… her cancer journey, which started on 15 August 2007…

“After a hoarse voice for two months, then a painless lump coming up on my neck, I went to see my doctor who said it would be a good idea to get the lump investigated and referred me to a specialist.  

Just two days later, due to a cancellation, I was at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital seeing Mr Rhys-Williams who asked me some questions about my health and whether I smoked or drank, to which I answered that I was a smoker but did not drink much.  He then looked down my  throat by putting a probe with a camera on the end up my nose – although this did not hurt it felt uncomfortable.  He also took a sample from the lump with a syringe which made the lump go down a bit so I thought it was just a cyst, but his next words shocked me… he wanted to do some biopsies as soon as possible (on my throat, tongue and nasal passages), an MRI scan and blood tests.

“Having asked the specialist what he thought was the matter with me, he said he could feel mass on the right side of my neck.  Even though he did not say the word “cancer” I knew it was serious.  The necessary appointments were made and I signed a consent form before leaving his office, with a further appointment to see him in two weeks.

“I don’t remember the bus journey back to work but when I got there I told my manager the news and he said I should go home and speak to my partner, Phil.  Telling Phil was the hardest thing I have done in my life, but he was great.

 “My scan took place on the 26th and a further appointment with Mr Rhys-Williams followed on the 29th when he told me that the biopsies would be carried out on 4 September at Poole Hospital, after which is was a waiting game for the results…

“An appointment arrived for me to see Mr Cox at Poole Hospital on 18 September.  Phil came with me, and again I said it was likely a cyst.  However, when we were shown into Mr Cox’s office I could not believe how many people were gathered there – I knew then that it was something more than just a cyst.  Mr Cox explained I had a mass in the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck, that this was a secondary site not the primary (which they had been unable to find at that stage).  I would need a radical neck dissection which would remove all the lymph nodes on that side.  This would take place within the next two weeks.

 

 “In the space of one month I had gone from being a happy carefree person to someone now fighting a potentially killer disease.

 ”I asked what would happen if I did not have this operation – his reply was that I could die in three months.

 “So my battle began on 30 September when I went into Poole Hospital for my op the following day.  Boy, was I scared… but I came through it.  They found my primary – it was on the left side of my tongue base.  My cancer was Stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma.  I had three cycles of chemotherapy (three kinds – Taxol, Cisplatin and 5-FU) in a portable pump, then chemo and radiotherapy together for two cycles, then eight weeks of just radiotherapy which involved having a mask made. 

“I felt very proud of myself that I continued to work through my radio sessions, and I came through it all thanks to the love and support of my family, friends and work colleagues – but most of all Phil, who had said that day on 18 September 2007 that “we” had cancer, not just me, and we would fight it together… which we did.  And the best thing is we won, not the cancer – I wear my scar on my neck with pride knowing that I am a survivor.

 

“After I retired I became involved with About Face so I could give something back.  The people there are great – volunteers offer mutual support and help others affected by head and neck cancer, whether patients, loved ones or carers.  We also hold events to raise awareness of mouth cancer and pass on the message that early detection saves lives.”

 See what Gary Lineker has to say (below) about early detection in the Cancer Research “Do me a favour” campaign (you can create your own personalised video message from Gary and get him to nudge a friend or relative about spotting cancer early!)

 

Wendy, who is pictured above right here (middle of the back row, wearing a purple jumper) during a Christmas lunch for About Face volunteers, continues:

 

“I thought my journey was over as I had been in remission for nearly 3 years but recently found out I had breast cancer.  With continuing support from this wonderful charity, and most of all Phil and my family, there is no way this cancer is going to beat me.”

 

Wendy had a lumpectomy on Wednesday 16 March and still insisted on getting the bus to the About Face Centre for the regular ‘drop in’ the following Tuesday morning.  And talking of ‘drop in’… Wendy recently entertained us with tales of her abseil from a local water tower… and she was even talking of having another go to raise funds for About Face!  What a girl!

 

 

For anyone who read my previous blog, I mentioned how we are sometimes forced to take a different route through life - indeed, being given a cancer diagnosis can turn your life upside down.  Little did I know when writing that just how ironic these words would be with regard to a special friend of mine who lives in Devon…

Awareness of skin cancer, gained from working with head & neck cancer support charity, About Face, meant I had no hesitation in recommending last autumn that my boyfriend, Gray, get a mole on his back checked out with his GP, who promptly referred him to a specialist and the mole was removed on 1 November.  Two weeks later we went for the results to Torbay Hospital where a Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist advised that the lesion removed was unfortunately a malignant melanoma…

What is Malignant Melanoma?  Malignant melanoma is a cancer, which usually starts in the skin, either in a mole or in normal looking skin.  Skin cells that produce natural pigment are called melanocytes; a collection of these cells on the skin can appear as a mole, naevus or ‘beauty spot’.  Malignant melanoma is a form of cancer affecting the pigment producing cells and often appears as a changing mole.  Changes in size, sensation, colour and shape could be the first warning signs of a malignant melanoma.

The nurse provided this information verbally and in a useful patient information leaflet, from which the quotes in red are taken.  We were told that malignant melanoma caught at an early stage has a very good chance of cure.  One of the things looked at under the microscope is how deep or thick the melanoma is – the thinner the melanoma, the lower the risk of it spreading to other parts of the body. 

What causes Malignant Melanoma?  The main risk factor associated with malignant melanoma is excessive exposure to the sun.  Ultraviolet (UV) rays within sunlight are known to cause skin cancers.  An individual’s skin type and response to sun exposure will also determine the likelihood of developing a melanoma.  Childhood sun exposure has been identified as an important factor in the development of malignant melanoma especially in younger adults.

During the conversation that ensued, my boyfriend was asked how he took care of himself in the sun.  A self-confessed sun worshipper it was no longer a case of “Wish You Were Here” – we both wished he wasn’t “there” and had looked after himself better whether it be whilst on holiday abroad or mowing the grass at home with his shirt off. 

Prior to this diagnosis Gray had been planning our first holid ay together – to Gran Canaria.  Now, faced with the news that further surgery was necessary to tell whether or not there had been any spread of cancer, he was to have a ‘sentinel lymph node biopsy’ – an established treatment offered to some patients whose melanoma is more than 1mm in thickness (his was 1.5mm).  This is performed at the same time as a margin of healthy skin is removed from around the original melanoma site.  We went for a further appointment with a consultant in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Newton Abbot on 25 November where this procedure was explained in more detail and a pre-op followed pretty quickly on 3 December with the operation on 13 December at Exeter Hospital. 

On his way down to “Nuclear Medicine” Gray stoically made a few jokes about glowing in the dark that night!  A small injection of an x-ray dye or ‘radioisotope’ was made around the melanoma biopsy scar.  This enabled the consultant to see on a special x-ray where the sentinel lymph gland was (in Gray’s case under his right arm).  Later on, the wide local excision operation was carried out under general anaesthetic and the sentinel node removed through an incision.  This was day surgery, so after arriving at the hospital at 8.45am, I could finally drive my wounded soldier home at 7.30pm… following after care advice – oh… and the information that No 2s might be green for a while (Gray confirmed they were… but added that they didn’t illuminate the toilet bowl!).  We were told that the results of the biopsy to see whether the cancer had spread could be a couple of weeks, or longer due to the festive season, and braced ourselves for a very unsettling time.  

An appointment was made for Gray to see the consultant surgeon on 6 January but whilst I was at work on Christmas Eve he phoned me straight after he took a call from the same Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist advising him that the biopsy was clear!  It was just the best news ever – but not having been allowed to drive since the op and due to the freezing weather conditions he couldn’t travel and missed joining me in Bournemouth for Christmas Day!  A timely ‘thaw’ on Boxing Day meant I wasn’t “dashing through the snow” to Devon, but arrived safe and sound (with the turkey leftovers) to the sound of champagne popping! 

I know this is turning into another ‘mega blog’ but would just like to mention my visit to FORCE Cancer Support Centre situated right opposite Exeter Hospital.  It was strange to ’swap roles’ and be the recipient of support whilst my loved one was having his operation, to enjoy a cup of tea and biscuit in a relaxed and comfortable environment and chat to their volunteers…. 80 miles away from the About Face Centre’s own ‘drop in’!  FORCE is of course a much larger organisation (having raised over £7.5 million over the last 21 years, including £900,000 to build their support centre) and helps those affected by all types of cancer who live in that area.  However, like About Face they receive no government funding and rely largely on voluntary donations to provide their services free of charge to those in need.

It was incredibly motivating to see that FORCE provides not only support specialists and counsellors, but offers relaxation skills, expressive art groups and complementary therapies.  I am truly inspired by those who founded, and those who have been involved with About Face over the past 10 years, and am amazed at how much this small local charity has been able to do for those affected by head and neck cancer… struggling to find a tenth of the £700,000 annual income FORCE needs to keep going.  That’s food for thought… just imagine what could still be achieved if more funding were found for About Face.

                                                  …About Face!

Vodafone is spreading the word nationally about their World of Difference UK (WODUK) programme and using About Face as an example of one of the charities they have supported… which is in turn spreading the word about head and neck cancer even further.  Here is a link to the charity’s mention on their World of Difference News page: Winner Spotlight

TV star and style guru, Gok Wan recently launched the 2010 campaign, saying “nothing makes you feel better than getting involved in your community…”  He joined the Vodafone World of Difference Roadshow which sadly came nowhere near the South West… I thought he could show me “How to Look Good Naked”!

Instead, here I am (fully clothed!) … in the October issue of “Your Vodafone Guide” opposite Jenson Button!  About the closest I’ll ever get to one of my F1 heroes!  

When contacted by ad agency, Bartle Bogle Hegarty(BBH) asking if they could film me at work in relation to my Vodafone WODUK placement, I had a look at the BBH website… and was intrigued by their ’black sheep’ logo and the words “when the world zigs, zag”!  Nice one! 

However, can we always choose whether to ‘zig’ or ‘zag’ our way through life?  At times we are forced to do both - to take a different route when presented with unexpected obstacles… facing a mountain to climb following bad news…. like being told you have cancer.  You need to take a different route… to slow down… to make what will hopefully be just a temporary change of direction.  Health professionals are there to advise and guide you at every stage – they will try to keep you ’on course’ to join other cancer survivors.  At some stage of the cancer journey many find it helpful to speak to others who have had similar experiences.  This is where ’support groups’ like that at About Face come into their own, and the Tuesday morning “drop-in” at the About Face Centre is a good place to start.

When a BBH photographer arrived at the Centre to capture what goes on during the “drop-in”, he was followed by five rather fit fellows (‘fit’ in the sense my 20-year-old- daughter would mean!) with some very impressive equipment!  These guys lived up to the BBH words: “creativity happens best when people engage their full humanity”.  These guys understood.  Although everyone at the Centre that morning had readily agreed to being filmed, seeing a special opportunity to raise awareness of head and neck cancer, this was not taken forgranted.  The BBH crew treated us all courteously, sympathetically and sensitively.  They shared serious moments, moving tributes and some laughter.  It happened to be my turn to blow out the Birthday candles at the About Face Centre and we had quite a few ‘takes’ over Muriel’s homemade cake! 

The team produced an ad which has been aired on many radio stations across the country, as well as a short film.

And for those of you who’d like to know where BBH started out…. are you old enough to remember the early 1980s teen idol Nick Kamen and the Levi’s launderette ad? Why, or why did he keep the white socks on! Incidentally, Levi’s sales soon soared by 800% as a result!!  

Yet there was something completely different about the jeans worn by some of the young men in this production team as was soon spotted by our Gill!  Fearing she was about to see rather too much of their equipment, she announced that she wanted to pull up their trousers!  Eileen however soon ’briefed’ her on the current fashion trend to show off a bit of designer boxer short!  I ‘heard it on the grapevine’ that Gill was still thinking of sending them down to the local ‘laundromat’ to shrink fit those jeans… and if all else fails we’ll be sending them food parcels jam-packed with Muriel’s scones!

The jeans may have been low-slung but the team certainly didn’t need to pull their socks up – they did credit to BBH, no doubt due in part to the company’s philosophy: “… we want a happy workplace where ideas are encouraged from any source, where everyone has a right to be listened to and where honesty, decency and integrity are the guiding principles of our behaviour.”  If I didn’t currently have such rewarding work with About Face, I know where I’d be queuing up for a job!

Will just leave you with my memories of a very special day at the About Face Centre… 

With thanks to About Face volunteer, Nick Hanham, and Bartle Bogle Hegarty for the pictures.... 

except for the bloke showing his briefs which is stock photography!

The girls are back in town… the girls are back in town! 

