The monthly group meetings at Huntingdon, Ramsey and
St. Ives continue to run well, and the numbers attending show increase. The total attendance at our 36
support meetings in the year to
March 2011 was over 800. Of these over 60% were our clients, the remainder being
our own volunteer helpers and health professionals, and therapists.
In particular,
attendance at Huntingdon has shown spectacular growth, with attendances
averaging 45 for the last 6 months,
and with 54 recorded in December 2010. In 2010 we provided 185
free-to-the-individual relaxation therapies - aromatherapy massage, reiki and
reflexology. In addition, 135 took part in collective relaxation
therapy in the form of Tai-chi style seated
exercise.
The increase in numbers
attending support meetings has
meant the appointment of two extra therapists from January 2011. Therapist appointments have been mapped
to current demand so that three are now operating at Huntingdon, two at Ramsey
and one at St Ives.
This growth, plus the good evaluation that our
support meetings and therapy received over the year, show that we continue to
meet our primary objectives of
reducing the physical and emotional stress of our
clients.
A number of members of
the group have attended the Macmillan New Perspectives Course. This is a
free six week course for people living with cancer, by people living with
cancer. During the course participants meet each week for two and a half
hours to learn new skills and techniques to help manage their diagnosis.
Participants are able to identify ways of managing symptoms and side effects of
treatment including relaxation techniques and visualisation exercises. The
course was found to be invaluable by members of the Acorn Groups and helped them
regain their confidence and enjoy a better quality of life. At the Group
we have had a number of speakers who have given short talks on topics of
interest for example complementary therapies and the New Perspectives
Course. This year we have arranged for a dietician to discuss the
importance of nutrition, a physiotherapist to talk about the value of
exercise and a session on benefits.
Our success in the last year would not
have been possible without the generous support that we have received from a
number of grant providers including:
I would like to place on
record our sincere gratitude to these grant providers, which meant that we could
continue to provide our support to those affected by cancer without worrying
about funds unduly or diverting major effort to raise money. This appreciation is also highlighted on
our website.
Our charity is highly
dependent on the input from our volunteer helpers and I would particularly want
to thank Cally Bussetil for the highly effective way that she has stepped into
the role of centre coordinator. We were very sorry that Donna Schuenemann has
had to leave us and want to thank her for her sterling work over the last 8
years as a helper and latterly as team leader at St Ives. We welcome Julia Mitchell, past
Secretary, back into the fold in a new role as helper at Ramsey/St
Ives.
I also want to thank my
colleague Macmillan nurses, Eileen
Murphy who covers Ramsey/Warboys, Donna Atkin who covered part-year at St.
Ives, and Sarah Mappledoram who has taken over from her. Thus a Macmillan Nurse has been
available at each session to give information on cancer, treatments,
financial/social advice and bereavement support.
Finally I would like to
thank Gordon and Jan, our secretary and treasurer, for their time and support
given to the group, particularly for fund raising and organizing the Island Hall
Carol Concert which was such a success in raising our profile and over £2000 for
Acorn in donations/ticket sales.
Thanks also go to Karen (Chair), other health professionals, 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.