Wales' First Ovarian Cancer Support Group - My Ovacome

My Ovacome

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Wales' First Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Whippit profile image
38 Replies

Chris (Darragh) and I met another lady last week and we've fixed the date and time of the first meeting of the SE Wales Ovarian Cancer Support Group.

The meetings will take place on the last Wednesday of every month at Churchills Hotel, Cardiff at 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Our first meeting will be an informal coffee and chat to find out what women want from a support group. Hopefully we'll be setting up a mixed programme of monthly meetings including informal sessions and lunch meetings for women with Ovarian Cancer, and meetings with guest speakers or activities for members, families and friends.

It was a great help to have Angela advising us. She isn't a member of Ovacome and doesn't have access to a computer or email. It made us all the more determined to set up a series of meetings as a complement to the HealthUnlocked site for women who feel more confident with face-to-face contact. Angela has great contacts with the local press so we're hoping we can draw on her expertise to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer through the local media, we're looking to develop fundraising ideas, and at the heart of it all, we're looking forward to developing new friendships.

Our first meeting will be:

11:00 - 12:30 - Wednesday 27 March 2013

Churchills Hotel, Cardiff Road, Cardiff, CF5 2AE

If you know anyone in this area with Ovarian Cancer please pass on these details.

xx Annie

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Whippit profile image
Whippit
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38 Replies
ScottishMisty profile image
ScottishMisty

Annie, Just want to say good luck with this fantastic venture! Wish there was something like this near to me. I attended a great place just after my opinion but it was attended by all and I found it very hard to talk about my OC as I felt it was very intimate to talk to both men and women about my private bits he he.

Am sure this will help great fun and a great support for you all in gorgeous Wales.

Best wishes

Sheila x

in reply to ScottishMisty

Dear Shiela,

there is nothing in this area for OC so Annies venture is long overdue. Maybe you could start something in your area.

I wouldn't feel comfortable discussing the personal things that OC throws up in a mixed group. This I think why women with OC can sometimes feel very isolated.

best wishes

Chris x

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to ScottishMisty

Dear Sheila

I think the first thing to do is to find a like-minded person to share the work of setting up a support group. I was so lucky to meet up with Chris who's bursting with ideas and is a great complement to me. I was bogged down trying to find the 'ideal' venue and 'perfect' artwork - Chris is a motivator and finisher. Hopefully we'll meet more ladies to join the organising group because you really can't rely on just a couple of women in this game. We need succession planning already! lol

I've just noticed Chris's comment. It's worth doing a search of people living near you on the HealthUnlocked site and contacting them to see if they're up for getting something together. I think the nearest support group to you would be:

Cherry Lodge Cancer Care

Type of group: Ovarian cancer

Meetings: Wednesdays 7.30p-9pm, every 6 weeks.Next dates 2013 9th January, 20th February and 3rd April

Where: 23 Union St, Barnet EN5 4HY

Contact: Fiona Kiddle 020 8441 7000 or fiona@cherrylodgecancercare.org.uk

Other Information: cherrylodgecancercare.org.uk

This group is listed in the Ovacome Resources from the main page - Support Groups.

I really hope you find some convivial company. An alternative would be to join Ovacome at Members' Day on Saturday 18 May. Some of us are meeting up the evening before and staying overnight in Euston. If you want to get involved in that you'd need to book the Members' Day, and give me a shout to join the Friday Brigade.

Best of luck,

Love Annie xxx

Flower profile image
Flower in reply to ScottishMisty

Hi! Sheila, I am assuming you live in Scotland with your 'Scottish Misty'. I too am looking for a local group of ladies with Ovarian cancer but have had no joy. Where do you live? I am in Glasgow G73 area which is in Rutherglen & I attend Stobhill Hospital. We have a new Professor McNeish in the team now & I noticed in the latest Ovacome magazine that he is giving a talk in London in May. If you live in & around Glasgow I would love to meet up with you. If we could reach out to others in Glasgow I would be willing to have meetings at my premises. I don't know about you, but any clinics I have attended, including the Beatson they are always full of ladies & there has to be people out there who would like to join a group.

I'll give you my email address & if interested please contact me.

Hope you are keeping well at the moment as I am & look forward to possibly hearing from you. iriskerr77@ntlworld.com

Hi Annie Actually,

Just sending you my very best wishes for your forthcoming events, I love your logo it looks great. Love x G x :-) :-)

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to

tee hee, I pinched the logo off the internet!! Thanks for the good wishes. We're just hoping some women come along or we'll be like Billy-no-friends on 27 March! xx

Yogini01uk profile image
Yogini01uk in reply to Whippit

Hi Annie

Sorry I won't be able to make it on 27th. I have an appointment with my oncologist. I hope to make the next one.