Sorry boys… but I have given myself poetic licence with this Thin Lizzy song to apply it to BellyFusion:

“You know that chick that used to dance a lot
Every night she’d be on the floor shaking what she’d got”

Well – maybe not every night – but there we were shaking our… About Face collection boxes at three events during August and September!

The girls say: ”We love to dance, we want to show others how much fun it can be, and hopefully inspire them to get up and give it a go.  If we can find a way to combine our pleasure with raising money for good causes well… watch this space!”

Continuing with the lyrics “dressed to kill“ & “driving all the old men crazy” the girls were on a mission to make the good citizens of Bournemouth and Poole part with their hard earned cash… and raise awareness of head and neck cancer, spreading the message that early detection saves lives.

After a “trial run” during the Harry Paye Day, where we helped collect for Poole Hospital’s Wish List, we found ourselves a few weeks later joining Bournemouth Carnival, thanks to friend and fellow dancer June Power (pictured here pretty in pink), who ‘networked’ us in as a procession entry.

And tickled pink by the feather in the cap of June’s friend, David Squire (the longest-serving Town Crier in the country) I decided to give him something to shout about – an About Face leaflet!  Oyez, oyez!  And we’re off… after a bit of “clowning around” at Monkey Island (don’t ask – I don’t know -but I’m trying to find out!) on the town’s East Cliff.  It won’t escape your attention from the montage below that I got off lightly, driving “Brian“… whilst my fellow dancers wiggled behind under the full glare of the sun along the three mile route.  What stars!  

You may recognise a familiar figure – Tony Pigott, the About Face Chairman – so “hands on” in his commitment to the charity that he turned up with his bongo drum and joined in!  Ian Catley popped along to take a few pictures and the lovely Muriel Hall joined the crowds to cheer us on!  In case you were wondering about the chap in the high viz jacket - no I was NOT lost and asking for directions!  As I stopped to talk to About Face Trustee Christine Brienne (pictured with the hat) and Penny Kinson (next to her) a kind marshal tells me where to go(!)  And yes – it’s back to Monkey Island!

 Next on the BellyFusion agenda was a “Pub Shimmy” – our very own pub crawl with a difference around Poole Quay organised by lovely Lisa Durose (pictured right in blue) who recently formed the group.  One of Harry Paye’s pirates even got in on the act – as captured in our photo which the Bournemouth Daily Echo kindly published (see below).  In fact I think June was rather captured by him!

BellyFusion and About Face expressed in the newspaper caption their thanks to the landlords and customers of the Poole pubs frequented that evening.  Over £250 raised in just a few hours, including a personal donation from the landlord of historic haunted hostelry The King Charles.  Although we were not quite the female missionaries of Guys & Dolls fame trying to convert the Marlon Brandos and Frank Sinatras of Poole into a path of teatotalness, what better place to raise awareness of the importance of responsible drinking…

And the latest performance was at a wedding party, where there was a further ‘infusion’ of goodwill from BellyFusion!  The Happy Couple selflessly asked for donations to About Face in lieu of wedding presents as one of the guests was the Bride’s friend and colleague, our Paula (pictured second left).   We wore the colour purple to co-ordinate with the wedding party.

The girls are back in town again soon – another “pub shimmy” in another town on Saturday 13 November – so watch out Christchurch – “here come the girls”!

It’s about time I chat to Gill Burr because she has become a much loved volunteer at the About Face Centre and, like many cancer survivors, wanted to share her experiences to give hope to others.

And ”time” becomes a central topic of our chat… as Gill was twice given just 6 months to live.  That was over 6 years ago…

Oh Gill does like to be beside the seaside…
Oh she does like to be beside the sea!  
So what better place to meet up than at Albany Lodge  near Bournemouth’s sea front.  Gill had talked so much about her regular stays there that I decided to have a look for myself!

After being welcomed by one of their Macmillan Nurse Advisers, Karen Brown (pictured here with Gill), I sat down for a cuppa in the homely lounge of this 20 bedroom hotel which offers holiday respite for cancer patients, their families and carers.

You can see straight away why guests like Gill feel comfortable and relaxed in this friendly and understanding environment, with the security of knowing that a qualified adviser is on duty 24 hours a day in case of emergency, to request assistance from the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

Speaking highly of the staff, it is clear Gill has a lot of fun during her breaks at Albany Lodge… particularly with the Manager, Brenden Howard (pictured right with some of his colleagues) whom she considers to be “quite a character”.  Mmm… shame I missed him during my visit!

Gill was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1990 by Mr Tony Markus, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon at Poole Hospital, and at that time she was referred to the Royal Marsden, specialist cancer hospital in London, to have her first operation, which included a tracheostomy (an opening made in the front of the neck to allow the patient to breathe more easily).  Reconstructive surgery followed later in the year and Gill made several trips to London… travelling by coach from Poole.

In 2002, after 12 years in remission, Gill was again facing treatment for cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy – this time locally under the care of Poole Hospital’s Dr Crellin and Mr Ilankovan (a founder Trustee of About Face).  Gill is grateful not only to the team at Poole Hospital but to Lewis Manning Hospice for their support at that time.  She had a further serious operation which involved taking tissues from the lining of her stomach to build up her mouth… and given just 6 months to live.  Gill also told me she couldn’t have any more chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but her determination kept her going and helped her pull through another operation, after which she was again given 6 months to live. 

Yet amazingly a further remission of 6 years followed.  Sadly, Gill needed major surgery once more, arranged in February 2010 by Poole Hospital Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeons                       Mr Walji, Mr Ramchandani and Mr Ilankovan.  The cancer was removed, although she lost part of her jaw as well on the right side of her face.  Gill has much praise for her surgeons and the nursing team, but found this particular procedure harder to deal with and her morale was low.  With much support she pulled through, helped by her sons Anthony, Chris and Clive – particularly Anthony who had  himself battled cancer and won.  He made sure his Mum soon regained her fighting spirit! 

Gill (who doesn’t mind sharing that she is 74 years young) tries to keep active by getting out and about on the bus and joining in with social events whenever possible.  She used to be a hairdresser and is still interested in the subject as well as fashion in general - she likes nothing better than dressing up for an evening out, whether it be for Bingo or a night at the theatre watching a musical, having herself been in amateur dramatics.  

Despite difficulty swallowing due to scar tissue, this remarkable lady adopts the attitude that many others are “worse off”.  Saying she wants to help people talk about head and neck cancer, to bring it out in the open and not hide the subject away, Gill adds that she wouldn’t be without her visits to the About Face Centre where she finds everyone friendly and helpful.  Here she is pictured sitting to the right of ‘Birthday Girl’ and former tongue cancer patient Sue Hanham during a recent Tuesday morning ‘drop in’.  She particulary likes the fact that it is just a few paces away from the bus stop!   Gill says: “without Mr Ilankovan and his team keeping me alive, great assistance from my Macmillan Nurse, visits to Albany Lodge, help from my friend Tracey and wonderful support at About Face, I would not be here today”.  Whilst enduring some physical discomfort, Gill is always cheerful, boosting the morale of others and giving them hope by “sharing” her experiences.   

We talked about my sponsored mast climb for About Face as Gill mentioned how she loves the sight of tall ships.  I’ve given her my “been there, done that” Jubilee Sailing Trust t-shirt - but who knows… I wouldn’t put it past Gill to have a go herself one day!

In the meantime, Gill declined a “spin” along the seafront in “Brian“… although she was happy to pose alongside the van (I think someone must have tipped her off about my driving!)  About Face often uses a logo “facing the world with a smile” – with a smiley face as seen on the oval window of its publicity vehicle.  Gill Burr is definitely a fine example of these words and I have a lot of ‘time’ for such an inspiring lady.   

PS:  In 2011 the Macmillan Caring Locally hotel will be moving to The Grove, which is nearer Bournemouth Town Centre and will offer even better facilities.

Right… as promised, link between Russell Watson and About Face? 

Perhaps the closest I can get is that, like many of those involved with the charity, Russell has had to face major health scares – the first of which when he had a lump on his vocal chord removed in 2002.  

Four years later he was back under the knife having an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour and in 2008 the aggressive tumour returned, which was treated with a course of radiotherapy.  

Like many former patients I have met, he has tried not to see himself as a victim, but as a survivor.  And how grateful his fans are that he returned to perform…. and support charity along the way. 

When Beaulieu Events asked me whether I would volunteer for his recent concert there was no hesitation – an evening being serenaded in a glorious setting and raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.  

About Face volunteer Muriel Hall  was spotted there too - a real fighter and survivor in the audience as well as on stage - she can sing too!  Unlike me!  I remember once being told about my voice: ”you should be on the stage… there’s one leaving in five minutes”!!

There is a chance to see Russell Watson again in the South West before the end of the summer, but you’ll have to be quick… “Serenata” advertises itself as Britian’s First Classical Musical Festival, and takes place on 26/27/28 August at the Smedmore Estate, Kimmeridge in Dorset.  Russell appears on the Saturday and other artists over the 3 days include Katherine Jenkins and Blake.  Again, the concert benefits charities – another good reason to buy a ticket! 

Wave 105.2 is the official radio station for the Festival… which brings us neatly back to Beaulieu as it supports the Wave 105 Cash for Kids charity.  The Beaulieu Estate, in the heart of the New Forest, is one of the locations across the UK chosen for “Walk Ten“ on Saturday 4 September.  People can take part in a twilight 10k walk – which serves to remind us that Marie Curie nurses work day and night to provide expert care and support to people with cancer and other terminal illnesses, completely free of charge.

There is a similar event called the Lunar Walk on the same day in Poole to raise funds for Forest Holme (supporting hospice and palliative care).

Whatever you still have planned for what remains of the summer, perhaps it will combine having fun, exercise and helping worthy causes at the same time… speaking of which, BellyFusion will be collecting for About Face again during their “Pub Shimmy” at Poole Quay on Saturday 21 August… as I’m part of the ‘line up’ I’ll give you a first hand account soon.  At least there’s no singing involved! 

PS:  Talking of About Face supporters mixing with famous singers… just look at who Teresa and Colin Steventon are pictured with!  Yes that is Olivia Newton-John Easterling and her husband “Amazon” John Easterling. Find out more about their connection with the couple and John’s Amazon Herb Company   

OK… I hear you say… so what does Russell Watson have to do with the charity I work for – About Face?

Well… I did have a “date” with him at Beaulieu on Saturday night so I’ll come up with a loose connection to justify me putting a picture or two of him on this blog!! 

Full story in Part Two!

Man about the About Face house? 

Harking back to the past again… do you remember “Man About The House”, the 70s sitcom starring Richard O’Sullivan, who moved into a flat with two single girls after they found him asleep in the bathtub following a party?!  These girls could just about rustle up a piece of burnt toast between them… so they let him stay because he was studying to be a chef!  The series was considered quite daring at the time!

So, on finding out that regular About Face Centre visitor, and recent mouth cancer patient, Stephen Barrow had been a chef himself, I asked him if he’d be the ‘Man About the House’ for one special dinner party and share his culinary skills with a few male supporters… provided I could find any who were somewhat ’challenged’ in that area!  

Stephen is pictured above on his wedding day with bride Christine (just check out those 70s fashions!), and on the right, 30 years later on their Anniversary in 2007, together with sons Stuart and James.

 Please take time to read Stephen’s story, in which he typically praises others saying:

“I will never be able to thank everyone from the consultants to the nursing staff enough for saving my life” 

and

“I would really like to thank the charity About Face for their help during my continuing recovery.  Thanks to their good relationship with the Head and Neck Cancer team at Poole Hospital I was jointly supported, particularly at a time when I needed it most.”

Stephen is a much valued volunteer for the charity and despite still experiencing considerable pain, he is always one of the first to offer his help at awareness raising events.  He was part of the About Face team carrying out a survey at the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole during Mouth Cancer Awareness week last November and more recently at the charity’s stand at Beaulieu’s MotorMart/Autojumble, together with Christine.  Stephen commented:

“I urge anyone to have regular check ups at the Dentist – if I had it would have been picked up sooner and I might not have had such extensive surgery.”

Predictably, Stephen readily agreed to being the Centre’s Head Chef for a night, but on emailing out to our database it was interesting to see just how many men claimed be budding Jamie Olivers!  Mmm… I ended up struggling to recruit three whose prowess in the kitchen department I would describe as follows:

Tony - capable but room for improvement (he did own up recently to putting the ice cream in the Centre’s fridge rather than the freezer!)

Martin – could ‘cook’ a mean salad!

Ian – ‘kitchen?’

The challenge was for them to prepare a three course meal, under Stephen’s guidance.  Earlier in the day we met up at Sainsbury’s to select the ingredients and I was able to put my Nectar points to good use!  After rearranging the Centre’s Library into a dining room, I left them to it… with a few helpful signs dotted around the kitchen like “F-Word Free Zone” and “No Girls Allowed”!

