Welcome to our new Trustee Dr. Robert Winter.  We are looking forward to the valuable contribution he will make to the Acorn Support Groups. 

Three groups are now running - Huntingdon, Ramsey and St. Ives.   Numbers of attendees  vary from 12 – 25.  A volunteer co-ordinator is present at each session and ensures the smooth running of the sessions.  Two new Macmillan Nurses have been appointed.  Eileen Murphy covers Ramsey/Warboys and Donna Atkin is working in St. Ives.  Eileen previously worked in Day Therapy at Arthur Rank House, Cambridge.  They will both have new ideas to bring to the groups. A Macmillan Nurse continues to attend each session and is available to give information on cancer, treatments, financial/social advice and bereavement support.  Karen Pryor secretary in the Woodlands Centre, Hinchingbrooke Hospital attends when able and is available to help with completion of benefit forms.  Aromatherapy massage, rheiki, reflexology and tai chi continue to be popular and are often over subscribed.   Funds at the present time allow us to provide these free of charge.     

Over the last year Gordon, our secretary, has worked hard to secure grants from a number of different sources including Macmillan, Huntingdon Freemen’s Charity, the Co-operative Community Fund, St. Ives Town Council and the Cambridgeshire Small Grants Fund.  Taken together the grants mean that we are assured of being able to maintain  activities at our three venues for the current year.  Some of the grants we have received are tailored to specific activities and I look to the team to manage these appropriately.    I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude to the grant providers, which means that we can continue to provide our support to those affected by cancer without worrying about funds unduly or diverting major effort to raise money. 

In January we said goodbye to Sian Lewis our Macmillan Nurse for Ramsey/Warboys.  I would like to thank her for her enthusiasm and support.  On a sad note, due to ill health, Barbara and Geoff Cobb have had to step down from co-ordinating all three of the centres.  Barbara has done an immense amount of work over the years working at different times as secretary, treasurer and co-ordinator.  She also arranged the annual boat trip as well as the Christmas dinners.  Geoff was instrumental in setting up the ‘Mens Forum’ and providing transport to many of our members.   I can’t thank them enough.  Everyone will  miss their kindness, smiles, laughter and enthusiasm.   

Finally I would like to thank Gordon and Jan our secretary and treasurer for their time and excellent support given to the group.  Thanks also go to Karen (Chair), our therapists and to all  the volunteers without which our group would not be able to function.   

Sally Thornton,

Chair Trustees St. Ives Acorn Cancer Support Group.