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Alex was diagnosed completely “out of the blue” with an aggressive

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“Alongside the money, just knowing that people I’ve never met were willing to help me, a complete stranger, was a huge boost emotionally when things felt very dire.” Alex Deeprose, 40, Poole.

Alex was diagnosed completely “out of the blue” with an aggressive form of renal cell cancer in January 2023.

One of his kidneys was removed and when lung metastasis was also discovered, Alex, who is a fraud investigator for an insurance company, entered into immunotherapy treatment which is still ongoing.

He said: “I was unable to work for five months, and it sounds strange, but because I had a treatment plan, paying the mortgage became more of worry than my potentially fatal cancer.”

His cancer support nurse suggested he apply for financial help from the DCCF.

“I was quite overwhelmed when I heard that the DCCF had awarded me some money. I really hadn’t expected it and the help it gave my wife and I to pay our mortgage was a huge weight off our shoulders.

“Alongside the money, just knowing that people I’ve never met were willing to help me, a complete stranger, was a huge boost emotionally when things felt very dire.”

Alex is now working from home and is responding well to treatment.

He said: “I would urge anyone with cancer who is struggling financially to contact the DCCF. It really is wonderful to know this charity is there to help people when they need it most.”

Still mulling over taking part in Run Bournemouth?

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Be like Ollie and let us pay your registration today!

All we ask is that you donate your sponsorship money to help Dorset families with cancer.

Whether you fancy the 5k 10k or half marathon please join Ollie Payne and others who are running, walking or jogging for the @Dorset Cancer Care Foundation.

We are a small local charity which helps desperate families who are struggling financially because of cancer.

Ollie, 21, and from Bournemouth said: “I’ve always wanted to run the half marathon, so when I heard I could do it and help local people with cancer I signed straight up. Knowing I am running for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation will really spur me on.”

For more details about how you, your family, friends or workmates can take part in Run Bournemouth with your registration paid by DCCF please email: hello@dccf.co.uk asap.

Chris Runs Bournemouth, In Spain

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@DCCF Chairman Chris Thomas may not be in the UK for the @Run Bournemouth weekend this year, but that won’t stop him going the distance!

Chris will be running both 10k and 5k routes in Spain on exactly the same days and at exactly the same times that the events will be taking place here in Dorset.

Chris said: “I’ve been taking part in Run Bournemouth for the DCCF for many years now and love running with my fellow DCCF supporters. I will miss that sense of camaraderie this year, but I will be with them in spirit, and I hope others will see this post and sign up to run for the DCCF too. It’s not too late for us to pay your registration fee and the sponsorship money you raise for us will support some of the many local families who are struggling with severe financial hardship alongside a cancer diagnosis.”

Run Bournemouth takes place over the weekend of 7th-8th October with events ranging from 1k-13.1 miles. For details on how to have your Run Bournemouth event registration paid by the DCCF please email: hello@dccf.co.uk today!

Glenmoor & Winton students continue to step up for local cancer charity

By News

After raising £1600 for The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) during their Charity Week, the intrepid pupils of Glenmoor & Winton Academies’ Ennis House have been in action again, raising £2770 by walking through the night.

Twenty students from across the year groups took part in a sponsored Walkathon, clocking up a total of 700 laps around the school field in seven hours between 5pm and midnight.

Amongst the pupils taking part was Tyler Adams, who alone walked 31 laps and raised £825.

Tyler, who is in year 10, lost his mum Jo to cancer in January 2022.

He said: “When my dad put a message out to our friends and family saying I was taking part I never thought people would give so much money. But the donations just kept on coming and coming.

“The Walkathon was tiring, but fun and I know my mum would have thought it was great we were all doing this for other local families experiencing cancer.”

The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation fundraises to provide much-needed financial support to Dorset families affected by cancer. Its non-returnable grants are often used by cancer patients to pay for household costs, travel to and from hospital and short respite breaks with their families.

Callum Whitelaw, Head of Business Studies & IT said: “We’re immensely proud of everyone who took part in the Walkathon and latterly a Pyjama Race too.

