The Amazon Breast Support Group

Hello again – here we are in 2026 recalling our 30th Anniversary 2025 Celebrations – the cake, party, donations and award!

We enjoyed the £82,805 donation celebrations with the clinicians. Being told that both new systems would provide improved experiences for local patients was a perfect 30th anniversary present for us!

We are so proud to also be celebrating winning SFHT's 2025 Community Hero Award – "thank you" to everyone involved – another 30th present!

As always we thank and celebrate our kind fundraisers and generous supporters. Wendy Brocklehurst, pictured below, was one of them for many years.

A BIG "THANK YOU". God Bless you all, Beryl Perrin (Chairperson)

Here we are at an Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group "Open Meeting", celebrating with the professionals when they came to demonstrate the two "state of the art" systems that our donation has funded.

Pictured is part of the £39,425 updated Cool Cap System, demonstrated by Specialist Nurse Claire Madine, who explained how it is being used by the Chemotherapy Team in the Welcome Treatment Centre to help prevent hair loss for some patients receiving treatment.

King's Mill Consultant Breast Surgeons Ellie Gutteridge and Manas Dube demonstrated the £43,380 MagSeed system, which can be used prior to the operation day to accurately mark the position of a tumour, improving patient experience and theatre times. The professionals said the new systems introduced innovative approaches into their practice and enhanced breast cancer care for local patients. "Thank you" Fundraisers!

Our other "spends" include sponsorship for Mr Dube to attend a course on the latest techniques in breast reconstruction and implants – a benefit to patients, as clinicians have the most up-to-date information. And pictured is the latest addition to our Amazon Lounge; a wonderful, "feel good" mural. "Thank you" Fundraisers!

At our monthly Open Meetings: This is our December Open Meeting "fuddle". We're in the informal setting of our comfortable Amazon Lounge, where we can chat, relax and be amongst friends with shared history and, as pictured, shared party food! In the background is a favourite picture from founder member Jill Bingham, used to inspire our new mural.

In October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we visited Sutton's Idlewells Precinct's Academy Transformation Trust Further Education Hub, to chat and raise awareness with our information sheets and Newsletters, and to receive a £23 donation. "Thank you"! Particular thanks to Linda Smith, ATTFE College Voluntary Partnership Community Lead (left), and Paula Woodland, College Ambassador (right).

The King's Mill Breast Care Nurses held an October event in King's Street and invited us along. Giving out Newsletters and bracelets, we passed on the message of the importance of being breast cancer aware.

Telephone 01623 622515 ext. 3884 and speak to Nurse Specialists Yvonne Lisseman-Stone & Carolyn Bennett Or contact Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group on Facebook messenger

Open Meetings are:

The second Tuesday of each month, except August 5.00pm to 6.30pm in the Amazon Lounge,Clinic 14, Women and Children’s Centre, King’s Mill. Please just turn up, with a partner or friend if you wish.

Remember, if you’ve missed your mammogram appointment don’t wait until your next 3 year reminder; you can ring the Breast Clinic and a new appointment can be made. After the age of 70 when the automatic 3 yearly appointments stop, you can still request mammogram appointments, just ring.

...at our annual awareness/tombola stand. In October we maintained our annual tradition of raising breast cancer issues with people in Sutton's Idlewells Shopping Centre. We talked about the importance of attending mammogram appointments, even after 70, and that men as well as women need to check their bodies for changes. It is always a good opportunity to swap information and chat informally, making new friends and often renewing old friendships.

On the tombola the prizes were all wrapped, so they were sur-prizes when won! The event raised £148.78 and was an opportunity to meet people in another area of our community and have discussions about breast cancer awareness and our local involvement. "Thank you" to all the people who stopped to talk, to "have-a-go" on the tombola and to provide tombola prizes. Very big "THANK YOU"s to the Management and Staff of the Idlewells Precinct and the Management and Staff of Sutton's "Card Factory" Shop for our balloons.

Kath Finan of "The Complete Clothing Company" is seen here at the front of the cat-walk line up of our wonderful, volunteer models. There were hats, scarves, "shades" and bags to enhance the lovely outfits on sale, with some real bargains to be had! There was a raffle and a bar available, and this successful and entertaining event was a £1,195 fundraiser to benefit local breast cancer patients at King's Mill. "Many Thanks" to Kath, Staff and our models Gail, Gill, Sue, Wendy, Diane & Pat.

The stage was set with bargain Lucky Dip prizes; raffle tickets were selling fast; punters were listening to Stuart, host from RN Promotions, as he described the horses’ form and the tote table was resting before the rush! ...And we were off, fundraising at our Race Night at Skegby's Triple S Club! With free table nibbles, a bar and good company, the event raised £2,000 to benefit local patients. "Thank you"s to prize providers, all the supporters of the event, and Staff and Management of the Triple S Club and Sutton's Card Factory Shop.

Eastwood Collieries' Male Voice Choir have supported us this year by donating over £1,700 raised at their "Summer Sing Out" (pictured with soloist Nicola Hunt) and Christmas Concert. To the Choir, celebrating its 60th birthday, we send our best wishes and a huge "Thank you"!

Kerry Marsh White has held three fundraisers for us this year at her Blidworth salon. Her "Easter Egg Raffle" raised £253, her "25th Salon Birthday" event raised £1,250 and her "Christmas Calendar" event raised £290! The Amazons say a huge "Thank you" to Kerry, her Staff and her supporters!

Vicky, Cora & Kayme (pictured left to right) organised a sales stall and tombola in King's Street at King's Mill Hospital. With the help of friends, selling toys, bracelets, slides, badges and lots more, they raised and donated £765 to the Amazons to benefit local breast cancer patients at the Hospital – Cora's efforts raised £100 of that! "Thank you" to them and all their generous supporters!

UPPINGHAM SCHOOL - True stars! They chose us as "their" charity, held various fundraising events, such as this house "dinner", and donated around £18,340 to help breast cancer patients at King's Mill! Thank you!

Edan Lisseman Stones, Luke Morgan, Daniel Lewis and Tom Marley raised £1,500 for us by running the Rasselbock Half Marathon!

Caunton Engineering has supported us over 30 years, most recently raising funds playing in The Business Fives Charity Football Event. With previous event donations of £786 and £316, and £370 currently this year, the Amazons say a huge "Thank you" for their continuing support and "well done" to the team on and off the pitch!

Nat West Mansfield Staff raised £60 for us with a book sale. Thank you!

Thank you to Clair's Coaches of Derbyshire for choosing to donate £500 to us from your water sales scheme, and "thank you" to our nominators.

1) Amazon Fashion Show: Fri 5th June 2026, "Triple S Club", Skegby

2) Fri 2nd October 2026, "Breast Cancer Awareness" Stall and Tombola, Idlewells Precinct, Sutton

3) Hunters Race Night, Fri 6th November 2026, "Triple S Club", Skegby