The Amazon Breast Support Group

It’s that time of year again when our annual News Letter goes to press, so may I take this opportunity to wish all our supporters, readers and friends “A Happy and Healthy 2014” and to update you on Amazon activities.

Breast Care Unit AGM 2013

The Amazon Lounge is being well used by the Breast Care Unit and the Amazon Group for Open Meetings. Last year our own Fashion Show and Race Night fund-raisers proved to be popular once again and this year we’re planning a new venture - a “60’s Music and Dance Night” at Edwinstowe’s South Forest Complex to be held on 17th May. This way we hope to expand our support area.

Breast Care Unit AGM 2013

Our aim, as a small, locally based Charity, is to support local breast cancer patients at King’s Mill and last year our expenditure exceeded £51,000. We were invited again this year to the Breast Care Unit’s Annual General Meeting and we became aware of many areas of possible future spending where Amazon funds may help to support patients’ treatment and care pathways.

Therefore, I am appealing for people who have new ideas for fund-raising to support the Charity actively and become involved. You can make a difference!

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to all our supporters, past, present and future and to our brilliant team of professionals at the King’s Mill Breast Care Unit.

Bless you all, Beryl Perrin (Chairperson).

Consultant Breast Surgeon at King’s Mill, Mr. Jahan, with the high pressure, liposuction machine.

Last year the £46,000 Body Jet System was purchased by the Amazons for the Breast Unit at King’s Mill to use with their patients, after mastectomy, for breast reconstruction. It is the only machine of its type in the East Midlands (the few others available being in London, Scotland and Birmingham).

One year on and the machine has been used over a hundred times! Consultant Breast Surgeon, Mr. Jahan, says that usage of the water jet system gives the patient better results, is less invasive and painful, quicker than other methods and can enable same-day return home. It is a big technological advance on previous methods. One clinician commented that having the system was “invaluable” to the Breast Unit’s work with its patients. This year, for the Unit, the Amazons have funded a related £720 course and a laptop to be used along-side the machine, with future spending planned.

Last year the Amazons were pleased to donate £5,000, on behalf of breast care patients, towards the MRI scanner appeal. Great News! King’s Mill now have the new machine up and running for all patient’s benefit. Pictured above, at its unveiling, are Amazons Geoff, Keith, Ann, Sandra and Janet and, of course, Paralympic Star Ollie Hynd - the clue is, he’s the one with the medals!

The Amazons again funded Specialist Breast Care Nurses Gill Clark and Ailsa Rodgers to attend the Breast Care Annual Conference in London where they learn about and discuss the latest innovations in breast care with other professionals. That’s £90 well spent!

. . . in a video. Gary Greenwood of “ourmansfield.tv” interviewed Amazons to support the making of a 2013 calendar by Carrie Austin, which raised nearly £5,000 last year for the Charity. Thank you both.

. . . at the Ashfield Volunteers event in Kirkby.

. . . in the Idlewells Precinct in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Amazons were there to talk, meet old and new friends, give information and raise £183 on the Tombola.

. . . in the "Street" at King's Mill in National Volunteer's Week. Lisa Cole stops to look.

. . . in our "Open" meetings.

One of our Specialist Breast Care Nurses, Linda Salmon, (pictured centre settee in the photo to the right) has retired, but fortunately for the Amazons, she is still supporting breast care patients at King’s Mill as a member of the Amazon Committee. She is pictured at the Amazon Open Meeting “Fuddle” for her retirement. Pictured below are members at an Amazon Committee meeting. From the left, clockwise, Amazon Committee Members Janet, Liz, Geoff, Keith, Angie, Sandra, Beryl and Ann. The Specialist Breast Care Nurses are also members.

. . . in our Committee meetings.

Amazon, Liz Hunter, organised our catwalk cash-raiser which brought out the purses and helped to swell the wardrobes of our supporters, increasing the Charity’s funds by £826! Thank you! Pictured from the left are our much appreciated volunteer models: Melanie, Tracy, Scarlet, Natalie, Susan, Carolyn and Margaret.

Pictured above, from the left, Amazons Janet, Keith and organiser Liz had a busy Race Night taking the money off the punters (and paying out, of course!) and it was a sure bet that the Amazons appreciated the £955 that was raised. Thank you to our supporters for their generosity, to Terry Wiseman for his humorous presentation and for the tasty PIE, PEA AND CHIP SUPPER!

Both these events were held at the Hosiery Mills Sports and Social Club, Huthwaite Rd and the Amazons would like to thank the Management and Staff for their help and support.

Jan, Joyce, Julie and Ann at “Julie’s Bash”

Julie Marriott’s phenomenal fund-raising has topped a £10,000 running total. During this year she has donated over £1,900 to the Amazons and when we last saw her she was sorting boxes of “goodies” for her next ventures!

Santa's visit to the Christmas Bingo Night

Pictured left are Jan, Joyce, Julie and Ann at “Julie’s Bash” which included stalls for home-baking, bric-a brac, wine or water bottles and tombola. Julie was helped by those pictured above plus husband George, Jessie, other friends and the Landlady (Zophia) and Staff of Huthwaite’s Market Club, where the event was held.

THANK YOU!

Every Friday evening Julie has continued to hold a Bingo Night at the Huthwaite Leisure Centre and the proceeds of the Raffle have been donated to the Amazons. Pictured right is Santa’s Christmas Visit to the event.

THANK YOU !

When holidaying at the Cambria Hotel in Paignton, the fund-raising continued with raffles and even a “swear box” plus a generous donation from the family-owned hotel.

THANK YOU!

The Cambria Hotel, Paignton

Pictured right is Julie presenting Beryl, Amazon Chairperson, with a donation raised at a “Table Top Sale”. We went to take a photo of the event at Huthwaite Leisure Centre but she’d already sold out!

Table Top Sale

The Amazons would like to say a

“VERY BIG THANK YOU”

to all the people who support Julie in her fund-raising: to the people who donate their time, the raffle prizes and items to sell and their money. Julie couldn't do it without you and neither could we.

It was Jan Bullimore’s 70th birthday this year and she celebrated in style at the Hilcote Country Club. She treated her many friends to a lovely meal and wine to go with it, all at her expense and instead of presents she accepted donations to the Amazons! Pictured either side of Beryl, presenting the donation for the Amazons, are Pat and Jan who worked together to organise the event. It raised an amazing £500! and £115 collected by Julie on a raffle.

THANK YOU!

Pictured with a cheque for £2,350 for the Amazons are Beryl, Christine Want, Margaret Ralls, Jenny Chambers, Cathleen Fletcher, Julie Marriott and Sandra Ballard. The fantastic amount was raised at the Victoria Club by Jenny following her sister Maggie’s battle with breast cancer. The many helpers included Cathleen and Christine (pictured), Margaret Lynch, Laurence Peat and Russell Wykes, landlords Gary and Denise Waring, bar staff and many friends. Money was raised at the Club during a year of Raffles, Fun Days and donations.

THANK YOU!

“Thank you” to the fund-raisers who have supported The Amazon Breast Support Charity and to the people who have made personal, group and family donations to help local breast cancer patients at King’s Mill Hospital. Also an especially big “thank you” to our wonderful Professional Breast Care Team at King’s Mill.