Christine, had kindly offered to keep an eye on the final ’presentation’ of the dishes, but Tony, Martin and Ian’s other halves, Hilary, Muriel and Penney respectively, were under my strict instructions to just relax and be spoilt! 

Wishing I was a fly on the wall, I couldn’t resist the tempation to phone the ladies for an update on how the men were doing!  Much laughter followed as Muriel explained that the ‘boys’ were now affectionately calling Martin ”Bubbles” because of a mishap with the washing up liquid!

However, the “L” plates could come off their aprons… as I was told the dinner was just ”Pukka”.

It was an alcohol-free night so there was little danger of finding a Naked Chef sleeping it off at the About Face Centre the next morning…

                                                       …not even “Bubbles” in the bath tub!

May I introduce “Brian” – if you haven’t already met on a previous occasion!

However, you may not recognize him from the last pictures, as Brian has had a fabulous makeover and he is now quite a(n) (eye)catch(er)!  I’ve fallen in love with him and can’t wait to take this little cutie out on the town!

Spot the difference?!  There must be magic round About Face!

What a transformation thanks to the team at Westover Nissan, kindly coordinated by their Marketing Department’s Sallyann Tanner. The Nissan S Cargo, recently donated by former patient Nigel Purseglove, is already out and about for the charity, drawing the attention of passers-by and raising awareness of head and neck cancer.

Brian’s first public appearance was at the Beaulieu MotorMart Autojumble in the New Forest in May, where attendance figures for this popular show were up on last year. 

Visitors to the About Face stand were asked to complete a short questionnaire about oral health – see About Face Press Release May 2010

Sallyann (Westover Nissan) & Ian (About Face)

Ian, Tony and Laura deep in conversation

The charity’s Frances Burden, Tony Pigott and Ian Catley were joined by Laura Lamble  and Stephen and Christine Barrow.  Like Laura and several other former head and neck cancer patients, Stephen has kindly agreed to share his story which will appear in my next blog.

As with all About Face volunteers, they are keen to spread awareness, particularly of mouth cancer, and the need for early detection. Their hard work over that weekend certainly had the desired effect as I overheard the conversation of a middle aged gentleman after he had talked to them:

 “I’d never, ever heard of mouth cancer and didn’t realise what my dentist should be checking for. I’ve got an appointment next week so I’m going to see what he does!”

Here is a short (and very amateurish first attempt) video interview I made with Ian Catley, where I asked him why About Face were at Beaulieu. 

You can click here to see what else is going on at Beaulieu, including Russell Watson’s forthcoming concert there… mmm… wonder if their Events Team will call me in to help!  I’m afraid Brian would have some competition there for my affections!!

More on Brian’s escapades to come, including his recent appearance at the Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club’s Steam & Vehicle Rally. In the meantime, here is a little reminder of who the charity’s Nissan S Cargo is named after! 

PS: 

A special thank you for Edwards Heavies of Lymington (Stone Washed Rugby Shirts & Casual Wear) who were on the stand next door, for kindly donating baseball hats to the charity which were then given away free to those who completed an About Face survey!

Here I learn about Laura Lamble’s experience of mouth cancer and find out what we can learn from this 28-year-old Christchurch teacher who has kindly shared her story to raise awareness, particularly among young people.

“I suppose nobody is really ready to be told that they have cancer, but it was certainly a shock for me… I was in my 3^rd year at university, and was 2 weeks away from my 21^st birthday…”

That is how Laura begins, and she told me that it was quite cathartic writing everything down. It is an account which takes us through many aspects of diagnosis and treatment with some detail and can be viewed unedited here.  Laura Lamble’s Story

However, I would like to include a few quotes in this blog sharing her journey from that “shock”, through to acceptance and a positive outlook which is truly humbling and will hopefully help others who find themselves in a similar situation.

Thinking she was going back for a routine check-up following removal of a benign cyst at the back of her mouth, Laura was told: “I’m afraid, when we removed the cyst we found a hard lump in the middle, and after testing it, we discovered that you have muco-epidermoid carcinoma.”

She tells that her “parents were amazing” and “basically took control of my life for the next few weeks”. “I think I sat my final exams on auto pilot.”   In 2003 Laura had an operation to remove any traces of the cancer, went to Cambridge to train as a science teacher and got a job at a girls school. Laura moved down to Christchurch to get out of the hustle and bustle of London and be closer to her family. She says:“Life seemed really good, and although I always had the cancer at the back of my mind (I was still having 6 monthly check ups) it was becoming less a part of my everyday consciousness.”

 “Then in November 2008, that all changed”.  After noticing a sore patch at the back of her mouth she saw her dentist who referred her for an MRI scan and there she was, at such a young age facing cancer again. Laura was “referred to Mr Ramchandani at Poole Hospital and he proposed a huge operation to sort it out once and for all.” 

 The operation was in January 2009 and lasted 13 hours. The full enormity of this and Laura’s immediate experiences post operation can be read in her story and her courage and determination are to be admired. She also writes with a sense of humour about the tracheostomy tube inserted into the base of her throat “Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that breathing is quite an important function (I am a biology teacher after all)…” !!  Laura also seems to have remained ‘feisty’ as she dismissed in her mind the physiotherapist’s plans to take her out for a longer walk another day:“My attitude was that since I have been walking successfully on my own for 26 years, I wasn’t about to start asking for help!”

After being fed via a tube for over a month, she recalls:

 “Obviously, getting the news that the operation had been a success, and that I wouldn’t need radiotherapy was also quite amazing, but still,nothing compares to that first cup of tea and the chocolate mini roll!”

Laura and her brother, Matthew - January 2010

Laura says she was “constantly overwhelmed by the support and generosity of my friends and family. Unlike my first diagnosis where I tried to keep it all to myself, this time I made sure everyone knew, and whenever I had a down day, I knew that there were dozens of people at the end of the phone…”  

She continues:  

“And the About Face Centre has also really helped. It is great to have people to talk to who have ‘been there, done that,’ and I often pop in for a cup of tea after my appointments at Poole to have a chat about what is happening.”

 She also heaps praise on colleagues and pupils… “Everyone at work was brilliant and so supportive, even the students seemed pleased to have me back…”

“The last 18 months have definitely been a challenge, and the scars on my arm and neck act as a daily reminder of what I have been through, but I think there are two ways to look at life. You can lie down and feel defeated, feel sorry for yourself and ask for pity from those around you, this is certainly the easiest option, and at times quite a tempting one. Or you can see life as a series of challenges, problems that you have to overcome in order to get on with the things you want to do and this is the route that I decided to take. Of course I still have down days, and days when I begin to think to myself ‘why me?’ but you have to be able to pick yourself up and keep going.”

Clearly, Laura Lamble is another truly inspiring and valued member of the About Face Support Group.

Her family have also fund raised for the head and neck cancer support charity, which she says is ”definitely helping to raise awareness, and I am enjoying the opportunity to help out with their work”. 

Laura volunteered during Mouth Cancer Awareness Week and gives the following message:

 “I think one of the things I have learnt is that life is unpredictable, and that anything can happen to anyone at any time. Mouth cancer used to be a disease which was associated with older patients who had a history of smoking, or heavy drinking, but more and more young people are now being diagnosed, and we need to make sure that the early warning signs are detected and that young people are aware of the disease and educated about what to look for.”  See blog Survey for About Face – What’s it all about… Adrian?

Laura in conversation with Ian Catley (left) and Tony Pigott of About Face - Beaulieu May 2010

Laura also helped survey visitors to the About Face stand at the recent Beaulieu MotorMart Autojumble.

Having just celebrated her Birthday, I hope she enjoyed loads and loads of chocolate mini rolls! 

So, especially for you Laura, here are a few variations on a theme for you from Cadbury’s… incorporating some of your 5-a-day!  (I spotted that apple core you’re holding in the Beaulieu picture!)

There I was on a Sunday afternoon literally…….…..            ‘hanging about’ at Weymouth Quay!

When the Lord Nelson’s First Mate sent me up the rigging he must have known full well that I’d have to stop halfway whilst the climber ahead of me negotiated the first platform! 

I saw him chuckle as I hung around waiting for his permission to continue ‘going aloft’ – he had clearly ‘rigged’ this scenario for his personal amusement!

After being tightly harnessed, and receiving a briefing, I had swung my leg over the side rather confidently.  However, we were only to clip ourselves on to a rigging cable when we reached the overhang of the foretops!  Although crew members were around to lend a hand at these two platforms, it still felt like I was clinging on for dear life – not helped by a chill wind making my hands numb.   

It was encouraging though to hear the supporters and sea shanty singers from the deck – the musicians had in fact already performed from the middle mast, having carted their instruments up with them!

This and the fear of humiliation if I didn’t succeed, gave me the adrenalin needed to pull myself up and over the first ‘hurdle’. 

In the cosy huddle of climbers, I took the photos below and video footage from that first resting point:

We were asked if we wanted to continue to the second platform… I looked at the remainder of the 110ft mast which loomed above me! This is what I had been sponsored for – no pulling out now!

Three of our group of four continued. Feeling a little braver for having learned the ‘ropes’ and ‘mast’ered the technique, I continued up to what I was assured would be an easier overhang! If anything, it seemed trickier to heave my buttocks up the futtocks (I believe that’s the nautical terminology!) as the rope rungs were now so narrow I had trouble with my footing and the reassuring presence of a member of crew underneath the overhang was absent this time due to lack of space!

A few moments rest and another video-making opportunity!

I reflected on the message my mother had left on my phone that morning telling me I should leave this sort of challenge to youngsters! Standing next to me was a sprightly 80-year-old gentleman… and it wasn’t his first mast climb either! Understandably he stopped there. So with the final leg to go we were down to two, climbing either side of the mast. The rungs were now incredibly tiny and my arthritic right knee decided not to co-operate and started shaking! When we reached the designated point I was perched precariously, feeling rather like a circus artiste waiting for the flying trapeze as my waves were cheered from the deck. The plan had been to show off my About Face t-shirt when reaching the top but I really didn’t want to push my luck in that position trying to take off my rain mac and harness!

Yes, it was easier and quicker coming down and a welcome cup of tea awaited, followed by a tour of the ship – and an opportunity to purchase the obligatory “been there, done that” t-shirt souvenir of the climb.

Glad to be back on the deck of the Lord Nelson - pictured here with Matt Graveling of the Jubilee Sailing Trust

 Many thanks to the Jubilee Sailing Trust for giving us this terrific opportunity – I just love it when charities can work together like that! Also to friends, family and About Face supporters for sponsoring me – over £400 raised to date!

A special mention for Penny Kinson and her husband, John, as well as my good friend, Liz Symes (pictured right), who travelled down to Weymouth with me offering moral support and reassurance!

 I didn’t find a “Jolly Sailor” but we enjoyed a great meal in the Smuggler’s Inn at Osmington Mills on the way back!

Yes… Ian Catley had kindly warned me from personal experience that the mast climb would be terrifying…. I can also think of another word beginning with ‘t’ – THRILLING! 

Give it a go – contact Matt Graveling, Events Coordinator at the Jubilee Sailing Trust! 

Ship ahoy!

As the gales blow in Bournemouth and hail hits the window panes, I am convincing myself that in 35 days time (on Sunday 9 May) the weather will be kind to everyone who is climbing the 110 foot mast of the Lord Nelson!  

OK… so we’re not talking high seas here – after all, the tall ship will be moored up at a quayside… but wouldn’t it be great if the sun was shining to maximise the view of the Olympics 2012 sailing waters of Weymouth and Portland from the crow’s nest!

Several years ago I participated in a Marie Curie Ladies Driving Challenge at Bovington with my good friend June Power!  Great fun… being at the wheel of HGVs, buses, police cars, tractors, army jeeps (regrettably no tanks that time!).  Not being one for treks, marathons and skydives, what fundraising challenge could I get involved in which would give an even bigger adrenalin rush? 

The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Events Coordinator, Matt Graveling, had the answer with this Tall Ship Mast Climb… so I leapt at the chance and paid my deposit before you could say “jump ship”!

JST owns and operates the only two Class A tall ships in the world specifically designed to cater for people of all physical and sensory abilities. 

About Face and a few other local charities have been offered the opportunity to fundraise by taking part in this event, with a 50:50 split.  I have set myself a target of £300.   If you would like to know more and can help me make my way up the mast, please go to my Virgin Money Giving site  If you are eligible to ‘gift aid’ please do so because, for example, a donation of £10 means charities receive £12.46.  If you wish to sponsor me, but prefer not to pay online then send me your details using the ‘comments’ facility at the bottom of this page and I will forward you a sponsorship form.

