduced a new Art Journaling service and we’ve expanded our To order a copy or if you would like to Our services, which are provided free include the ‘Travel Show’ on BBC2, 26th October at The Stormont Hotel, Walking for Life service to the L’Derry and Strabane areas. Our new Sing book an appointment for Beauty for of charge, are a lifeline to local people the consumer programme, ‘4 What Belfast. Doors open at 7.30pm with for Life service will start on 17th September - a choir run in partnership Life, where you can have a one to one but we need your support to help us It’s Worth’ on Channel 4 and ‘The show starting at 8pm. Ticket Price with the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. consultation on make-up and skin care raise the necessary funds to continue Afternoon Show’ on BBC 1. Tickets £10. Entertainment, then dance the in a relaxed and informal environment, providing them. cost £40 per person and include a pink night away to ‘D!va Dolls’. Contact Under our KeepingWell banner we have launched a new education please contact Toby Wheeler, Care champagne reception followed by a Rosie Hassin on 028 9068 0759 or programme ‘Well Aware’ aimed at older people in supported living, Services Secretary on 028 90680751 You can support us in a number two course meal, spot prizes and your email [email protected] residential care and nursing homes or older people who are living or [email protected] of ways: chance to win amazing goodies in the independently. Our Education Minister John O’Dowd helped us launch grand raffle. To purchase tickets please For more information on a Strabane our Schools Health Education Package to encourage children to make Our Beauty for Life Service is provided The Think Pink! luncheon, which will email kirstythompson@cancerfocusni. Ladies Golf Tournament to be held on healthy choices from an early age. by our friendly in-house Beauty be held at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on org or call 028 9068 0771. 25th September please contact Gareth Consultant Fiona Barr. Friday 19th October at 12 noon, is McElduff on 07585 956830 or email We continue to invest in ground-breaking research and this year we the flagship fundraiser for our breast Think Pink! boxes with sparkly lapel [email protected] will appoint a Cancer Focus post-doctoral fellow at Queen’s University, cancer awareness campaign. badges, combs and nail files will be Belfast, helping keep intellectual talent here in Northern Ireland. available in outlets during October. If you would like to hold a Think Pink! Successful author and broadcaster You can order a box to position in fundraising event to raise funds for us Once again, a big thank you for your continued dedication and support – Penny Junor (pictured above) is our your shop, workplace or community please contact our experienced it is greatly appreciated. special guest speaker. Best known for centre where supporters can fundraising team at fundraising@ her Royal writing and broadcasting, she purchase merchandise for a cancerfocusni.org or call 028 9066 Roisin Foster is also an accomplished biographer minimum £1 donation. Contact 3281 who can supply merchandise, Chief EXECUTIVE recently collaborating with Patti Boyd [email protected] expertise, guidance and support. and Sir Cliff Richard. Her TV credits or call 028 9066 3281.

PAGE 2 CANCER FOCUS NORTHERN IRELAND For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org PAGE 3 FOCUS ON ON SECTION SERVICES FOCUS ON ON SECTION SERVICES/RESEARCH New ‘Well Aware’ Project for Older People Food for Thought Research