Good luck.

Love

Jean. Xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Yogini01uk

wow, that would be fantastic if you could come over from Neath for one of our meetings. The April one will be on Wednesday 23 April.

I'm already hatching a plan for one of our guest speaker sessions at some time in the future - yoga advice? I could get my friend down to demonstrate for you??!!! cheeky me thinking of that!

xxxx love Annie

Yogini01uk profile image
Yogini01uk in reply to Whippit

That's a thought Annie. Just gentle stretches and breathing.

Love

Jean. Xxxx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Yogini01uk

well, perhaps we could book you in for a session later in the year. We'll have to get together a programme so we can let everyone know whether it's a coffee meeting, a lunch meeting, or an information/activity meeting and whether husbands, family, friends, etc are included too.

Such a lot to think of. I'm off to the National Council of Voluntary Organisations in Cardiff later to ask some advice on setting up a voluntary group. I'm feeling a bit terrified right now!

xxx love Annie

wendydee profile image
wendydee in reply to Whippit

It's a great idea! My local support group always ends with relaxation session, sitting on our chairs, eyes closed, sometimes relaxation and sometimes visualisation. All run by a local yoga teacher who does relaxation with patients at the hospital. It really ends the session on a lovely calm note. All the very best, Annie ....and well done! A great idea! Just pace yourself though ;-)

Love Wendy xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to wendydee

Thanks Wendy. Given you're a two centre girl you might call in to our Cardiff Group. We could really benefit from any advice and tips.

Jean mentioned visualisation. It's a great idea. I always do too much and think too little. xxx love Annie

Exciting times, can't wait. Seems to have been a long time in the pipeline and now we are almost there.

We hope that any ladies in our area (or beyond) will join us.

Well done Annie, hopefully the flyers will be ready for Thurs, note to self 'check emails more regularly' the design is just what we were looking for xx

Chris xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to

Thanks Chris. You're too kind about the poster design but it's a new skill for me to learn. Better to get the flyers out there than worry too much about fantastic artwork.

All thanks to you for your chivvying!!! lots of love Annie xxx

sarah1963 profile image
sarah1963

Hi Annie

Just want to say that I love the logo. Is it your own creation? It just about sums it up.

Good luck with your new venture.

Sarah xxx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to sarah1963

Dear Sarah,

I found the teal ribbon logo after a massive haul on the internet. I was really pleased with it as it does seem to sum it all up. I've just tried to find the url for you but can't seem to find the page. Luckily I've copied the logo to my laptop so if anyone wants to use it please just message me with an email address and I'll send a copy.

love Annie xxx

in reply to Whippit

Can the logo be put onto a t shirt from an emali. Too technical for me xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to

Yes! What a great idea. We could get t-shirts, polo shirts or hoodies printed. It can be done very easily from the .jpeg file I have on my computer and I have a great contact who could do this in Penarth.

They might sell well. I'm thinking you're on to one of your fundraising ideas Chris!!!!

xxxx love Annie

in reply to Whippit

That's a great start with a contact. We could have a bundle ready for May and sell them then LOL. We'll be going to London like a couple of bag ladies, with loads of merchandise to flog.

Sheila did have a valid point about copyright. Don't want all our hard funds being eaten up in legal wrangling.

Flyers and posters...work in progress as they say.

love Chris <3

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to

I've emailed a woman who is selling t-shirt with this very logo. It seems to have been developed in the US or Canada and I can't trace any information about royalties. Hopefully she'll be able to shed some light on this and whether we need to pay to use it. The image on this blog is copied from a royalty-free site but we'd need to be sure before we use it for any other purpose. xxxx

Yogini01uk profile image
Yogini01uk in reply to Whippit

I want a T-shirt!!!! Or hoodie. Or maybe both!!!!! Te he.

Love

Jean xxxx

Archiebanana profile image
Archiebanana

Hi Annie

Good luck with this venture, sounds great!

Also love the logo!

Love Linda xxx

ScottishMisty profile image
ScottishMisty

Annie, Thanks for the info. This is actually the place I went to but during the day. Have to say it is a fabulous place but just too far for me to travel on public transport in evenings.

I would tell anyone in the Barnet area to use the facilities - massage, reflexology, reiki etc and all free.

Have to say also love your logo but hate to put slight dampener on it but have you checked copyright? I am assuming you have Annie and look forward to reading how things go on your first meeting.