Just over a month to get ‘ship shape’ for the challenge so I can fit into my shorts… well after I’ve finished all those chocolate easter eggs of course!

Ian Catley tells me he has already done a mast climb for charity and won’t be taking part this time… he was remarkably quiet about the experience, which makes me slightly more nervous!

I notice one of the ‘Terms and Conditions’ is that participants “…wear suitable clothing, e.g. high heeled shoes would not be considered appropriate”.  Well, Trustee and About Face Chairman, Tony Pigott, is thinking of joining me, so if you’re reading this Tony, perhaps you can keep your ‘heels’ for an About Face Ball! 

Oh… and I see no alcohol before the climb – although I’m sure a little celebratory drink will be allowed afterwards – perhaps a shandy and a shanty in the Jolly Sailor!

Hope you all enjoy the Bank Holiday… Me Hearties!

Liz

PS:  If you like boats… don’t forget the Beaulieu BoatJumble on Sunday 25 April which is a great New Forest day out for all the family.  The reasonably priced tickets for this event include entry to the National Motor Museum, Abbey, Palace House and gardens.

New York, London, Paris, Munich, Everybody’s Talkin’ ’bout…. June Inskip!

Well, that seems to have been the case for facial skin cancer patient, regular About Face volunteer and supporter June, who was once an international hair and beauty model! We found we had something in common - no I don’t share her fine features so never graced the cover of magazines! - but we are both true cockneys, born within the sound of Bow Bells!   So, over a lovely cup of ‘Rosy Lee’ at the About ‘Boat Race’ Centre, we enjoyed a ‘Rabbit & Pork’ and ‘Bubble Bath’ about life in the East End of London (are you with me so far?!)

June showed me articles about her life, written by Nicky Findley of the Bournemouth Daily Echo around 10 years’ ago, and a more recent write-up in the IA Journal*, so I have summarised her story from these and our further chats. 

*published by the Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Support Group

The only child of two publicans June Inskip (nee Beale) moved to Bournemouth with her family in 1945 after getting bombed out of their home in Islington, London. 

At the age of 16, she was approached to work as a hair model for a Bournemouth salon and went on to take part in hair competitions and shows in London and Paris…

“My Mum said she didn’t mind as long as they didn’t dye my hair blonde and of course that was the first thing they wanted to do to it!  The colour was  touched up every few weeks and even more regularly during competitions and shows.  I’m sure it didn’t do our hair any good but we wouldn’t have dreamed of letting our roots show. 

“I had  a good career and was also an international hair model and chosen to represent Great Britain in the World Cup for Hair and Beauty in Paris at the age of 18 – with a big salary and the chance of meeting top hair stylists all over the  world.    

“My photo made the Evening News front page!

 “We really were the toast of the town.  It was a privilege and a great thrill to be on the catwalk in front of French dignitaries and top models of the day.  We were shown the sights, visited all the big perfumeries and fashion stores and were given lots of free clothes and gifts – it was a wonderful experience.”

Returning to the cockney rhyming slang… June had it all – the ‘Barnet Fair’, ’Gregory Peck’, ‘Mince Pies’, ‘Hampstead Heath’, ‘North & South’… not to mention the stunning ’Bacon and Eggs’!  She continued this exciting life for several years, also working in a top salon in London as a receptionist and marrying a photographer. 

Then her whole world was shattered at the age of 26 when she was taken very ill with ulcerative colitis.

“I was told I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.  After many operations a slow recovery started, however to add insult to injury my hair fell out during my treatment, my marriage began to fail and eventually I was divorced.  It was a very difficult time and losing my hair was terrible but it did grow back thicker and in better condition.  I wasn’t going to dye it after that but people said I wasn’t the same without my blonde hair.”

A new life started for June when she met “a wonderful and kind man” and remarried.  “Life was great” she says, adding that she and George loved dancing and travelling.  They both volunteeered with the Inskip League of Friendship in Poole, taking disabled people out for countryside tours with George driving a minibus.  June says it is just a strange coincidence that this organisation shared the same name, and checking on Google I see that it still exists but is now called the Poole and East Dorset Club for the Disabled.

 June had many hobbies including yoga, tap dancing, fencing and photographic modelling for Kinson Camera Club.  At the age of 60 she started work as a care assistant in a residential home and was there for ten years.  Sadly, her dear husband passed away in 2004 just after celebrating their silver wedding anniversary.  Devastated, but continuing her remarkable determination to get on with things, June made a new life, found new friends and enjoyed the theatre and jazz clubs.

A further setback followed in 2009 when she was diagnosed with facial cancer.  A tumour was removed and her face reconstructed with cosmetic surgery. 

Once again, coming through a traumatic experience yet retaining a positive approach to life, June has been writing her ‘story’. 

Caught on camera again in the About Face Centre kitchen, June is in the middle, with Muriel Hall (left) and Sue Hanham (right).  All three ladies are valued About Face volunteers who drop in to the Centre on Tuesday mornings, and join the monthly support group.  June said of the charity in their last newsletter: 

“I’ve gained much benefit and have been helped a lot.  This kind of surgery is different from others I’ve had in the past.  About Face completely understands and has helped me no end.” 

Still a glamourous blonde and proud of it, June says she can’t imagine being anything else!  With a keen interest in fashion and beauty she keeps cuttings from magazines and newspapers on all the latest hair styles….

“I loved the ’40s but I still like modern styles too.  Some of them really are works of art.”

Speaking of art, June is a pencil-drawing artist, as you can see from her picture of the Brighton Pavilion. 

Remaining quite a ‘girl about town’ June attended the recent fundraising Barn Dance for About Face - click here to see the pictures on a previous blog. 

She still loves anything related to dance, so we are both looking forward to ‘The Persian Nights’ at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre Ballroom at 7.30pm on Saturday 3 April where June may have to compete for celebrity status with the Mayor!  

For ticket details click here

With grateful thanks as ever to June Power and especially ’young Daniel’ at Ashley Colour Imaging for putting June Inskip’s black & white prints into a suitable format for this ‘post’.  And June Power reminded me that she’s also a cockney, being a Lambeth girl!  I completely forgot – it must be that Brummie accent of yours June…. keep thinking you were ‘Made in Birmingham’.

In an earlier post to this website, patient Adrian Gingell shared his experience of tongue cancer.

Most people have heard of cancer affecting parts of the body such as the lungs or breasts.  However, cancer can occur in the mouth, where the disease can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat.   Moreover, statistics* show that nearly 1,700 people in the UK die from mouth cancer every year.  Many of these deaths could be prevented if the cancer was caught early enough.  As it is, people with mouth cancer are more likely to die than those having cervical cancer or melanoma skin cancer.

Mouth cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dentist during a thorough mouth examination.  If mouth cancer is recognised early, then the chances of a cure are good. 

About Face conducted a survey during the November 2009 Mouth Cancer Awareness Week, based in a local shopping centre…. which showed that 8.5% of those interviewed were not registered with a dentist.  Some of these people had false teeth so did not think it necessary, or only made an appointment if there was a problem.  9% who were registered did not believe they were receiving the recommended checks for mouth cancer.

Adrian has prepared a more extensive Your Dentist Survey which was recently sent out by post and email to a much larger number of people both by Adrian himself and About Face.  The more responses received, the clearer the picture will be as to how much people know about mouth cancer, whether they are seeing a dentist and if the correct checks are being made.   I hope that anyone in the UK reading this will complete and return the Your Dentist Survey to us.

I have also done some research around the subject and have seen some very useful information from the British Dental Health Foundation who issued the following message to dentists for Mouth Cancer Action 2009 (supported by Denplan) asking them to help educate the public and ensure oral screenings are a priority:

“We need your support and action more than ever as mouth cancer continues to be diagnosed in more and more people.  The 5,325 cases diagnosed this year mark a shocking 40% rise in cases in just 10 years.  The traditional at-risk groups are changing as more and more young people are affected.  Women are now increasingly at risk too.  Make sure you know the risk factors – tobacco and alcohol account for around 75% of mouth cancers.  Now experts are predicting mouth cancers caused by the human papilloma virus, transmitted via oral sex, could rival these traditional factors as a major cause.  Poor diets have also been linked.  The message is clear – there are no boundaries to risk.” [my emphasis in bold]  

The Foundation says you are at a higher risk of developing Oral Cancer if you:

• - smoke
• - chew tobacco products
• - drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• - are exposed to sunlight on a regular basis
• - have habits such as lip and cheek biting
• - have ill-fitting dentures

The Foundation lists the following early warning signs of oral cancer:

• - any ulcers, sores on the face, neck or mouth that do not heal within three weeks
• - swellings, lumps or bumps on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth
• - white, red or dark patches in mouth
• - repeated bleeding in the mouth
• - any numbness, loss of feeling or pain in any area of the face, mouth or neck

Dentists are expected to examine the inside of your mouth and your tongue (with the help of a small mirror) because they are able to see parts of your mouth that you cannot see easily yourself.  If your dentist finds something unusual or abnormal they will refer you to a consultant at the local hospital, who will carry out a thorough examination of your mouth and throat.  You can of course also be referred by your GP.

If you can’t find a dentist then look at http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx, text ‘dentist’ to 64746 from your mobile phone, or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Regular visits to your dentist could save your life.

  *British Dental Health Foundation Mouth Cancer publication 08/09

And following on from my last blog… I asked Tom Gledhill to write something about himself and his interest in volunteering with charities.

“My name is Tom Gledhill and I am currently in my third and final year of Illustration BA (Hons) at the Arts University College at Bournemouth.”

Right Tom, I’m going to stop you there because I had a look at the website and was really impressed by the ‘virtual tour’, so here is a link for those who are interested: AUCB

  “Originally from London, I came to live in Bournemouth in September 2007 to enrol on their Illustration Course after successfully completing my foundation degree level at Chelsea College of Arts and Design.  I felt that in order for me to become successful within the arts world, it was important for me to move to a new location, one where I knew no one and was naive to the surrounding environment.

“Although I have fully enjoyed my time in Bournemouth and have continually felt rewarded by my course, I always believed that the work I was producing lacked any real human emotion and/or subject depth.  Therefore, I decided to focus my final major project towards a particularly worthy cause, group or individual.  I felt specifically motivated to do so due to my figurative approach to illustration with the human form and expression central to the majority of my visual projects.  As a result, I began to research local charities and social organisations within the Bournemouth and Poole area.

“This research started initially almost by chance through visiting my local branch of Waitrose in Winton and taking note of their Community Matters scheme in which each branch donates £1000 a month to three local charities shortlisted by their customers.”

(Sorry to interrupt again Tom, but just to say that About Face is one of the 3 charities selected by Waitrose Winton for March and when I popped in yesterday it was exciting to see all the little green tokens building up!)

Tom Gledhill & Lauren Mcdonald

“This led me towards Headway Dorset where I discussed a vague project proposal and ambition towards volunteering.  This was also the case with the Youth Cancer Trust, and through such meetings I was pointed towards About Face.  Although a working relationship could not be agreed at initial points in our discussions, I met Vodafone World of Difference UK participant, Liz Vivian who told me more about Vodafone’s programme, suggesting I might apply for a 2011 placement.  Liz invited my girlfriend, Lauren, and  I to attend the About Face Barn Dance.

 “At this moment in time I am actively volunteering with Headway Dorset and helping out weekly with one of their music sessions.  Furthermore, I’ll shortly be working with the Youth Cancer Trust   and no doubt also enjoying their company. 

“I am continually looking for more, and a broader spectrum of volunteering opportunities so that I can aid my growing interest in this field and hopefully continue to be inspired by such and possibly apply my artistry towards their promotional needs or at least my own moral ones. The chance for me to continue applying my artistry to inspiring local groups and/or worthy individuals satisfies me in way in which the commercial art world cannot.

“I aim to carry on producing my large scale multiple subject portraits and continue to aim them towards notably moral and inspiring causes. The way I see it, if any of my images manage to inspire or at least notify individuals of my subject matter, I feel that my artistry is worthwhile.”

Tom, I hope you will keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on.

Good luck to both you and Lauren with your final major projects which will be exhibited at AUCB and the Free Range Show in London between 8 and 12 July 2010 at the Old Truman Brewery.

Vodafone/About Face Reflections…

Experiences over the last few years have left me with a lot of questions about my ‘destiny’, and realisation that I had reached a major turning point in my life after fourteen years in the same job and losing it in 2009… now finding that out of bad there can come some good… the old ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ / ’no pain no gain’ / ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ scenarios. 

There have been many signs recently indicating that a path has been mapped out for me and strangely I find myself sitting here reflecting, rather than panicking because I have no work lined up from next week and wondering how I will pay the mortgage!   In which case, I’ll revert back to popping in to the Centre whenever possible to help on a voluntary basis.

