Brewing Up to Raise Cash

By JANE PICKEN

WE do it several times a day and think nothing of it, but getting together to enjoy a brew is proving to be a lucrative way of raising funds to pay for cancer services.

On September 28, thousands of people are expected to get together to put the kettle on and stir up cash for charity Macmillan Cancer Support as part of their World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The annual event is the charity’s biggest drive to raise funds for services which make a difference to those suffering from the disease, as well as their loved ones, above what experts in the NHS provide.

From specialist Macmillan nurses to supporting people who care for family and friends with cancer, the charity’s remit is huge. Without money from such events they would be unable to help.

No-one knows this more than 39-year-old Jackie Sexton, from North Kenton, Newcastle, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2002, and credits Macmillan with helping her cope with the devastating illness.

The mum-of-one discovered a lump in her right breast in December 2001, and when doctors said it was breast cancer and that the illness had spread, they operated to remove the breast and do reconstructive surgery at the same time.

This was followed by six months of chemotherapy at Newcastle General Hospital.

Jackie, who has nine-year-old daughter Shannon, said:

"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I thought I wouldn’t be able to cope, but I was immediately introduced to Macmillan nurse Pauline Halcrow, and the support she gave me was incredible.

"I had some low times, but Pauline was always there to support me, be a shoulder to cry on and generally take my mind off things. It was good to have someone who understood everything that was going on. She reassured me when I was frightened and explained things to me to help me understand."

It’s thanks to events like the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning that Pauline was around to help Jackie. Last year alone the fundraiser collected pounds 145,400 for people in the North East.

"I know that without the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning Pauline might not have been there for me and the event has my full support," said Jackie, who works for a logistics import and export company at Newcastle Airport.

"Pauline was a huge source of support, and she helped me through difficult times. Being a single mum and too poorly to work, I was worried about how I would pay for essentials like new school uniform and shoes for Shannon, or just keeping food in the fridge. But Pauline helped me apply for a Macmillan grant and the extra money made a massive difference.

"I am now all clear and living life to the full but I know that without Macmillan’s help and Pauline in particular, I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like."

As well as getting help and support with medical care, Macmillan guides patients through coping day to day with the effects of cancer such as not being able to work, coping with a family or managing pain.

From the late 1970s Macmillan has provided specialist nurses in the North East who work alongside doctors to care for patients and help manage their symptoms, from pain control to dealing with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

These nurses, with nearly 200 in the North East, work in hospitals or in the community and some will be dedicated to patients with a particular type of cancer, such as lung or breast.

They will get involved at parts of a patient’s experience with cancer, such as while they are having surgery or, for those who will not recover, managing their symptoms.

Working alongside the nurses are other Macmillan funded professionals including physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists, all dedicated to helping people with cancer and with palliative care.

Now the charity has opened cancer information centres, based at many of the region’s hospitals, for people who have been effected by cancer to learn more about the illness.

Advisers working at dropin centres can also give advice on problems such as travel insurance and benefits.

Stephen Williams, Macmillan development manager for the North East, said:

"The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a very important event to us. It’s one of our main source of income and we rely completely on donations to do our work.

"The information centres help people understand the practical issues around cancer and one of the biggest issues is what people do about paying the bills, as many cancer patients have to give up work.

"We want to have enough money to set up information centres in every locality of the North East. We’re nearly there but there is a long way to go."

Following the same theme as the information centre, Macmillan has worked with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and councils to create benefits advisers.

The workers can help cancer patients apply for financial support and help them complete complex forms needed to make a claim.

Stephen said: "Our benefits advisers work with cancer patients and there was a real need for them.

"If you’re ill the last thing you want to do is fill out forms which can be 50 or 60 pages.

"But there is a lot more to what we do.

Macmillan have also been running carers schemes, where our workers will take over caring for a person with cancer to give their usual carer a break and act as a point of contact for a carer who might need some support.

"This helps the carer cope and can ultimately keep the patient out of hospital, because if a carer cannot cope that’s where they would have to go.

"We also provide a bereavement and befriending service where our volunteers support people who have lost a loved one through cancer."

How you can get involved

MACMILLAN Cancer Support wants people in the region to create a huge stir by taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 28.

Last year the recordbreaking event raised pounds 6.7m and this year Macmillan want to top that.

Macmillan community fundraiser for Newcastle and North Tyneside, Kelly Knighting, said: "Anyone can take part. We want as many people as possible in the North East to put the kettle on and enjoy a coffee for Macmillan Cancer Support.

"You can hold a coffee morning at your school, at work, in your church hall or simply at home with your friends. What’s important to remember is that every cup counts.

"Every year 270,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. We want to support every one of these people, but we can only do it with your help."

To register for your free World’s Biggest Coffee Morning pack call 0845 602 1246 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee

Anyone affected by cancer can call the free Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020 or the YouthLine on 0808 808 0800.

(c) 2007 Evening Chronicle – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.