Good Housekeeping Magazine Seeks Volunteers!

Good Housekeeping magazine are looking for some heart-warming stories for their Christmas issue and would like to speak to women aged 30 plus who will be doing something out of the ordinary, such as volunteering, this Christmas. They are ideally looking for women who perhaps had a difficult time over the festive period last year and so have decided to do something different this year.

If you, or somebody you know would like to take part please email Catherine Everett: catherine.everett@natmags.co.uk

The deadline for this request is Friday 16 July.

Action Mesothelioma Day 2010

On Friday 2nd of July a series of events took place throughout the world to mark Action Mesothelioma Day. The events were all part of a British Lung Foundation campaign for people diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a terminal chest cancer which develops 15 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

In Barrow in Furness, Barrow Asbestos Related Disease Support Group (BARDS), supported by St Mary’s Hospice, held an awareness raising event at the Forum 28, Duke Street. Members of BARDS and representatives from legal teams, trade unions and other organisations were on hand to offer advice throughout the day.

Last year, figures showed 197 people in Barrow, 42 people in Copeland and 59 people in South Lakeland have died from mesothelioma since 1981. At 1.30pm a ceremony was held at the front of Barrow Town hall to pay tribute to people who have been affected by asbestos-related diseases. Barrow mayor, Councillor Rory McClure, and Furness MP John Woodcock laid a wreath in remembrance of people who have died from mesothelioma in the gardens.

Maureen Kirk, from St Mary’s Hospice said: “The day is about mesothelioma. It has touched the lives of many, many people here in Barrow. We are very fortunate that we have specialist solicitors to offer advice, trade unions which are very active in health and safety campaigns, nursing care at the hospice, complimentary therapy and bereavement support and all of those people behind the scenes. We have a number of volunteers who make a huge difference, whether it’s lending an ear or making a cup of tea.”

Mr Woodcock said: “Mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases such as pleural plaques are embedded in the history of Barrow and the Furness area. We have a duty as a community of caring people and government to do right by the people who have suffered and continue to suffer from this dreadful disease.”

Bob Pointer, secretary of the Barrow Trades’ Council and a member of BARDS, said: “The day has gone well, a few people have approached and asked questions, but still not a lot of people know the dangers of asbestos. We need publicity to let younger generations know.”

Julie Clark, of Walney, lost her mother Maureen Mawson to mesothelioma in March this year. Mrs Clark said: “My mum beat cancer twice in her life, but then she was diagnosed with mesothelioma and we were told there is just no cure. She got it from washing my dad’s overalls – he was a boilerman and he was surrounded by asbestos. He used to come home with it all over his overalls and in those days you had to shake them with the old-fashioned way of washing. We went to BARDS and they gave us some courage.”

Mrs Clark and her brother David Howson presented a cheque for £1,000 to St Mary’s Hospice, based in Ulverston, at the ceremony. Mr Howson said: “We just wanted to give something back to the hospice for the care our mum received.”

Jennifer Culley, BARDS nurse at St Mary’s Hospice, said: “I would like to thank everybody who came along to show their support.”

Fun in the Sun at Haverthwaite Summer Fair

A pleasant afternoon was spent at Haverthwaite Summer Fair and Super Car Boot Sale on Sunday 20th June.

Leven Valley Support Group for St Mary's Hospice hosts the event every year, with all proceeds going to the hospice which provides care for people with terminal illnesses.

The fair boasts a wide range of attractions for all of the family including live music, birds of prey, bouncy castles, donkey rides, a miniature steam railway and plenty of handmade, food and plant stalls. This year the group raised an amazing amount of £4,511!

Pictured: Leven Valley Support Group presenting the cheque to St Mary's Fundraising team members Dora Greenway and Hannah Hillen.

St Mary's Thanks Local Business Support

As part of our fundraising strategy we have launched a Corporate Membership Scheme in an attempt to secure business support. Local businesses have the opportunity to support St Mary's by becoming patrons.

There are four levels of annual membership on offer through the scheme:

Platinum - £5000
Gold - £500
Silver - £300
Bronze - £200

We would like to thank all of the companies who have been our corporate members since the beinning of the scheme, a full list of which can be found here: http://stmaryshospice.org.uk/fundraising/corporate.php

In June 2010 The Rotary Club of Ulverston was issued with their annual renewal certificate for Gold Corporate Membership. In the photograph St Mary's Funding & Operations Manager Zoe Guest presents the certificate to Rotary Chairman Terry Horne.

If you would like to support your local hospice and require further information please contact Zoe Guest on 01229 483773. Alternatively you can download one of our application forms from our website: http://stmaryshospice.org.uk/fundraising/corporate.php

A Shining Light for St Mary's Hospice at Home Service

We would like to thank the Peggy Light Foundation for kindly donating £1500 to the St Mary's Hospice at Home service.

The Hospice at Home service provides specialised palliative nursing to patients in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, throughout the day or overnight, 365 days of the year.

There is no cost to patients or their families - but the service is not cost free. It costs up to £6000 a day to continue to provide care to the South of Cumbria Community. The service is mainly funded by charitable donations from local people with some contribution from the NHS.

The Hospice at Home team is therefore very grateful to The Peggy Light Foundation, who raised the funds to assist with the care of the terminally ill patients at home within the Barrow-in-Furness and local surrounding area.

The Peggy Light Foundation has been set up as a lasting tribute to the long standing local General Practitioner Dr David Todd.