I heard someone on Chris Evans’ morning show saying you can take the phrase “Why am I here?” and find three different questions according to where the emphasis is placed…. so, relating it to my Vodafone placement with About Face: 

Why am I here? - why for this charity, and not another?  Because I have been involved with this local charity since early 2006…. and, ironically, had a tumour diagnosed on my salivary gland in 2008 which was thankfully benign but had to be removed in case it grew and changed.  I am still checked every six months by the consultant surgeon who operated on me - Mr ‘Ilanko’ Ilankovan, a founder of About Face and the hero of many supporters! 

Why am I here? – why me and not someone else?  Because, luckily for me, no-one else applied to Vodafone to work with About Face! However, there was competition for a placement with charities nationally, so in fact the real ‘winner’ is About Face – not me!

Why am I here? – what is the purpose?  Because the charity does not have money to employ anyone in addition to the two-and-a-half days worked by CEO, Ian Catley, yet there is a need for admin support and help with special projects.  I knew there was plenty I could take on and in view of my above  experience, have empathy, enthusiasm and a real determination to make others aware of head and neck cancer, particularly the importance of early detection and seeking professional advice as soon as there appears to be a problem.

Have I succeeded?  Well – perhaps not a ‘World of Difference’ but that’s a question to put to Ian and the Trustees!  There were times when I felt I was taking one step forwards and two steps back!  I had so many thoughts and ideas – and have been living, eating, breathing About Face since 11 January!  Pehaps I was over-ambitious about what could be achieved in two months but one thing is for sure – it has been one of the most rewarding periods in my life.  Some of the core volunteers I knew already, but I got to know them much better, and others… all truly inspiring, most having been head and neck cancer patients themselves… and yes, in between more serious moments, we do share a laugh and a joke in the friendly relaxed atmosphere of the About Face Centre.

The opportunity to post blogs to this Vodafone website (and to be able to continue to do so for the charity) is a joy in itself and something I find almost cathartic, albeit a challenge learning about WordPress and websites from scratch (how long did it take me to ‘trick’ it to accept my favourite Comic Sans font!)  I can only liken it to making a scrapbook of summer holiday activities – you know… the job us kids all left to the last weekend before going back to school!  Well, there the comparison ends as I find myself not wanting to put off the task, but keen to sit at my computer at home of an evening and see ‘a plan come together’ on this site.

Vodafone is asking for nominations for ‘Best of Blogs’.  With several hundred of us publishing ‘posts’ how can we have seen them all to make such a judgement?  All the ones I have seen were interesting and inspiring in their own right.  If forced to choose out of what I’ve read so far, it would be the Pet Blood Bank UK.  But behind every World Of Difference UK blogger is someone who has no doubt found the answer to “Why am I here?” and will have encouraged others to tread in their footsteps. 

Speaking of which…. a deserving candidate for the 2011 Vodafone WODUK programme… Tom Gledhill, a third year student at the Arts University College at Bournemouth studying Illustration BA (Hons)…. pictured here at the Barn Dance with girlfriend, Lauren Mcdonald.  Not that Tom needs any encouragement from me, because he is already approaching charities wanting to give something back to the local community – but more on Tom in a future blog! 

And so it’s ‘Au Revoir’ for the moment – which reminds me to brush up my French for a story on Trustee, Christine Brienne!

PS:  Vodafone – if I should be a ‘winner’ in the blogs stakes – rather than getting the £20 additional credit on my mobile as a prize, may I please have another two months with About Face - because there is just so much more to be done!!  Something else I’ve learned during my placement from fundraising expert Ian Catley is: “If you don’t ask….”

With Claire and the Hairy Bikers at Beaulieu

For nearly four years now I have been one of many ’Friends of Events’ for Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd in the New Forest – in fact about the same length of time that I have been involved with About Face.  

So I didn’t hesitate in talking to Judith Maddox, who is the Events Manager, about the charity and my Vodafone World of Difference placement… and in no time at all she had kindly offered us a stand at the Spring MotorMart Autojumble (15/16 May) so that we can raise awareness of head and neck cancer and promote the importance of early detection…

I say “we” but I hope to be working for Beaulieu that weekend!  However, I’m sure there will be no shortage of volunteers to take it in turn to ’man’ the stand! 

It is very timely therefore that the charity has been given an unusual little ‘runabout’ in the form of a Nissan S Cargo van (a subtle play on the French word ‘escargot’ - meaning ‘snail’) by About Face supporter, Nigel Purseglove of Weymouth, and it will be signwritten and maintained thanks to the generosity of a Trustee. 

Ian Catley went to have a look at the van last week and took these pictures – we are all smitten with this cute vehicle (now named ‘Brian’) and hopefully visitors to the MotorMart will be too, drawing attention to our stand! 

I

I wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would have to say about the Nissan S Cargo?  Perhaps something along the lines that it would suit the hamster!  Mind you Mr Jeremy (soon to be half a century old) Clarkson it looks like there is plenty of ‘big head’ room in it so perhaps it will be on your Birthday list!

Coming back to Beaulieu, the MotorMart, featuring on the Arena, will have up to 200 vehicles for sale, ranging from concours classics to restorable relics, with the DealerMart area adjacent.

In the AutoJumble over 1,000 stands will be selling motoring parts, automobilia, literature and accessories. 

 Last year was a bumper show and attendance figures were 14,275 making it the second most successful in the show’s history, beaten only by the very first Spring AutoJumble in 1994. Stand spaces, including 167 vehicles in the MotorMart, totalled 1055, a further increase of over 50 on last year.  Trading over the weekend was good with plenty of sales for exhibitors and buyers finding the prices very reasonable on the vast majority of stands. 

 Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy all the Beaulieu attractions, including the National Motor Museum’s latest exhibition ‘ProMotion”. 

There is a special on-the-day, inclusive price of £8.70 for adults and £6.70 for children even less if booked in advance on the ticket hotline:

01590 612888, or online at https://www.beaulieushop.co.uk/

This is just one of many events taking place every year at Beaulieu so have a look at this link to their website to find out what else is happeningBeaulieu Events

Hope to see you there!

PS:  Don’t forget the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend – start to the 2010 Formula One season!  Someone I know is already complaining that Mother’s Day falls ‘somewhat inconveniently’ on race day!  I’ll be rooting for Button and Lewis of course – who, like me, are sponsored by Vodafone!  Lewis even gave us a ‘pep talk’ at the World of Difference induction day in London (well – via the big screen!) 

Let’s hope one of them can be a 2010 winner too!

Look at the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 2010 Season Website

Not ready for a ‘knees up’ at the recent Barn Dance, but progressing well following a knee replacement operation, Mavis Dale talks of her involvement with About Face and her own experience of mouth cancer, some 15 years’ ago…

“There’s a song about…. ‘look on the bright side of life’ which has little significance until one day it appears an impossibility.

Mr 'Ilanko' Ilankovan

“At the age of 69 I discovered I had an ulcer in my mouth.

“Three visits to my GP with no improvement led me to making an appointment with a consultant who arranged a biopsy. The result confirmed cancer. 

“My whole world was in danger of falling apart, but I had the good fortune to be in the care of Mr Ilankovan, who removed the affected inside cheek and lower gum. What seemed an impossible situation was made very plain sailing by the expert surgical skills of Mr Ilankovan and his team.

“Ten days after being admitted to hospital I was home again in time for Christmas, eating liquidised turkey – not the best meal in the world… but the only thing I don’t recommend is the hospital fortified ice cream! Being required to eat this after the soup-like dinner in order to improve my ability to swallow, I could not face it so I thought the best thing to do was flush it straight down the loo!!! Big mistake – it just floated! Whereupon I grabbed the toilet brush and proceeded to attack it in order to push it ’round the bend’……… Big mistake again! I only succeeded in smearing ice cream everywhere. And of course I had to clean up the mess I had made.

“The nurses wondered why I was in fits of laughter on my return to bed.

“A sense of humour goes a long way in traumatic circumstances. 

“Thanks to Mr Ilankovan and his team I am fit and well and still around to enjoy my Christmas dinner!   I remain active in About Face, the charity which I helped set up when it was time to ‘pay back’ the skill and dedication of ‘Ilanko’ and his great staff,  becoming Vice Chairman and having the pleasure of seeing the charity grow from coffee mornings to a house dedicated to promoting all aspects of care of cancer of the head and neck.

 “I would urge anyone reading this who has reason to think they may have a problem……..  DO NOT DELAY – SEEK ADVICE NOW – it may save your life.”

Mavis Dale’s recollections have been the subject of many talks given to various groups in support of the work of About Face and she is an inspiration to us all.

PS: (added 17 May 2010)  Mavis ’shared’ a little bit more than usual at the recent Support Group meeting, giving’the naked truth’ about having been a model for a’life drawing’ group.  She will be celebrating her 85th Birthday in early June and I am determined to ’get to the bottom’ of this revelation! 

Coming to the end of a long weekend in Breda, which is in the south of The Netherlands, staying with my ‘special friend’ Marcel.  This country feels like my second home (Mum is Dutch!). 

Still preparing blogs (in my clogs!) ready to ‘post’ during this coming last week of my Vodafone placement with About Face… and feeling sad about this nearing an end although I’ll go back to doing some voluntary work there as and when possible.  The good news is that Vodafone plans to keep the blog page open, so I can continue to raise awareness for the charity.

In the meantime, hope you like this virtual ‘post’card and pictures…

The Breda West Rotary Club hosted the Saturday afternoon tour, which started with a reception at the Town Hall and ended with a drink at the castle, then dinner for around 50 of us at a restaurant in the historic centre of the city.  The club has a motto of ”Just Do” and they do a lot for various charities, both in their own country and overseas… much like the many Rotary clubs supporting About Face over the years.

It doesn’t cease to amaze me when I am doing the filing at the About Face Centre (yes, there is plenty of that to catch up with!) to see the generosity of local businesses offering raffle and auction prizes as well as other support to the charity over the years. Too many to mention on my blogs, although I try to include those supporting the charity during my two-month placement.

Sometimes these are companies who mention in passing that they will find a raffle prize for us when volunteers pop into their local shops and happen to talk about the charity. Only the other day I rang Heffords Flowers in Tuckton and, without asking, they said they would provide one of their wonderful floral creations for a future event.

When I approached the newly opened John Lewis At Home store in Branksome to discuss the charity and see if they could support us in any way, their Community Liaison officer kindly offered to provide an item from our ‘wish list’ of furnishings for our Centre!  Several supporters voted for About Face to become one of the Waitrose charities for the month of March…  so please shop at Waitrose in Winton this month and put your green token in our box!

When employers find out that one of their staff or a member of their family has head and neck cancer they offer their help in all sorts of ways – sponsorship for a challenge, colleagues making donations and, sometimes, fundraising matching….

Which all brings us back to the Barn Dance because Frances Burden (who organised the event with the help of three work colleagues) is hoping to meet the criteria for her employer, Alliance & Leicester (now part of Santander, one of the world’s largest banks) to ‘match’ the amount raised!

Frances (pictured left) emailed me on Monday saying she felt like the “Queen in her Counting House” as she totted up the proceeds from Saturday’s event…. the total is in the region of £2,500 so in my eyes she has become the About Face “Fundraising Queen”.

An incredible amount of hard work goes into the organisation of the Barn Dance, even though she has it off to a “fine art”.  Co-ordinating 180 ticket sales alone, some with fish & chip supper, is no mean feat! 

 Frances also obtained an amazing range of raffle and auction prizes (some pictured here), using a network of contacts and some imaginative thinking! 

I recall her telling me the England Rugby Team might be staying at a local hotel and she was going to try and find them and ask if they could donate something for the auction, signed by one or all of them! I felt it was only my duty to help in this instance and I offered to take on this task… but I was clearly causing an ‘obstruction’ to Frances’ plans – she had the ‘advantage’ insisting she would ‘tackle’ this! (In the end I believe the team didn’t stay locally, but Frances made sure a letter was posted to them anyway, thinking ahead to the 2011 Barn Dance!)  Certainly worth a ‘try’ Fran!

The generosity of local companies, in times of recession, is truly appreciated and, on behalf of About Face, Frances would particularly like to thank the local businesses named below…. we hope you will click on the links and support them in return.

Wentworth Clinic – Southbourne

http://www.wentworthclinic.co.uk/

TOWNGATE GALLERY & ART CENTRE – Poole

http://www.towngate-gallery.co.uk/

Stewarts GardenLands – Christchurch

http://www.stewarts.co.uk/

Spirit Hairdressing, Christchurch

http://www.spirithairdressing.com/index.html

Christchurch Harbour Hotel – Christchurch

http://www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk/

beds are uzzz – Southbourne

http://www.bedsareuzzz.com/

… celebrate her 42nd Birthday when ”bang, nothing would ever be the same again”.

