Ovarian cancer peer-support group - Yorkshire

[OvacomeSupport]

Dear all,

One of our members, Karen Elden, has recently been in touch to let us know about the ovarian cancer peer-support group that she runs in Yorkshire. She has asked us to publicise this group to our Ovacome community and to let you all know that anyone interested is most welcome to join.

She writes -

Following my own journey navigating stage 3 grade 3 ovarian cancer in 2019 I was asked at the time if I would consider starting a peer support group as there is very little out there for ladies at a local level with ovarian cancer. Janey my Macmillan nurse asked me and I said yes, however Covid and my mental health had other ideas, hence a 2 year delay in starting things.

I had a vision for Sunovary (the name of the group) to become a national peer support network using the wheel and spoke model. I’ve been running the group for approx 3 years. Currently we are based in West Yorkshire and meet approx once a month - 6 weeks. We alternate between Leeds and Wakefield areas meeting for coffee, lunch, drinks or events eg styling event in conjunction with local stylist and Macmillan recently. We also have a tailor made pamper/wellness package booked for March, with a local wellness centre that specializes in oncology massage/nutrition, holistic therapies and excercise . I'd love to extend the reach and set up and support groups in other areas and look to identify a person locally that feels able and wishes to devote some time to supporting a network.

I haven’t applied for any funding for the group, there’s a small number of us presently that attend. I facilitate a WhatsApp for us so we regularly put messages in there when we are checking in with each other, want advice, a chat in general etc. It seems to work well and I’ve received good feedback.

If you would be interested in finding out more about the group, or would be keen to join, please email Karen: [e-mail]. She has also provided a contact phone number. If you would like to reach Karen via phone instead, please respond to this post and we can share her number with you privately.

Best wishes,

Alice - Ovacome Support