‘Well Aware’ is a new project which will deliver key cancer We have launched a free Schools Health Education Package We promote and support internationally competitive, high information and prevention messages to older people to promote (SHEP) in a bid to tackle childhood obesity, sunburn and smoking quality research into the causes, a healthier lifestyle and encourage uptake of available screening. to reduce our children’s future risk of cancer and other serious treatment and prevention of cancer. health conditions. One of the major funders of cancer Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer ’Well Aware’ will encourage older research in Northern Ireland, we have Prevention, Cancer Focus, said people to go to their GP if they have The Schools Health Education Package to concentrate and focus in class, invested over £11m over the years. the project would also help raise any concerns. Health checks will be (SHEP) encourages children to make leading to improved educational This work helps identify the causes of awareness of signs and symptoms provided by a Cancer Focus nurse healthy choices from an early age. The outcomes and long term life chances.” cancer and points the way to improved of the disease. “Our research shows including cholesterol, blood pressure, key messages will cover a range of methods of diagnosis and treatment. that 26% of patients who died from glucose and height and weight, to relevant topics including healthy food The SHEP programme includes cancer in acute hospitals were older reassure older people or signpost choices, the importance of regular activities for nursery school children, Highlights include jointly funding the people who were only diagnosed on them to the relevant health profession. exercise, covering up in the sun to interactive storytelling about setting up of the Department of their first admission to hospital. It is prevent skin damage and highlighting Genevieve the Goat for P1 and Oncology at Queen’s University vital that we take steps now to help The ‘Well Aware’ project is funded the harmfuleffects of smoking while P2 focusing on healthy eating and Belfast; extending our investment in people reduce their risk and seek for five years by the Big Lottery developing the skills necessary to exercise, a Fit Factor challenge for innovative research at the University help when treatment can be Fund through the ‘Reaching Out – refuse that crucial first cigarette. P3 and P4, Sun Scientists for P5 and of Ulster; and funding and establishing more successful.” Connecting Older People’ programme’. Smokebusters for P6 and P7 pupils. the NI Cancer Registry which collates Education Minister John O’Dowd said, Schools are invited to sign up for the data on the incidence of cancer and the “I welcome any information that helps whole package or any one element outcomes for local patients. our children and young people make of the Programme by contacting In the Picture Dates for your Diary healthy food choices and realise the Clare Smith at Cancer Focus on We have just appointed a Cancer Focus importance of regular physical activity. 028 9068 0736 or email Northern Ireland Research Fellow, Dr. Exercise coupled with a healthy, [email protected] Kienan Savage, at Queen’s University, Living Well programme highlights during Autumn include: balanced diet aids children’s ability Belfast, for four years.

• Writing for Life – 6 week creative writing group in Agnes Jones House, Dr.Savage has identified new cancer Altnagelvin Hospital, facilitated by local writer Madeline McCully, starting genes, which appear to be involved in 24th October. the development of breast and ovarian cancers and some forms of leukaemia. • Zest for Life – 6 week programme at Agnes Jones House, Altnagelvin These cancers often arise due to Hospital, starting 18th September; Braid Town Hall, Ballymena, starting damage to ‘gatekeeper genes’ that We’ve launched a new Art 26th September; Newtownards starting 28th September. Session also at control how often cells divide, allowing Journaling service for cancer Enniskillen on date to be confirmed. cells to grow out of control forming a patients as research shows that tumour. The new cancer genes that Dr. writing and creating art can have • Sing for Life – a choir for cancer patients and their families starting 17th Savage has discovered appear to help therapeutic benefits. It gives people September at 6pm at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. Anyone affected repair damaged gatekeeper genes. a voice and a means to express their by cancer is welcome and there is no auditioning – every voice counts. experience of cancer. We also look forward to the results of • Lymphoma Conference in association with the Irish Cancer Society, 15th research projects, funded by Cancer This activity enables you to use a September at 3fivetwo Training Suite in Titanic Quarter. Focus, from the NI Cancer Registry on mixture of art and writing to create the factors that enable cancer patients and maintain a journal or diary of your • Laryngectomy conference on 26th September at Cancer Focus. to die at home and on the role of the experiences on your cancer journey. GP and primary care nurse in cancer This is a one day programme which • September/October – Matthew Knowles’ unique exhibition of art created prevention from the University of will then give you the skills to during art therapy sessions will be on display at Whitla Medical Building, Ulster. We will share these results with you when they are published continue your journal at home. Queen’s University Belfast. Education Minister John O’Dowd welcomes the new SHEP project along with Oliver Smith, P3, Niamh McDaid, Cancer Focus, and Lauren Herley, P7. later in the year. Workshops will be held from • Art Therapy 11am – 2pm on 28th September Coleraine 10th September – 15th October 2012, 30th November 2012, 25th Downpatrick 12th September – 17th October In Memory of… January 2013 and 22nd March 2013. Ballymoney 18th September –23rd October Ballycastle 5th November – 10th December We were very sorry to hear of the sudden death of Dr Joan Turner. Dr Turner, The journals and all art materials are Ballymena 5th November – 10th December from Belfast, had a varied and active career. She was one of the first research- provided free of charge. If you would L’Derry 6th November - 11th December ers into the early diagnosis of breast cancer and we were proud to fund her work like to register your interest or to Newry and dates are to be confirmed. in the 1970s and 1980s. We would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to her find out more, please email us at children, Kate and Justin, and wider family circle. [email protected] If you would like to register your interest or to find out more, please call Toby Wheeler on 028 9068 0751 or [email protected] We would like to thank everyone who donated in lieu of flowers.

