Milton Keynes Cancer Patient Partnership

Sharing the Caring for Cancer in Milton Keynes

New buddy project for Milton Keynes cancer patients

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We’re all thrilled to welcome Al’s Pals, a new charity in MK to provide ‘buddies’ for all cancer patients who love company and whose friends and family aren’t always available to share their journey with them on a regular basis.

Al's Pals new cancer charity in Milton Keynes
“It is his legacy to have a cancer buddy scheme like this,” says Al’s daughter Suzanne

Suzanne Brown, whose late Dad Alan Dumbell was receiving ongoing cancer treatment at MKUH, launched this service in his memory.

Why a cancer ‘buddy’ scheme was – and is – needed in Milton Keynes

Alan noticed that throughout his treatment as much as he was surrounded by his loving family he still felt very lonely and lost at times and he often discussed having a ‘buddy’ to support him and help him where he felt things were missing. [Read more…]

The MKCPP takes a look at 2019

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The following is a brief update on the MKCPP’s status and activities as prepared for an update presentation to the MKUH Board early in 2019…

Overview

Making sure that we have first-class cancer services in the Milton Keynes area is a vitally important activity, as you know. And this is what the Milton Keynes Cancer Patient Partnership (MKCPP) was founded to help achieve: to be a charity that combines “the patients’ voice” in a partnership with health professionals and other cancer-related groups and charities, working together so all MK cancer patients and their carers can have the best possible experience through the cancer journey.

MKCPP win award in 2016
In 2016 we were lucky enough to win the MKUH Staff Award of Volunteer(s) Of The Year. Thanks, everyone!

With our core membership of local volunteer cancer patients and carers – users of cancer services – leading our strong and very active group, we’re pioneering the way forward for realistic maintenance of and improvements to cancer services based on the realities of today … while progressing, with our NHS partners, other charities, support groups and other associates, towards even better cancer care in the future. [Read more…]

Come and write some letters to cancer patients – in Milton Keynes!

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Shortly after Brian Greenley was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, he was introduced to Alison Hitchcock. Even though she had only just met him, she surprised herself by offering to write to him throughout his treatment.

“From Me to You” run letter-writing workshops, speak at events and festivals, and campaign for people to rediscover the art of letter writing.

The 100+ letters she wrote changed both of their lives and led to the creation of “From Me to You,” a campaign to encourage people to write letters to friends, family and strangers as a way to keep a connection at a time when people feel most isolated.

Have a look at this short video… 

The “Donate A Letter” scheme allows people who want to make a difference to write anonymous letters to cancer patients in hospital and so brighten their day. “People are shy and often embarrassed about writing letters to someone with cancer,” says Alison. “We aim to show them not only the huge difference that receiving a letter can make to the patient but also how to overcome the fear of not knowing what to say.”

Alison and Brian are in MK on Thursday June 14th, 2018. Come and join them for this Letter Writing Workshop!

Hosted by the MK Literary Festival team, this event will be held in the MK Gallery Event Space at 900 Silbury Boulevard from 7:30 p.m. Entry is just £7.50 pp, and £5.00 for concessions. All proceeds go to the From Me To You charity.

At the event, Alison and Brian will share their story, introduce you to “From Me to You” and inspire you to write a letter. They will also use video excerpts from their film, “Letters Of Hope To Unmet Friends,” to illustrate the power of anonymous letters sent to hospital patients. They provide stationery and inspiration – all you need to bring is a pen. (For more info, or to make a donation, click here.)

Follow MK Lit Fest on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to find out about other Taster Events and about the 2018 Festival Programme, to be announced in late May. Or click here to subscribe to their mailing list.

Be sure to book soon!

You can book your place / places on the MK Lit Fest Facebook page here … or you can email us on info@mkcpp.org and we will pass your bookings on to them.

 

Please support MK’s Esther Hutson for London Marathon!

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Let’s hear it for Esther Hutson, daughter of MKCPP member and throat cancer survivor Trevor Hutson and his wife/carer Sally. Esther is running the London Marathon this year to raise money for laryngectomy patients nationwide. Trevor is also a member of Head & Neck Cancer – MK and of Milton Keynes’ new group for head and neck cancer patients, The Swallows.

Trevor explains the background

Please support MK's Esther Hutson for London Marathon!
Trevor and Esther Hutson

“I know this is not really 100% relevant but we have a really great and long standing charity for lary’s called NALC – National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs. They are an organisation that provide information for larys and their carers. They help support Clubs and groups. They provide lots of free important accessories such as emergency wristbands, emergency cards, contacts , dvds, car window stickers etc.

Please go to their website to have a look (as they do ship worldwide) http://www.laryngectomy.org.uk/ and they are always pleased to help us all.

Our daughter Esther, on hearing their desperate plight for funding decided to run the London Marathon on behalf of all us larys who are unable to endure a twenty six mile run! We are hoping it will increase awareness of neck breathers and their plight. [Read more…]

New Head and Neck cancer support group launches in MK Feb 14th 2018

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“The Swallows” – the nationwide Head and Neck Cancer Support Charity – is opening its Milton Keynes branch on Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2018, at the Mercure Hotel at Abbey Hill, north-west MK.

New head and neck cancer support group for Milton Keynes
Click on this image, which will enlarge it and make it easier to read.

Known as ‘The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Group’ because of difficulty a lot of people have with swallowing, this group is designed to help provide information for both patients and their carers. It was formed by like-minded cancer patients to help and support fellow sufferers and their carers. [Read more…]