At About Face we hear from so many patients who have experienced head and neck cancer, pulled through and many years later are still supporting the charity or, as they modestly put it “giving back”. I have posted, and will continue to relate many of these stories on the Vodafone World of Difference UK website. But I had to think carefully about broaching the subject of those who bravely fought the battle against cancer and lost.

Speaking to Frances Burden who organised Saturday’s Barn Dance for About Face, I told her of my dilemma but of my wish to pay tribute to her late husband Delm, on this website. Selflessly, Frances didn’t hesitate in agreeing to share her moving story, finding the ‘positive’ by saying:

Delm and Frances Burden in the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur - 2005

 “From the first diagnosis, due to the dedication and expertise of all the doctors, nurses, therapists, the whole Maxillofacial team, we were given an additional      15 years together and for that my children and I will always be grateful”.

Frances writes:

2 July 1993 – my 42^ndbirthday and the day that my husband Delm was told the lump in his neck was a secondary cancer and they didn’t know where the primary was. 23 years of a very happy marriage, two lovely children aged 10 and 12 and, bang, nothing would ever be the same again.

 “Fast forward a few weeks and the primary was found at the base of Delm’s tongue – the only indication of any problems ahead had been an innocuous recurring stinging throat.

 “At this time we were under a different consultant – very good, but very scary – not a good relationship. However, after chemo, hyperbaric treatment (then carried out at a dive centre in Canford Cliffs Village) big op and radiotherapy, things were looking good and Delm quickly gained his strength and was back to work, golf and his squash (which he was told he wouldn’t be able to play as he wouldn’t be able to raise his arm high enough).”

 Eight years later:

 “In 2001, Delm had a niggling earache, and after biopsies and scans we were given the devastating news that the cancer had returned.   Fortunately for us, this time we came under the care of         Mr Ilankovan and his team. There followed one of Ilanko’s mammoth ops, and Delm’s tongue was replaced with muscle from his stomach. At this point his speech was very bad and we didn’t know if he would be able to swallow again (he was being fed via a peg in his stomach).

 “True to form, Delm worked hard at his speech with the help of therapists, was able to build up from puree food to steak pie and also returned to work. Delm was always very conscious of his speech and a year after his op took the decision to apply to this employer for medical retirement, which he was granted. He was then able to concentrate on his golf and some nice holidays – squash was now no longer a possibility. I applied to my employer to change to a job-share for two days a week and fortunately this was agreed so that I was able to spend more time with Delm, for which I am now so grateful.

 “Over the next few years, Delm’s cancer returned several times. Mr Ilankovan and his amazing team were so caring and pulled out all the stops to come up with different treatments and operations.       I remember Ilanko saying that Delm was not only his patient, he was his friend.

“I was also fortunate to have private medical insurance with my job, so Delm was able to have treatments at the Harbour Hospital which were not available on the NHS.

Frances with Delm at Swanage Railway in 2008

 “Delm was 60 in February 2008 and we were able to take friends and family over the Purbecks for a celebration – his favourite place was The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers. His birthday present from our children was a train driving experience at Swanage Railway. I will never forget seeing him in his overalls driving the huge steam train – the absolute joy in his eyes.

 “Shortly after this, the decision was made to stop Delm’s treatment as it was no longer working and on 22 June 2008 he lost his heroic fight at home surrounded by those who loved him.

 “Delm and I were present at the first meeting to form the About Face charity and at the launch of the Butterfly Appeal we pledged to hold a barn dance… which was so successful there have been a further three. I was very honoured last year when I was asked to be a Trustee of the charity –    this and the fundraising gives me a chance to give back for everything that was done for Delm.      The acquisition of the About Face Centre has been a huge achievement with support from so many people and it is so good to see it going from strength to strength.”

It is very clear from everyone I meet who knew Delm that he was held in great affection and he would be so proud of what Frances has achieved in continuing with the annual barn dance this year. 

A great big ‘Thank You’ to Frances, and more on her fundraising success in my next ‘post’.

 Here is a selection of pictures taken on my mobile phone at Saturday’s Barn Dance, together with more professional shots from About Face’s Ian Catley, Trustee Nick Hanham, and my dear friend, June Power, who works for Ashley Colour Imaging in Poole http://www.ashleycolour.co.uk/home/

 … and Barn Dance!

“There may be trouble ahead…”! 

Indeed last night’s Barn Dance was incredibly hectic and I spotted quite a few guests with two left feet (myself included!)

Held at Twynham School in Christchurch this is an annual event organised by About Face Trustee, Frances Burden to fundraise for the charity. 

Pictures and report to follow in a future blog!

In the meantime enjoy(?!) my first very amateurish attempts at taking video footage with the new Samsung Genio Touch mobile phone, which was kindly provided by the Vodafone Foundation at the beginning of my World of Difference UK placement. 

The band is the fantastic “Black Sheep” – http://www.blacksheepband.co.uk/

A “Strictly Barn Dancing” success!  Although I didn’t spot any budding Fred Astaires or Ginger Rogers everyone who took to the dance floor threw themselves enthusiastically into the spirit of things determined to have fun.  So… returning to my blog’s title… here are Irving Berlin’s words:

There may be trouble ahead
But while there’s moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance

Before the fiddlers have fled
Before they ask us to pay the bill
And while we still
Have the chance
Let’s face the music and dance

Soon
We’ll be without the moon
Humming a diff’rent tune
And then

There may be teardrops to shed
So while there’s moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance
Dance
Let’s face the music and dance

… mouth or tongue cancer…”

Adrian Gingell kindly shares his recent experience of tongue cancer, which highlights that early diagnosis is directly associated with better outcomes…

“I have always thought of myself as a fit and well 59 year old man.

Katherine & Adrian Gingell

“I have been married, for 36 years, to Katherine, with a daughter, son and four grandchildren. I have always enjoyed swimming, gardening, walking, travelling and DIY. My profession, as an engineer, in the Centrifugal Pump Industry, had taken me all over the world from the UK to Ireland, Europe, the Middle and Far East.

“In late October 2009 I returned from a business trip, in Scandinavia, complaining of ear pain and tingling on my tongue. For a few days I thought it was the pressure pain from the flight but when it didn’t go away, I visited my GP. He examined my ears, could not find any problem, then asked to look inside my mouth and discovered an ulcer on the left side of my tongue. I had no idea it was there, as I had not felt any discomfort.  He said ‘he was not a tongue specialist’ but suggested I visit my dentist for a more informed opinion.

“My regular six monthly check-up was already booked for the following week and I asked my dentist to look at the ulcer. He immediately referred me to Mr Ramchandani, one of the Consultant Head and Neck Surgeons at Poole Hospital. This appointment was on 13 November, and led to an urgent biopsy on the same day.

Head and Neck Surgeons (left to right) Ilankovan, Walji and Ramchandani, with Tony Pigott, About Face Chairman

“On 20 November, I returned to the hospital with my wife, for the results and we were shocked to be told the ulcer on my tongue was a Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  I had never heard of mouth or tongue cancer, the usual cause being smoking and excessive use of alcohol. As I had never smoked and only drank occasionally, it was very hard to take.

“Mr Ramchandani went on to explain that I would need an 8-10 hour operation to remove part of the tongue and then various skin grafts to rebuild it. His explanations of the procedures needed, were concise and instilled confidence and reassurance that he and his team would get me through the operation. Subsequently, after an MRI scan, I learnt that the cancer had spread further across my tongue and would need another procedure to remove the lymph glands, on the left side of my neck.

“Karen, one of the Head & Neck Specialist Nurses at Poole Hospital also helped to explain how things would progress and gave us leaflets on the procedures needed for my operation.  She introduced the dietitian, who told us about the feeding peg which had to be inserted before the operation.

“On 3 December, Mr Ramchandani led his team with Anaesthetist Dr Briggs for my operation which lasted 14 hours. Following the operation they gave reassurance to my family that all had gone well. They had removed approximately one third of my tongue, which was replaced by tissue from my left forearm. My arm needed a split skin graft which was taken from my stomach. All the lymph glands were removed from the left side of my neck.

I was six days, in the Intensive Care ward at Poole Hospital. I was then transferred for a further six days to the Harbour Private Hospital located across the road from Poole Hospital, as my company had private health care. Throughout this time, I was told that I was progressing quickly after such long and complicated procedures, due to the fact that I was fit and well before the operation. My speech was returning, I could tolerate swallowing water and eventually eat pureed food.

Poole Hospital - viewed from Poole Park

“On 15 December I was told the wonderful news that   I would not need radiotherapy, as on examination of the removed 47 lymph glands from my neck, only one just below my left ear showed cancerous cells.  Mr Ramchandani confirmed that he was pleased with my progress and arranged for my stitches to be removed from my neck, arm and stomach. I was then discharged from the hospital.

“I cannot speak highly enough of Mr Ramchandani’s skill as a surgeon, his dedication and caring manner to me and my family.

“At home I continued to progress, always safe in the knowledge that if we had any concerns we could contact Mr Ramchandani for directions. My swallow improved and I managed to eat my first proper meal on Christmas Day, which was just over three weeks after my operation.

“I now return to Mr Ramchandani’s clinic on a monthly basis and am continuing with speech therapy.  My recovery has gone from strength to strength and I am hoping to return to work at the beginning of March 2010.

“During the last three months, I have had time to reflect on my operation and wish to help               Mr Ramchandani’s team in awareness campaigns and to be part of their support group for head and neck cancer patients, sharing my experiences with patients before and post operations.

“I am in contact with ‘About Face’ – The Head & Neck Cancer Support Charity also based in Poole that supports people right across the South of England, and spoken to others who have experienced similar operations. Here, I also want to get involved in making people aware of head and neck cancers and the possible causes and prevention.

Katherine and Adrian outside the About Face Centre which is opposite Poole Hospital

“I believe Government guidelines indicate that dentists should check the mouth, tongue and neck for signs of cancer, as well as checking teeth during routine examinations. After speaking to a number of people about their dental check-ups, it became clear that not all dentists do these checks for mouth cancer. Consequently, I have prepared a survey to establish what percentage of dentists are following these guidelines and advising the reason for doing the checks.

“Hopefully, this will be implemented by ‘About Face’,             (who have agreed to circulate it to their c. 1,000 supporters), Poole Hospital and other organisations as part of an awareness campaign for head and neck cancers.  Early detection is critical to stop the cancer progressing and to reduce the surgery required.”

Ian Catley of About Face, adds:

“Cancer of the head and neck is something no-one wants to face – but early detection can dramatically improve chances. The survey proposed by Adrian could enhance awareness and ultimately help to save lives” .

For more about Mouth Cancer, the statistics, increased risks, warning signs and reason why you should see a dentist (and what checks to expect) see my further blog:

http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/blogs/elisabella-vivian/survey-for-about-face-whats-it-all-about-adrian/

Diana Vuong is another About Face star… trekking across the… Great Wall of China, raising funds for the charity.  Travelling with Skyline Events http://www.skylineoverseas.co.uk/trek-china.aspx, Diana is heading for the journey of a lifetime in May!

She says:

“My target for the trek is £2,650 and this is the first time I have ever done fundraising in my life.” 

Despite having lots of ideas, she describes herself as “usually a very shy person when it comes to meeting new people” and found it a personal challenge trying to make others aware she was doing a charity event. However, she succeeded in organising fundraisers during her leisure time, juggling her responsibilities at work and finding volunteers who would be free to help her out, saying “after all that effort, you will feel a good sensation that you have done well”.

So far, Diana has raised nearly half her target through cake & car boot sales, karaoke parties, raffles, mini-golf tournaments, collections at a London tube station (with kind permission of London Underground) and online donations through Just Giving:

http://www.justgiving.com/Diana-Vuong0

Diana works as a Junior Risk Analyst, based in London with Coface – UK & Ireland, and it sounds like her employers are just as enthusiatic about this challenge as she is, giving her lots of moral support.

Why About Face?

“I personally have experienced the pain of losing a loved one to cancer and it was my Grandad…”  “…I would like to try and raise awareness of this small charity and most importantly I will know the funds will be put into good use”. 

Diana - your Grandfather would have been very proud of you.

Everyone at About Face looks forward to hearing about your trek and seeing photos -  Wall to Wall – pictures from the Great Wall to your Facebook Wall!

祝你好運 (I am hoping this reads ‘Good Luck’ in Chinese!)

 From shipping, chiropody, Cheltenham, children and shrubs… to charming charity Chairman! 

It’s been quite a journey for Dr Anthony Pigott and I wanted to know how he came to be involved with About Face.  How did it all come about?

Tony makes sure About Face volunteers get their '5-a-day' !

