Macmillan
From the outset after the diagnosis of Marian's initial cancer the Macmillan Nurse Specialists were the only reliable source of information and support available, always contactable and always prepared to help they filled an ever widening gap in healthcare coordination between the "hospital system" and our patient requirements. Marian and I knew that our time together was limited and so we decided to put a little back by forming a fundraising organisation to make others aware of the need to expand the level of care available in our hospitals for those suffering with any form of cancer. Since Marian passed away in January, I have been fortunate to continue with her fundraising activities and form a dedicated committee, mainly of family members to carry out her wishes and hopefully make a difference for others that may be affected by cancer.
Letter to Local Newspapers published 24th August 2007 in Support of Macmillan
Dear Sir,
Further to an article concerning the confusion over health care charities and the work that they do locally, I would like to draw your attention to the wonderful support Macmillan Cancer Support offers to local people who need it most.
My wife, Marian, was diagnosed with Lymphoma in August 2005. Just under a year and a half later Marian passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, only made possible by the amazing organisation of the Macmillan Nurses at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, I am indebted to their true dedication and compassion. From the outset, after the diagnosis of Marian's initial cancer, the Macmillan Nurse Specialists at the Royal United Hospital were the only reliable source of information and support available. They were always contactable and always prepared to help. They filled an ever widening gap in healthcare coordination between the "hospital system" and our patient requirements. We really couldn't have managed without them. Only those sufferers with any form of cancer and their families can understand the roller coaster of emotions experienced during the many treatments and consultations often necessary to combat this relentless disease. In my case from the relief - after Marian's initial diagnosis - of discovering that her life expectancy "may be" 5 to 7 years to the utter despair of learning she was a "terminal" patient and could only look forward to palliative care at best, Macmillan's specialist nurse support during this time was outstanding.
Marian and I knew that our time together was limited and so we decided to put a little back by forming a fundraising organisation called 'The Lady in Red' to make others aware of the need to expand the level of care available in our hospitals for those suffering with any form of cancer. Since Marian passed I have been fortunate to continue with her fundraising activities and form a dedicated committee mainly of family members, to carry out her wishes and hopefully make a difference for others that may be affected by cancer. We raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support as their nurses were so fantastic with Marian and many other local people and their families who are going through what we went through. My pledge is to carry out her thoughts and ideas and raise the much needed monies to finance and support Macmillan who can and often are the only link between reality and a living nightmare.
I am sure many of your readers will have been through a similar experience to me and have lost a loved one. I am also sure that many lives have been made easier by the support of the wonderful Macmillan Specialist Nurses in the hospital. I would like to invite any of your readers who would like to help me fundraise for Macmillan to visit my webpage which is www.theladyinred.netwhere they can find details of our Charity Ball we are holding in September.
Since starting The Lady in Red I have discovered that fundraising is extremely hard work and requires much dedication. I find it incredible therefore that charities like Macmillan are almost entirely dependent on the generosity of the public to provide the much needed cancer support. So I urge anyone who has been touched by cancer to help raise money for this wonderful charity. You may also find their website helpful for more information about the work the charity does and information on how you can help - www.macmillan.org.uk
Yours faithfully,
Mr Alan Cane
The Friends of The Lady in Red.
Co Founder and Chairman
(Trowbridge)