PAGE 4 For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org PAGE 5 FOCUS ON ON SECTION CORPORATE PARTNERS FOCUS ON ON SECTION VOLUNTEERINING & FUNDRAISING

Olympian Feat Top of the Class

Three superfit local triathletes successfully completed Rossmar Special School, Limavady, came tops in the Lidl one of the toughest challenges of their lives – the gruelling Fit Factor primary schools competition aimed at P3 and 4 Decaman triathlon at Eskragh Lough, Dungannon. classes to promote healthy eating and physical activitiy. Thousands of children took part in the competition which Bob Davison, from , his cousin Keith Clarke, was created by Lidl Northern Ireland along with charity from Dungannon, and Andrew Hassard, from Ballyclare, partner Cancer Focus. In second place was Altishane PS, amazingly swam 24 miles, cycled 1,120 miles, and ran 262 Strabane, and third was Larne and Inver PS, Larne. miles each day for 10 days! Watch out for this year’s Fit Factor Challenge – for more Other participants undertook their own personal information click on www.cancerfocusni.org or call challenges in cycling, swimming and running and the Niamh at Cancer Focus on 028 9068 0764 or email Farming Friends Girls on Top of the World event has raised over £10,000. [email protected] Special thanks to Andy Smyth and Congratulations to the 34 strong team from BeFit Fitness Club, Larne, family who raised £13,544 from an who successfully climbed Ben Nevis on our BenHer all woman event in annual Barn Dance at their farm. Also tough weather conditions. TV presenter and broadcaster Claire McCollum pictured are Claudy Cancer Focus also took part. We have a full programme of charity sporting events which Group and Sylvia Lucy, Fundraising include marathons, canoeing, abseils, treks and much more – click on Manager at Cancer Focus. www.cancerfocusni.org for further details.

Paul O’Gara (centre) Community Fundraising Officer, First place winners – Cancer Focus, with Decamen Keith ClarkeNorthern and Robert BankRossmar Special School, Limavady. Davison, from TriLimits. Fundraising Frenzy Northern Bank Races Ahead That’s a wrap!

In the Driving Seat Best Foot Forward

Learning to drive? You can gain your driving licence while Congratulations to Co. Tyrone man Trevor Hassin who also helping raise funds for us through One Stop Driving raised a fantastic £1,900. Trevor, who worked for the Training in Newtownards, Bangor, Holywood, Dundonald, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), walked Comber, Ballygowan and South and East Belfast. For more 27 miles from Omagh MOT Centre to Cookstown MOT information, please contact Maeve Fox at the Cancer Centre in seven hours. Trevor is joined by his sister Focus on 028 9068 0761 or email maevefox@ Pamela Mullan, who completed a mile of the sponsored cancerfocusni.org walk while recovering from breast cancer surgery. Maeve Fox (centre) from Cancer Focus joins Lisa Boyd and Caitriona Joyce Savage Head of Appeals and Joyce Savage, Head of Appeals Flanagan from Belfast law firm, Marketing, Cancer Focus, congratulates and Marketing, Cancer Focus said, Cleaver Fulton Rankin, after a Wheely Big News Tony Wilcox, Managing Director of Retail “Thank you to Tony and all Northern cinema night showing of ‘Breakfast and Private Banking at Northern Bank. Bank staff and customers who either at Tiffany’s’ raised £4,600 for our A special thank you to Jimmy Carrigan got involved or donated to the recent Zest for Life service. and friends who organised the Gina Tony has helped bring the bank’s fundraising drive.” Carrigan Forget Me Not Fund 100 Mile fundraising total for us in the last 18 Classic Cycle which raised an amazing months to an amazing £275,000. The cash will go to our Family Support £26,500 (half will be donated to us). Service, which helps families where Sssshhhh! He recently completed a tough a significant adult has cancer. A third In our next edition we will be Hundreds of supporters took part in ‘Town to Town Tour’ when he cycled family support worker will also be announcing a new relationship the 30 mile cycle, 100 mile cycle and more than 300 miles in three days, appointed in the mid-Ulster area where we will be one of the 5 mile walk. The fund has now raised visiting 34 Northern Bank branches ensuring families get the support beneficiaries from a large sporting over £31,000. along the way. they need immediately. fundraising event to be held in 2013!