Tony had no sooner left school than found himself in Portsmouth doing 2 years national service in the Navy!  In his words “they liked me so much there I was transferred to the Royal Marines!” Which proves it doesn’t always pay to be popular!

After some 10 years at sea, including work for the New Zealand Shipping Company, P&O and Bibby Line, Tony eventually left his sea legs behind and turned to ‘feet’, training as a chiropodist.  Becoming a Senior Lecturer at the London Foot Hospital (part of University College London), his involvement with students led to research into professional wastage and a PhD.  He was later seconded to the post of Head of Admin Services for London University Careers Service.

Having already moved to Bournemouth with his wife, Hilary (whom he describes as ‘wonderfully tolerant’!), Tony was soon commuting to a new job in Cheltenham for UCAS. 

He eventually left the NHS when he turned 60.  A member of The Linnean Society of London http://www.linnean.org/  Tony, having had a great interest in trees and ethnobotany, then decided to teach Woodwork, English and Maths as a support worker at Poole College, and finally retired at 65.  Hilary and Tony have a son, daughter and two grandchildren.

Hilary & Tony Pigott, who will celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary on 4 April 2010. Congratulations!

Tony has known Maxillofacial Consultant Surgeon, ‘Ilanko’ Ilankovan, when accompanying a good friend who had facial cancer on hospital appointments from the mid 1980s.  He knew of About Face when it was initially formed a few years later – Ilanko being one of the founder Trustees.

 A thirst for knowledge on the subject of botany and biology led Tony to old bookshops, including that at Flogit & Leggit, a local charity supporting people who have a physical disability.  He went on to run the bookshop for a while and was asked to be a Trustee, a role he held for 4 years.   When the bookshop was shut down, Tony was involved in finding good causes for the money generated, which included equipping a disabled WC for the About Face Centre.  He also has a close association with the Samaritans.

The staff at Yellow Buses have kindly supported About Face in the past, making this fantastic donation instead of having a staff Christmas lunch one year.

Tony was asked to become a Trustee and the Chair of About Face from early 2010.  He says he has a commitment to make About Face an ongoing success for future generations and in extending the facilities the charity offers patients.

One of the first tasks Tony decided to take on was to procure some seating for the Centre’s 1st anniversary – becoming a ‘chair man’ in more ways than one!  Getting around on the Yellow Buses (see picture) and refusing lifts as “the No 1b goes all the way from home and stops right outside the Centre” made me ask Tony how he managed to get 16 chairs to the building, to which he answered “I called in a favour!” You get the feeling if he can’t do something himself… he knows a man who can!

 It is clear to us all that Dr Anthony Pigott is fast becoming a real asset to About Face.  Personally I would add that he is particularly the type of person you’d want to have around when the going gets tough… capable, charming, cool, calm and collected – someone who you can rely on to resourcefully come up with the goods…..  a bit like James Garner’s character in ‘The Great Escape’!

Chief Executive, Ian Catley, joins Tony and myself in this picture taken at the About Face Centre.

He’s also down to earth… just like the trees he loves!  Which made me think “if Tony were a tree… what would he be?!”  I’ve decided the fast growing ‘Willow’ which likes to be near water has tenacious roots and offers plenty of shade when most needed.

PS: Tony has since told me he’d probably be the Ginkgo, which is regarded as a living fossil and thrives in tough environments… and he promptly pulled out a dried fan-shaped leaf from his wallet saying it would have come from a tree 1,000 years old! Only another 935 years or so to match that then Tony!

Skin Camouflage: all about facing the world…

My last post about patient/volunteer/supporter extraordinaire Muriel Hall, leads me on to spotlight the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Service at Poole Hospital, who work behind the scenes playing a key role in improving the quality of life for patients with facial disfigurements. 

Mark, Carmen & Heidi

Recently, Head of Service, Mark Townend, introduced me to his team of Maxillofacial Prosthetists… pictured here with Mark are         Carmen Orbaneja and Heidi Silk. 

Their work covers a range of areas including:

• Cancer – predominantly from head and neck: prosthetic rehabilitation.

• Congenital cases: syndromes, skull and jaw growth problem.

• Trauma: construction of oral devices to treat injuries caused by road traffic accidents, physical violence, sport injuries.

• Surgical plannings for jaw osteotomies, facial implant positioning.

• Breast care: prosthetic rehabilitation of nipples and breasts.

• Skin camouflage: Treatment to disguise scars, flaps, birthmarks.

The challenges for the Maxillofacial Prosthetists are “Accuracy in every case.  Retention, tissue mobility and aesthetics for body prostheses”. 

When the team was asked: “What are the rewards?” the answer was: “When we are able to improve or restore functional problems (for example, swallowing, masticating, speech, oral hygiene, eyelids closure) and boost patients’ confidence as well as self esteem.  This is so important when people are going back to their normal routines, their family, work and friends.  We help to ease re-entering society, which is so critical with facial and body disfigurement.  Overall, to improve quality of life.” 

Muriel Hall (who had several operations to reconstruct her nose following cancer) kindly allowed me to use her ‘before’ and ‘after’ skin camouflage pictures and says:

“With support and lots of tuition from the unit, I learned how to use camouflage make up.  It covered scars and discolouring well and gave me more confidence”. 

She praises Sister Sonya Flynn who helped her in this particular instance and has since taken on other responsibilities but still assists the team from time to time.  From the feedback we get from patients at the About Face Centre, it is clear that Mark, Heidi, Carmen and Sonya have all made a huge improvement in the lives of many patients.   

                                 …Muriel Hall is an About Face ‘Star’…

 … always there to lend a listening ear, week in week out at the About Face Centre for Tuesday morning ’drop-in’……….    her ‘considerably bigger scones’ fresh out of the oven!  

No matter what ordeal Muriel faces herself, she is always positive, bright   and breezy with time for others… and managing to still look glamorous in her Marigolds, ready for washing-up duties afterwards! 

Here is her story:

“My name is Muriel Hall.  I am 63 years old and live in Poole with my partner, Martin.  I have two children, my son, David and my daughter, Gill.  They are both married and have five children between them. 

They all live locally in Poole and Bournemouth.  Not a day goes by when I don’t count my blessings to have them live so near, especially the grandchildren… Eleanor is 13, Victoria 12, Helen 7, Tom 6 and Olivia 3.

 In 1989 I noticed a small, flat mark on my forehead but it was not until 1994 that it was diagnosed as cancer and removed.   

In 1999, I was referred to the Head and Neck unit at Poole Hospital when a second cancer was discovered on my nose.  Unfortunately, it had grown inwards and had to be removed.  This meant I lost my nose and septum.  The first stage of nose and septum reconstruction began at the time of this operation.  Six months later, in 2000, a small third cancer had to be removed from the bridge of my nose and further reconstruction had to be put on hold for a long time.  It was a difficult spell, but I will always be grateful to the dedicated medical team who helped in every way possible.   In 2008 and 2009 I had two further operations which have given me a ‘new’ nose which I love!

Martin and I are always busy and spend a lot of time with our families.  We are both retired teachers.  We enjoy our holidays and get away as much as we can. 

I am a volunteer at the About Face Centre and I look forward to Tuesday mornings when the Centre is open for people to ‘drop in’ for coffee and a chat.  It is so good to know there is support for us all and to be able to be there for others when they need to talk.  How lucky we are to have our beautiful Centre so near our excellent hospital.”

Muriel's granddaughters joined other supporters for a "Stroll in the Park" (Poole Park) September 2009 to help raise funds for About Face - Poole. Photograph by Bournemouth Daily Echo. www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

Grandson, Tom.... a future About Face 'Chair man'??!!

So this is to say ‘thank you’ Muriel for being such an inspiration to us all, and kindly providing your personal story.  Thank you for being there for me.

In my next ‘post’ you will see that Muriel has given permission to use photos showing her reconstructed nose and the marvellous work carried out at the Maxillofacial Unit of Poole Hospital. 

This Valentine’s Day

About Face has something to say…………

A World of Difference already made in every way!

It’s Friday night in Bournemouth………. and for a group of mainly middle-aged ladies (exceptions: delightful young Lara and Fran)      it’s a case of evening classes rather than evening clubbing! 

However, bellydancing ‘teacher’ Kataneh Karimian gets us working out to some energetic routines, resulting in ’steamy windows’ at Moordown Community Centre!  Afterwards, instead of ‘down the pub’, its ‘along to the cafe’ for a cuppa and natter. 

The great thing is we all have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously!  Mind you, dressing up does become quite competitive at times and my good friend June Power  (pictured in purple at the front of this photo) , the ‘Queen of Car Boot Sales’, always has a treasure chest of glitz and bling for us to rummage through!

Once a year, Kataneh (pictured below) organises a ‘Hafla’ where she and her students from various classes put on a show and enjoy a buffet afterwards, in the past allowing me to hold a raffle to raise funds for About Face - a case of ‘shake, raffle and roll’!! 

The ‘girls’ have been great over the years coming up with prizes, donations and participating at fundraising events – like a recent Table Top Sale I organised at the Winton YMCA, where those not ‘manning’ a stall supported by visiting and grabbing a few bargains! 

Some of us have also made a public spectacle of ourselves dancing for charity!

At my 50th Birthday, Kataneh wove her way through the partygoers, shaking an About Face Butterfly Appeal collecting tin for donations in lieu of presents.

I was delighted when Kataneh decided to choose About Face as the charity to receive some of the proceeds of her forthcoming ‘The Persian Nights’ dance show! 

Presented by K Square Events – http://www.ksquareevents.com/- this is being held at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre Ballroom on Saturday 3 April at 7.30pm and will be an evening of culture, colour and grace of Middle Eastern classical dance -http://www.bic.co.uk/events/Event_Details.asp?event=5039

Which gave me an excuse to visit the Shah of Persia - http://www.shahofpersiapub.co.uk/ just up the road from the About Face Centre, for a delicious lunch the other day with friends Liz and Lesley.  The manageress kindly agreed to display flyers for the show.

Amongst the many raffle prizes claimed at the recent About Face party was gym membership which Liz had recently won herself and donated to the charity to recycle! 

Thanks Liz and Happy Birthday for tomorrow…. oops, look at the time… I mean for today!

Liz & Lesley

Greater Spotted Butterfly Trifle!

Green Kiwi Butterfly Trifle!

When Nick Hanham ‘sweet-talked’ me into making a trifle for last week’s About Face Centre celebrations, little did I know there would be competition from fellow supporter Celia Hodges… but we were clearly on the same wavelength,         both incorporating the charity’s butterfly emblem from the three-year capital fund raising appeal.

(In fact Celia wins’ in the artwork stakes because just as I had finished ‘crafting’ my butterflies from kiwi fruit, my daughter walked into the kitchen asking why I’d decorated the top with ‘x’s… adding “is it an X-Factor trifle?”!)  

Muriel June and Sue

Volunteers Muriel Hall, June Inskip and Sue Hanham were the perfect hostesses, running backwards and forwards making sure everyone was looked after.  These three brave ladies have all battled head and neck cancer and give of their time selflessly to support others with similar experiences. 

As you can see, supporters rallied round to provide an excellent spread!

In this Bournemouth Daily Echo photograph of the cake cutting (left to right):

back row:  Annabelle Catley, Celia Hodges, Muriel Hall, ’Ilanko’ Ilankovan (Trustee and Maxillofacial Consultant Surgeon), Penney Catley front row: Nick Hanham (Trustee), Dennis Broadhurst, Helen Woolf, Tony Pigott (Trustee & Chair) 

Bournemouth Daily Echo Picture / bournemouthecho.co.uk

 

Snappy dresser Ian and Happy Snapper Corin!

As many volunteers’ hands made light work preparing for the About Face Centre’s 1^stBirthday celebrations, Jim Durkin, a reporter for the Bournemouth Daily Echo rang to speak to Ian, as promised, to make arrangements to pop over and record the occasion. As you can see I leapt into action (wearing official Vodafone t-shirt!), washing up bowl in one hand and phone in the other to find Ian fixing balloons and banner to the front railings. 

When Jim and the newspaper’s photographer, Corin Messer, arrived, they were given a tour of the Centre and interviewed two former head and neck cancer patients, Mark Foyle and Sue Hanham (I’ll be ’blogging’ about Sue and her husband Nick soon!). We then gathered at the front of the building for a picture, and after Ian had finished adjusting his rather fetching plum sweater, Corin took this marvellous group photo.

And we’re already in print – with colour pictures I might add!

You can read the full article here on the newspaper’s website:

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/4887815._A_good_first_year__for_Bournemouth_cancer_charity/

 Thanks Daily Echo for giving us this great editorial. You supported About Face throughout its ‘Butterfly Appeal’ to raise funds to acquire and open a centre, so it is really appreciated that you are following the story through… in many ways this is just the beginning! 

