The Amazon Breast Support Group

Welcome to the 20th edition of our Newsletter. I am amazed when I look back over the years and realise all the things we have achieved to help improve patients’ pathways at King’s Mill. My thanks go out to our small group of dedicated and hard-working committee members who have made it happen.

We have welcomed two new people onto the committee—Maureen Walton Mowbray (left) and Specialist Breast Care Nurse Lisa Rahn. 2016 was very special because we celebrated our 20th Anniversary! Thanks to Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust, who organised a 20th Anniversary Event and cake, we were able to invite and thank fund-raisers and clinicians who have supported us over the years.

We were so happy that amongst them were Jill and David Bingham (who were instrumental founder members), Roger Gore (who has always looked after our web-site) and Consultant Breast Surgeon Ali Jahan with several of his important team. Jill and David organised the first Amazon fund-raising event which was to guess the weight and sex of their first awaited grandchild -he’s now 21! From that small beginning we have raised over £200,000. Long may it continue!

At the SFHT Staff Excellence Awards our Specialist Nurse Yvonne Lisseman-Stones was given the Individual Winner’s Award for, and I quote, “going above and beyond her call of duty to maintain the service and support of the patients under the care of the Breast Unit and Oncology”. Well done Yvonne, we’re proud of you! As a group we continue to interact with other cancer working-groups and agencies and keep current with on-going issues. The photos, right, show us at some events. On behalf of the Amazons , I would like to thank all the people who support us and a big “Thank You” to the Professionals in the Breast Unit and Oncology Unit.

Bless you all, Beryl Perrin (Amazon Chairperson).

MORE “ONE STOP” APPOINTMENTS AT KING’S MILL’S BREAST UNIT WITH 2nd ULTRA SOUND SCANNER

Pictured at the presentation are, Amazon Chairperson Beryl, Consultant Breast Surgeon Ali Jahan, Consultant Radiologist Amanjot Kasuppiah, Amazon Lesley, Specialist Breast Care Nurse Gill Clark, Senior Radiographer Pamela Lanckham and Amazons Janet, Ann, Sandra, Angie, Geoff and Keith.

A doctor and radiographer trained to use the new “state of the art” ultra sound scanner in the Breast Unit say that having the use of this second scanner will enable the unit to double the number of “one stop” appointments so that higher numbers of patients have detailed assessments made without having to return for a second follow-up appointment. As well as the £20,000 donation from the Amazons Breast Cancer Support Group and donations from the group “Breast And Balls, who fund-raise for breast and prostate cancer patients, the £58,000 scanner was also funded from the Oncology Trust Fund at King’s Mill.

Radiologist Natalie Ward is pictured with extra equipment donated to King’s Mill Breast Care Unit by the Amazons Group.

As the work-load of King’s Mill’s Breast Unit has increased greatly over the last year the Amazons have donated extra equipment where needed; a pulse oxi-meter, for measuring oxygen in the blood, a sit-on scales and a stadiometer for measuring a patient’s height and weight. Amazon spending, including nurses’ courses at The Royal Marsden, Hospital, London, has totalled £23,160 in 2016. These funds, used to support local patients at King’s Mill Hospital, were raised by our generous supporters. A big “THANK YOU” to them.

A VERY GOOD NIGHT AT THE RACES FOR THE AMAZONS Pictured, eyes down, are some hopeful punters studying form, at the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group Charity “night at the races”. The event raised a fantastic £1,123 to benefit local breast care patients at King’s Mill Hospital and was held at The Hosiery Mills Social Club in Sutton. It was hosted by Terry Wiseman and as well as a chance to win a (very) small fortune, the evening’s punters were offered free table snacks, a raffle, a “prize-every-time” Christmas Lucky Dip Table and a free draw for a big cuddly-toy bear generously donated by “Lily’s Cards” Sutton. The Amazon Charity would like to thank all the supporters of the evening and the staff at The Hosiery Mills Social Club.

THE CHRISTMAS CAT-WALK The Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group held their Sunday Lunch-time Christmas Fashion Show at “Bon Marche” in Sutton’s Idlewell’s Precinct. As well as an opportunity to see the models on the “Christmas Cat Walk” the event included free refreshments, a game of “pass the parcel”, a raffle, cakes, and a free prize draw and raised £168 to benefit local breast care patients at King’s Mill Hospital. The Amazons would like to thank Shelley, the “Bon Marche” manageress, all her staff, the great “Amazon” models and everyone who supported the event. Pictured left to right are Mariala, Debbie, Sally-Ann, Shelley, Ceilia, Maureen, Julie, Vera, Maureen, Anthea and Beryl.

CELEBRATING LAUNCHING THE “NEW LOOK” MANSFIELD BRANCH OF NAT WEST Pictured left to right at the front, Manager Nicola Ashley-Lyon, with Beryl Perrin, Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group Chairperson, cutting the ribbon and behind them, Tom Lane, Gill Crisp, Rachael Stewart and one of the event organisers.The charity event raised £221 for The Amazons who work for breast cancer patients at King’s Mill Hospital.