PAGE 6 For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org PAGE 7 FOCUS ON SECTION Fundraising Thank You’s!

Barbara, Billy and Margaret held a cabaret Three relay teams from Enterprise night at the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, Rent-A-Car ran the Belfast Marathon raising £1,300. raising £1,973 (half will be donated to us).

Stephen Lindsay, Tandragee, ran the Postman Stephen Dunn was sponsored to Belfast Marathon and raised £3,878 for wear his shorts on every shift – even in the Denis Bond Forget Me Not Fund. winter – and raised £1,000! Eunice Kerr, Portadown, raised £100 from a 10k walk for the fund, which now stands Donna Cowden and friends Paul, Lisa, at £4,497. Conor, Marie and Wilson held ‘A Night Royal School of Armagh raised a fantastic with James Huish’ at The Windrose, £1,500 from a hockey tournament. Belvoir Park Golf Club donated £680 from Carrickfergus, and raised £410. Downeys Bar, L’Derry, held a bucket its Men’s Winter League Dinner. collection netting £67.85. Ballymoney Coleraine Supporters Club and Jim Bearns donated £300 from a Drive For Ballymoney and District Linfield Supporters Colin and Mavis McFarland donated Life weekend. Club held a football match to raise cash for £1,021 in lieu of Mavis’s birthday gifts. the Davy Thompson Forget Me Not Fund. Thanks to all who helped with The total in the fund is over £4,500. Golf Club Ladies Branch Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church’s donated £200. Flower Festival and donated £1,000. £1,646 was raised at an Omagh Street Lisburn Graduates Swimming Club raised collection. £1,200 at a sponsored swim. £995.53 was raised at a Limavady street Julie Black, Portstewart donated £1,000 collection. Special thanks to the Limavady in lieu of birthday presents. Cancer Focus Shop staff and volunteers. Francis Hunter, Dunmurry, organised the Milltown Parish Bowling Club, Portadown, donated Strabane SDLP Office held a coffee Francie Hunter Trophy Golf Tournament at £1,000 raised from a bowling tournament. morning netting £300. Allen Park Golf Centre, Antrim, in honour of his dad, raising £1,400. Yvonne Wong set up a Forget Me Not Fund in memory of her husband Jack, raising Ballynahinch Chamber of Commerce £365 from a 5K sponsored walk. raised £1,949 at a fashion show at Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch. Active Health Solutions, Holywood, raised over £1,600 from the Glens of Antrim Walk Drumgor Primary School, Craigavon, held a sponsored walk in memory of their Seán McConville held the Paddy O’Connor teacher Diane Simpson raising £3,538 – Memorial Football Tournament in honour of half will be donated to us. his grandad, raising £620. L>R, Social workers Linda Mooney, Shirley Ann Carey, Alison O’Boyle and Hilary Niblock, raised over £9,000 at a Black and Gold Gala Ball. As they Sylvia Courtney, Ballymena, held a coffee Sean O’Kane, Christina and Claire from the are members of the Greater Lisburn Gateway morning raising £555. Melvin Sports Complex, Strabane, held a Team and employees of SEHSCT, Health Minister Zumbathon which raised £354.50. Edwin Poots attended as a special guest. The Lagan Seahorses Choir sang at a dinner dance at Bridge, Belfast and donated £500. Sporting Events 2012/13 2012 Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s fundraising team Ben Nevis Challenge 14th – 16th Sept can give you all the advice you need to successfully Lough Erne Canoe Challenge 22nd – 23rd Sept reach your target. If there is a challenge which is not Bedford Square Abseil 6th Oct listed we may still be able to arrange it for you.

2013 For further information or to register please contact: Winter Ben Nevis 7th – 10th Mar London Marathon 21st April Sarah on 028 9068 0765 or email Scafell Pike 19th – 21st Apr [email protected] Paddle the Bann 27th – 28th Apr Glens of Antrim 12th May Neill on 028 9068 0758 or email Paul McToal organised a ‘Fun Run of the Glens’ Celtic Mountain Challenge 31st May – 2nd Jun [email protected] cycle in Antrim and raised £12,632. L>R, Herbie Ben Nevis Challenge 21st – 23rd June McAuley, Paul McToal, Suzi McIlwain, Cancer Annalong Trek 24th Aug Focus, and Peter McToal. Ben Nevis Challenge 13th – 15th Sept

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PAGE 8 For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org