Peggy Light, off the coast of Rampside was one of the early Lighthouses on the Furness peninsular to provide a guiding light to locals in their our of need.

The Foundations aim is to provide palliative care assistance at home to the terminally ill people of Furness.

The Foundation in the memory of Dr David Todd will be synonymous with the help of the Peggy Light Lighthouse provided to the people of Furness.

Pictured: Fleur and Annabelle Pizzey, granddaughters of the late Doctor Todd, who presented the cheque to Hospice at Home Leader Angela Mason on the Hospice Terrace.

Please visit the Peggy Light Foundation website for more information about their services: www.peggylightfoundation.com

Local Businesses Support St Mary’s Healthy Steps

Healthy-Steps - Moving You to Better Health with the Lebed Method, is a twenty seven year old programme of therapeutically sound, gentle movements and exercises to music. The programme was designed by cancer survivor and professional dancer Sherry Lebed Davis and physician/surgeons Dr. Marc Lebed and Dr. Joel Lebed and is now offered in 14 countries worldwide.

The programme combines sound physical therapy practice with the freeing aspects of movement, incorporating music, positive reinforcement from a group, and empowerment from information and education. It is a potent package that addresses mind, body, and spirit. And, most importantly it is FUN! Benefits of the class include improved lymphatic flow, increased range of movement, improved balance and positive self-image along with lots of fun & laughter!

St Mary’s Hospice offers Healthy Steps classes in Barrow, Ulverston, Grange and Windermere, to support patients who are suffering or recovering from life-limiting illnesses, their families and families bereaved due to these illnesses.

All St Mary's care is provided free of charge, but it is not cost free. Just to maintain all current services costs around £2.4 million a year, of which the charity has to raise £2million from local supporters. Therefore, St Mary’s and group attendees are extremely grateful to both Temple Heelis and the Furness Building Society who recently kindly donated £150 each to cover St Mary’s annual rent for the Ladyholme centre, in Windermere. The money given from Temple Heelis & Furness Building Society will enable the Hospice to continue to offer this service to the local community and provide a regular weekly ‘drop-in’ support group for all who need it.

The rent covers one afternoon per week (Monday) during which Yvonne Cervetti, Senior Complementary Therapist is currently offering individual treatments in Aromatherapy, Reflexology & Remedial massage as well as a group ‘Healthy-Steps’ class.

Marion Grave, said, "I find the class very therapeutic. I feel refreshed and full of fun!"

Cyril Button, St Mary’s patient said the class is "Extremely useful, particularly if you can't walk!"

Following the class at the Ladyholme in Windermere, volunteers Iris Littler and Vicky Walmsley prepare tea, coffee and biscuits to allow patients and families time to socialise and support each other.

Anyone interested in finding out more about individual or group support should contact St Mary’s Support Services on 01229 580305 to arrange an initial assessment.

In addition to the Complementary Therapies and Healthy-Steps Classes, the St Mary's Support Team offers support through Day Services, and Family Support, which includes Art Therapy, Creative Journaling, Relaxation and Visualisation Classes, Breathlessness Management, Bereavement Support and Welfare Advice.

Picture Attached
Pictured on the steps of The Ladyholme Centre:
The Healthy Steps Class
Yvonne Cervetti – Senior Complementary Therapist.
To the right of photograph: John Thompson – Regional Development Manager for Furness Building Society.
To the left of photograph: Richard Moore – Managing Partner of Temple Heelis.

Becky Ready to Saddle up for London to Paris Ride

An Ulverston dental nurse and part-time barmaid is to cycle from London to Paris to raise money for two South Cumbrian charities.

Becky Burch will begin the 300-mile challenge on September 8 and is due to arrive at the Eiffel Tower on September 12.

The 40-year-old has already raised £1,575 and is indebted to the businesses and individuals who have pledged to help her support St Mary’s Hospice and the Rumic Foundation Trust, which helps children and communities in South Cumbria.

Mrs Burch, of Town Bank Road, said: “I can’t believe the generosity and support I’ve been given. I’m touched by it. I started cycling as a hobby a couple of years ago but I’ve never really had the confidence to do something like this until now, thanks to these inspirational people who are supporting me.They get right behind you and it just makes you think ‘oh my God, I can do it’. It’s a real challenge for me because I only really go for a couple of hours at a time on my bike.”

The London to Paris 2010 is split into three stages: London to Calais, Calais to Amiens and Amiens to Paris.

Mrs Burch – who is doing the ride with friend Sarah Da Costa, a former Ulverston Victoria High School pupil – said: “I don’t think I’ve been to many of the places I'm going to go through. It will be an absolutely unbelievable experience, a personal challenge and I’m raising money – you can’t go wrong!”

Mrs Burch works at Benson Street Dental Surgery, Ulverston, and Avanti Capitola wine bar in King Street, Ulverston.

She said of her Capitola colleagues: “I don’t think I’d be doing this ride if not for Capitola. They’ve given me the confidence and support to do it. They are so positive and have a lot of experience with fund-raising.”

Capitola is to hold a charity event with drinks, nibbles and raffle. The date has yet to be announced.

Mrs Burch thanked sponsors Agrilek, Mark and Helen Towers of Doe Wood Lodges, Ulverston Curry Club, Avanti Capitola and Roger Chapman of Rumic Ltd.

Article Published by www.nwemail.co.uk