Hugs to you all,

Sheila x

Whippit profile image
Whippit

It's taken me a while to track down a supplier of clothes and other items with the 'Teal Ribbon of Words' logo. This site can supply black hoodies with the ribbon of words logo.

cafepress.co.uk/dd/15749094

If anyone wants to buy anything it's probably an idea to get together collectively to see if we can negotiate a bargain.

I'm up for a black hoodie.

xxxx love Annie

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Whippit

and you can get a further 15% reduction on any product by entering the Code Red15. xxx

Anne-2 profile image
Anne-2

Hi Annie

Thanks for code red!! I've ordered my hoodie for the coffee morning I am going to have in March.

I was contacted recently by someone else on this site recently who lives near me but haven't heard from her since: I was hoping she would get involved with the event and she said she was keen to start a support group too, so........

Onwards and upwards!

Anne xxx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Anne-2

Don't hold back Anne - get in touch to see if your contact can help out at your event. I've become very bold of late and take the view if you don't ask you don't get. I'm a starter but not a finisher so I'm wholly dependent on the members who like to get involved. It's a group effort.

Chris and I are also buying t-shirts and hoodies. We really ought to look into a bulk deal.

xxxx love Annie

Anne-2 profile image
Anne-2 in reply to Whippit

It would be good if we could buy t-shirts at a low enough rate to be able to sell on a small profit, would n't it!!!

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Anne-2

Dear Anne

I'm sure if we started a blog asking if anyone wanted to order the t-shirts and we got an order of 20 or more we'd get a discount. They're actually very reasonably priced at £19 for a t-shirt. I've just had another code to get 15% off the price of the next order.

If anyone wants a t-shirt please let me know! xxxx

Anne-2 profile image
Anne-2 in reply to Anne-2

Hi!

I've got the 15% thing through now too!

A xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to Anne-2

Spurred on by your example Chris and I have just ordered a Teal Ribbon of Words t-shirt and hoodie each. We'll be like the terrible twins in our matching outfits!!!!

Love Annie xxxx

in reply to Whippit

Excited.com xx

wendydee profile image
wendydee

Hi Annie, I will certainly drop in if our dates coincide! Love to. You have some great ideas on here. I will be looking into the hoodie too. Anne, where are you? I don't think you're too far from me... Or am I remembering wrongly? Put it down to another CRAFT moment ;-)

Will be in Swansea tomorrow, Neath yesterday, Llandeilo today, so yes, I'm a local part-timer! Good luck with the Welsh venture! Or should I say pob lwck :-D

Love W xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to wendydee

Can't believe you were in Neath yesterday. Me too - meeting up with Jean at her Curves Gym who are doing some fundraising for Ovacome in March. What a shame we didn't get together!

I'm in Cardiff, Pontcanna. 10 mins walk from the Rugby Stadium - so there's no excuse not to meet up!!!!! love Annie xxx

wendydee profile image
wendydee

Wow! It sound really exciting, all the work you're doing, setting up the support group. I was at La Mancha from 11-30 till 4, just down the road from Curves. I met up with three college friends, two of whom I hadn't seen for 42 years! Talk? Don't ask!!!! It was really fab. A reunion for all 10 of us planned, naturally...... ;-)

Love W xx

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to wendydee

Can you believe it!!!! Well Jean and I talked the hind leg off a donkey too. She and Gryff found us a nice little cafe near the Station.

Don't forget next time you're in S Wales ...... hope to see you soon. xxxx Annie

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill

Well done Annie..... We had 6 attendees at the new East Berkshire OC support group :-)

Am looking for speakers now so we can have informative parts to the group.... Good luck and let's share what is working x. Gill

Whippit profile image
Whippit in reply to MidwifeGill

Gill!!!!! Are you back, or are you posting from the water hole? Back home with a bump I guess. I do hope you had a holiday of a lifetime and I'm so pleased to think you're back home safely. I hope you'll post a blog on your holiday experiences. You're such an example to us all not letting this disease close in your horizons.

It would be really helpful to share ideas. I've booked a meeting with our local National Council for Voluntary Organisations to see if I can get some advice on setting up a voluntary organisation. Our initial thought was monthly meetings - some for women only and others with activities or talks open to members, friends, family, etc. We're starting with an informal coffee meeting, and have chosen a venue that can provide lunch at a reasonable cost if we agree to hold a lunch meeting every third month. Just finding the right venue seemed to be an uphill battle ... but here we are ... posters and leaflets being distributed at our local cancer centre today and posters have gone up in pharmacies and other community areas. Strangely my GP surgery refused to put up a flyer!!! ??

Perhaps we could organise a visit to each other's support session once they're established?

Love Annie xx

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