Jim Durkin & Ian Catley

As mentioned in my last blog, the About Face Centre wouldn’t have become a reality without fantastic fund raising by its many supporters… but it didn’t end with its opening, and we need to keep the donations coming in to run the centre and deliver more and better services for people who have cancer of the head and neck.

Part of my work is to help acknowledge donations, and here is just one example of recent local fund raising…

Long Close

A Xmas raffle was organised by Christine Barrow, the manager of      Long Close Retirement Home in Branksome Park, Poole.  This picture was taken by our supporter and volunteer Stephen, Christine’s husband (you can just spot him in the mirror!) who has had extensive surgery by the Maxillofacial team at Poole Hospital.  Christine is in the foreground with two of her staff members behind her.  The gentleman in the picture is Joseph Pearce who, at 103 years of age is the eldest resident – he looks rather pleased with himself (no doubt being surrounded by all these lovely ladies) but also because he won a bottle of champers which the proprietor, Keith London-Webb kindly provided along with many other prizes, with the help of Mike Joy.

A BIG ”THANK YOU” to all who continue to fund raise for About Face……. I wanted to ‘say’ this by linking to the video of McFly’s song “It’s All About You” but haven’t received their permission yet – so look it up on You Tube (the Comic Relief version is best) and have a listen!

www.specialitycakes.biz

It was great to see so many people at the centre today to celebrate its      1st Birthday.  We were going to buy a supermarket cake to keep the costs down, but a supporter offered to pay for something more special and, at extremely short notice on Saturday (ordered 2pm – ready 5pm!) “Speciality Cakes” of Bournemouth pulled out all the stops and made us this wonderful cake which was truly delicious. 

Thank you Karen and team!

More on the party to follow!

Michael Le Fort

This blog is dedicated to Michael Le Fort who would have heartily approved of the celebrations taking place on Sunday 31 January to mark the first birthday of the About Face Centre.  The few occasions I met up with Michael were quite delightful – he was great company and always had a twinkle in his eye and a terrific sense of humour even in personally challenging times.

Michael, together with his surgeon ‘Ilanko’ Ilankovan (founder Trustee of the charity) were the driving force behind establishing a centre where people with cancer of the head and neck, and their families, could go for additional support, and where future maxillofacial surgeons could attend training courses and use resources. 

Enlisting the help of Michael’s good friend, Ian Catley, who has a wealth of fundraising experience and who is now leading day-to-day activity at the charity, they launched the ‘Butterfly Appeal’ to raise £250,000 for the purchase of a building near Poole Hospital. 

After the amazing achievements of many supporters and volunteers, a house at 111 Longfleet Road was purchased (where this picture of Michael was taken during renovation of the building). 

Sadly Michael passed away shortly before the opening at the end of 2008.  The Practical Suite at the Centre has been dedicated to him and many will benefit from his determination to see the dream become a reality. 

 Here are some ‘before’ pictures of the outside of the property…

… next week I will show some ’after’ shots and party pics!

God bless you Michael.

… ‘Mingle with a Mission’ for About Face! 

I’m going to ‘Party with a Purpose’, thanks to About Face - Poole supporters, Teresa & Colin Steventon! 

Teresa & Colin Steventon

They are in fact the friends who introduced me to this charity 4 years ago!  And yesterday, they founded “UK Mingle with a Mission”. 

This is a NEW social Meetup group covering the whole of the UK for charity fundraising purposes. 

One of my ‘missions’ during this placement will now be to enter forthcoming About Face events in the ‘Mingle with a Mission’ calendar so that future local members can join in and help us raise more funds!  Trustee, Frances Burden’s legendary annual Barn Dance on 27 February is already listed!

So, all you Vodafone World of Difference UK ‘winners’... why not visit: http://www.meetup.com/UK-Mingle-with-a-Mission/?gj=ej4&a=ti1_lm1

Spread the word, post YOUR upcoming fundraising event and let’s get as many people as possible around the UK supporting worthy causes whilst socialising…

… there can be a lot of FUN in FUNdraising! 

I’ve got the key to the door… although I’m certainly not 21 any more !!

Yes, my Vodafone placement means the About Face Centre can now open 5 days a week rather than 2½ days… well for two months at least!  It was rewarding to greet supporter and former patient, June Inskip, when she popped across the road from the hospital, having noticed the Centre lights were on!  However, on Thursday afternoon it was quite a different story!  3.30pm… just as it was getting dark… a power cut… there I was in the middle of a spreadsheet… completely powerless!

And talking about keys and computers brings me back to the “How about IT at the About Face Centre !!” title of this blog – yes, I’m talking “Information Technology”!  We needed help and advice, ie being able to access emails on two computers now rather than one… but more importantly, the website needs updating and the charity has to progress with email marketing.  One of my tasks is to gather as many supporters’ email addresses as possible so that I can provide them with news promptly and cost-effectively in between newsletters…

Our IT knight in shining armour arrived in the form of Mark Foyle (by car rather than trusty steed!), who volunteered to help out in his own time, visiting the Centre and patiently guiding me through steps over the phone in his lunch hour.   Mark is an IT enthusiast… and a mouth cancer patient who was put in touch with About Face – Poole last year. I hope you have time to read the full article on Mark in the charity’s Winter 2009 Newsletter:

About Face december2009 news letter[1]  

In this he pays tribute to the Maxillofacial Team at Poole Hospital, but one sentence in particular imparts an important message…that it could happen to any one of us: “At diagnosis I was told this sort of cancer usually occurs in heavy smokers or drinkers in their 50s or later years – at 29, I did not fit into this criteria…”

Mark inspires me with his positive approach to life – he is a brave ‘knight’ who has won that fight and is a true champion for our cause, helping About Face move forward in spreading awareness of head and neck cancer, and highlighting the importance of early detection which can dramatically improve a patient’s chances.  Mark and his fiancee,Camilla, are saving hard for their wedding next year and I wish them both every happiness for the future. It is wonderful to read Mark’s words: “Now almost 18 months on my life is better than ever before. You suddenly start to really appreciate those around you and just what I do have!” 

Mark’s friend, Chris Howard, has also stepped in by offering his company’s support.  Rejuvenate IT is working closely with About Face and helping the charity keep up with technology, looking shortly at social media.

Thank you Mark, for helping me in my attempt to make a difference during my two month placement.

PS:  A special mention to my other ‘IT Champion’… friend Jackie (pictured below) who kindly pointed out why I couldn’t fit a memory card into my new mobile phone – I was trying to put it into the multifunction jack for charging the phone!  Bless my little blonde highlights!  Cheers Jax… for help with the jacks!

Looking through the list of Vodafone World of Difference UK winners, some of their chosen charities have international links,           like Desmond Nganga’s ’Out of Afrika’, which has an office just a few miles from the About Face Centre.  Desmond and I met              at the Induction Day and I am sure we will keep in touch sharing ideas and experiences over the next two months.

Well, About Face – Poole has an international link too!  In December 2009 the centre hosted its first training day for surgeons,         which took place in the 1st floor facility both in ‘The Richie Keefe LIFE & SOUL Library’ and the practical room. 

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical speciality concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.  Some 20 trainees from hospitals across the South of England attended in their own time, and were addressed by Maxillofacial Consultant Surgeons Ilankovan, Ramchandani and Walji, who went on to supervise the teaching, also giving their time free of charge.  Mr Ilanko Ilankovan is a founder Trustee of About Face, being one of those who identified the need for the charity’s activities in the first place.  Mr Sajjad Walji, who recently became a Trustee said:

“We are putting our toe in the water during this inaugural day, but the facility at the             About Face Centre is just right for this kind of bespoke nurturing.  We will learn much ourselves about what trainees need as well as passing our experience on   to others.  Patients will benefit without doubt in the longer term, not just here on the South Coast,       but wherever our students find themselves around the World”. 

                                                               And these students often go on to make a ‘World of Difference’… 

wherein lies the link with my previous blog and the picture clues for Badulla! 

This town is located in the tea plantation hill country of central Sri Lanka and                                       is home to Badulla Hospital, which serves a population of 1.3 million people! 

The country has a high incidence of mouth cancer and childhood cleft problems.    

Dr Sabesan is Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon at Badulla Hospital, but prior to his appointment there, was a trainee at Poole Hospital for five and a half years, learning such a lot under the tutelage of Mr  Ilankovan, working all hours and contributing much to the NHS during his time here.

In Saturday’s talk at the centre: “From here to Badulla”, Penny Kinson shared her experiences in a fully visual travelogue of her              7 visits to Sri Lanka, at the same time raising funds and awareness for About Face.   It was an exceptionally informative evening,    and at times highly moving.  Here are some of her travel pictures.

Penny and a network of friends have been following the career path and progress of Dr Sabesan since his return.

As Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, he himself is now a trainer and of course improving the quality of life of his patients in his home country, Sri Lanka.

I’ve got so much ‘a do’… and so little time to do it in! This first week flew by!

Monday 11 Jan: Vodafone Foundation World of Difference UK Induction Day in London… made it to the second row!

Tuesday 12 Jan:   DROP IN MORNING - TUESDAYS - 9.30am-1pm at The About Face Centre, 111 Longfleet Rd, Poole BH15 2HP (opposite Poole Hospital) and the kettle is on!

Catch up with volunteer supporters, amongst these a dedicated cohort of individuals who have experienced head and neck cancer for themselves and ‘been there before’.  Nothing is more helpful to a person newly diagnosed than to meet a member of the charity’s one-to-one support team… over a cup of tea in confidential circumstances in one of the centre’s two comfortable lounges.

In the afternoon… I visited the Vodafone Store at Commercial Road, Bournemouth to find my ‘Vodafone buddy’Kevin Burnett, the Store Manager… I was very ably assisted by David Burman who further guided me through the features of my new Samsung Genio Touch mobile phone – kindly provided by Vodafone! What a piece of technology – a bit scary for a 50 something user but I’m determined to master it! Luckily I popped in when I did because two days later the store had the biggest launch experienced – the Apple iPhone!

The rest of the week:

- Updating the database (of some 950 supporting individuals and organisations) from correspondence and donations received in the last month.   My challenge – to make that at least 1,000 by the end of my 2 months!

- Emails to friends, family, former colleagues & employers, telling them what I’m doing and asking them to help me raise awareness of head and neck cancer.

- Contacted Waitrose and Sainsbury’s to see whether I could nominate ABOUT FACE as one of their local charities.

- Visit from a supporter and patient who gave us some much-needed IT guidance (more on this next week!).

- Met with friend who is staging a “Persian Nights” show at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on 3 April, with a percentage going to the charity (again… more to follow on this!).

- Liaised with Frances Burden (one of the Trustees) about her legendary annual Barn Dance to raise funds for About Face (Yee-haah! watch this space).

And the week didn’t end there…

on Saturday evening there was an illustrated talk at the centre… “From Here to Badulla” – where!?!      

Well – here’s a clue and it is connected with another image above. More on this in the next blog!

About Turn? Collins English Dictionary: “to reverse the direction in which they are facing”…
I am sure this fantastic opportunity is an ‘about turn’ for many!  It certainly is a huge turning point in my life after a difficult couple of years employment and health-wise.  A change of direction which I have no doubt will benefit me, restoring confidence and self-esteem and providing an even greater sense of fulfillment and achievement than I have already felt from my  few hours a week voluntary work over the past 4 years for chosen charity ‘About Face – Poole’.   So… thank you Vodafone Foundation, firstly on a very personal level, for sponsoring me for 2 months!  Therefore, as you can see from the photo a fellow ‘winner’ took, I had no difficulty smiling for the camera at the induction day which was held in a venue adjacent to the London Dungeon… but I’m certain the loud cheers of close to 500 participants travelled through the walls to drown the screams of horror next door!   I was thinking of keeping the board in case the trains were cancelled and I needed to hitch a lift ‘home’ down the M3! 

About Face? Collins English Dictionary: “to perform an about turn”… and living up to the charity’s name, this is exactly what its supporters have achieved by opening a Centre just over a year ago, opposite Poole Hospital, as a result of its fundraising ’Butterfly Appeal’ which was greatly assisted by the Bournemouth Daily Echo coverage. The About Face Centre will be my full-time place of work until mid-March – but more about this in a future blog.  As you will see, my ‘boss’ and newsletter editor, Ian Catley, lost no time in getting a ‘Stop Press’ article about the placement in the latest edition!  

 I consider myself extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to help develop the marvellous work of a a great team of supporters and make a ‘World of Difference’ by pushing ahead with About Face’s strategy to deliver more and better services for people who have cancer of the head and neck.  I was very proud to see our local charity listed on the wall chart produced by the Vodafone Foundation, between such amazing well-established national charitable organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Samaritans.