THE SAVERS at The Yorkshire Building Society

THE RAFFLERSMrs. Jane Grafton pictured left, Landlady of “The Maypole” pub, Skegby, presented a cheque for £75 to Beryl Perrin, Chairperson of the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group. The donation was part of the money raised from a Christmas Raffle at “The Maypole” and will be used to support local breast cancer patients at Sutton’s King’s Mill Hospital. “Home Start, Mansfield” also benefited with a donation from this fund-raiser. A big “Thank you” from the Amazon Charity to Mr. and Mrs. Grafton and all the “locals” who took part in the fund-raising.

THE DISCO DANCERS at Jacksdale Welfare raised £523 when Natalie Whelan, amily and friends held a disco event with raffle, buffet, shots at the Bar and sold Amazon badges and wrist-bands.

“FOREVER” FUND-RAISERS Julie Marriott & The Cambria Hotel, Paignton and “The Peacock” Huthwaite raised £939

THE PARTY THROWERS Sharon & John Cooper raised £345.

THE KNITTING NANNAS knitted Easter rabbits, chicks and ducks containing chocolate eggs and raised £1,600.

THE BALLOONERS Kaitlan, Amanda, Ellie, Mel, Keisha and Courtney raised £250 at The Idlewells Mothers’ Day Balloon Race.

THE “AFTERNOON TEA” MAKERS Pictured left to right: Ang Hazel Ann Sue Beryl Di Joan Tracey & Margaret. Pictured at Skegby Methodist Anchor Centre – Joan Hollingsworth presenting cheque for £347 raised at the Sept “Afternoon Tea” – there was a raffle, cake stall, jewelry plus full afternoon tea.

Kai made a SPLASH for Amazon CASH! Kai, a four year old Yorkshire Terrier/Shih Tzu cross completed a sponsored swim and raised £732 for the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group, who work for local patients at King’s Mill Hospital. His target swim was 20 lengths at the Sherwood Canine Hydrotherapy Pool at Stanton Hill but as swimming is his passion he did countless more! He was rewarded with toys, a “silver-coloured” trophy and a certificate. The Amazons send a big “THANK YOU” to Kai and his owner Heather.

THE WEIGHT WATCHERS Pictured at King’s Mill’s Conference Centre, at the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, is Davinda Livingstone, representing “Weight Watchers,” presenting a donation of £300 to Beryl, the Charity’s Chairperson. The donation was the result of a fund-raising event organised by Wray Annable at her “Weight Watchers” meetings and her event held at the “Redfern Travel” venue at Mansfield Woodhouse where there had been a refreshment stall, small business stalls and a raffle. The Amazons would like to thank the fund-raising supporters of this event and also say a “BIG THANK YOU” to Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust for hosting the Amazons’ 20 year celebration of supporting breast cancer patients at King’s Mill.

THE CLUBBERS Jenny Chambers and her supporters have raised £3,500 to be used for the benefit of local breast cancer patients. Over the last year Jenny has organised fund-raising events including a “Medium Night”, jumble sales, parties and raffles. She had the help of Denise and Gary Waring at Huthwaite’s Victoria Club, her family and friends including Ken, Lauren, Katie, Sam, Tara and Melanie, Margaret Wilson, Melanie Williams and many others. At a social evening at the Victoria Club Jenny presented the £3,500 donation to the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group who work for local breast cancer patients at King’s Mill Hospital. Pictured left to right are Amazon Chairperson Beryl, Tara, Sam, Jenny and Katie and Amazons Sandra, Janet and Geoff.

Team Vinyl’s “FUN DAY” The Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group Charity, who work for local patients at King’s Mill Hospital, have been presented with a cheque for £3,000 from the organisers of the Rainworth Family Fun Day and Music Festival. Known as “Team Vinyl” because of their previous disc jockey connections, the Fun Day event organisers, dressed in their pink Amazon-logo tee-shirts, attended an Amazon Open Support Group meeting in The Amazon Lounge in King’s Mill and presented the donation. Their Fun Day and Music Festival fund-raiser had included a bouncy castle, burger stall, beer tent, coffee, tea and pizza stalls, rides, a Crazy house, cakes and cosmetic stalls, boules, bran tubs, toy and bric a-brac stalls, face painting, wood-turning, tombola, raffle and much more! There were many entertaining musical performances including a great youth-group steel band. The day had several generous sponsors including Taylor Wimpey East Midlands and was attended by representatives of the Mansfield First Responders and Ambulance Heritage Society. The Amazons say a big “THANK YOU” to “Team Vinyl” and everyone who supported their fantastic event. Pictured left to right at the cheque presentation are Geoff, Janet, Ann, Debbie, Pete, Cheryl, Dawn, Arlene, Rob, Rob and Beryl