“Walking all night is a real challenge. But the whole group pulled together, walking in shifts to make sure the activity didn’t stop once. They have also smashed their £1000 fundraising target almost three times over, with donations still coming in.”

Callum continued: “Ennis House students were keen to choose a local charity to benefit from their fundraising and were all very impressed to learn how the DCCF is a very small charity which still manages to raise money to help many local families which are affected by cancer.

“Many of the students and staff at Glenmoor & Winton Academies have been touched by cancer in some form. Some, like Tyler have lost parents and loved ones to cancer.

“I know we are all passionate about raising as much as we can for the DCCF and will continue to come up with fun and inventive ways we can join together to do this.”

Jaz White, Charity Manager for the DCCF said: “We continue to be bowled-over by the efforts being put into fundraising for us by Ennis House.

“This tremendous group of students is full of ideas and enthusiasm and a real asset to our fundraising base. They and their parents should be hugely proud that the money they are raising for us is going straight to Dorset families who really need it.”

For more information on how to support the DCCF or to apply for a grant visit: www.dccf.co.uk

Other schools interested in fundraising for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation are asked to email: charitymanager@dccf.co.uk

Ennis House students walked through the night to raise £2770 to help local families struggling financially because of cancer.

Westbourne eatery’s free fish and chips help to raise £3k

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Westbourne restaurant and takeaway Chez Fred has helped the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation raise more than £3,000 to help financially struggling cancer patients.

The family-owned business has been a supporter of the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation for the past three years, donating hundreds of fish suppers in this time.

Most recently, they served up 36 free fish and chip suppers at an event in Poole which raised £3,210.

Eve Went, co-founder of the DCCF said: “Chez Fred doesn’t shout about it, but they are absolutely wonderful supporters of our charity and we are immensely grateful to them.

“Our Fish and Chip Supper events are always very popular because the food is so great. This month’s supper which was held in Poole raised £3,210 which will be going straight to local families who really need it.

“Chez Fred also regularly donates free meal vouchers for us to give to local cancer patients in need of financial help.

“These can be a lovely treat for families who are going through a hard time and are particularly welcome at the moment, when luxuries like takeaways are out of reach for many people, including those who are unable to work because of cancer.”

Tom Capel, co-owner of Chez Fred said: “We are very proud to have helped the DCCF raise over £9000 so far through their Fish and Chip Suppers.

“We just want to the DCCF to be able to keep doing what it does – and if we can help that we’re happy!”

The Poole-based charity, which gives financial help to local people living with a cancer diagnosis, has reported large increases in patients struggling to make ends meet as a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The DCCF would like to hear from more businesses and organisations willing to support the charity.

Ninety-eight golfers tee-off for local charities

By News

Ninety-eight golfers teed-off at Dudsbury Golf Club, raising an amazing £10,000 for a local cancer charity and hospice.

The golfers were taking part in the annual Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club Golf Day which is now in its 23rd year and has amassed more than £125k for local good causes.

Ferndown and Parley Rotary President David Scholes said: “The Golf Day is always very well supported by golfers and businesses alike and this year’s event was an even bigger success than usual due to the Hendy Motor Group, our main sponsor.

“This year, when it was stated that it was estimated that £5000 had been raised at the event, Paul Hendy CEO of the Hendy Group, said that they would further increase their already generous sponsorship to make the final total £10,000.

“We were obviously thrilled as this means we can now give both our chosen charities an impressive £5,000 each.”

The beneficiaries of this year’s event are The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) and Forest Holme Hospice.

The DCCF gives non-returnable cash grants to Dorset families struggling financially because of a cancer diagnosis.

Jazmine White, Charity manager of The DCCF said: “We are extremely grateful to Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club for making us a beneficiary of this fabulous, long-standing event and also to Hendy and all the other event sponsors for their generosity.

“We are a small charity which relies solely on fundraising to help local families which are really struggling. This money will have an immediate effect on many lives.”

Kirsty Perks, Fundraiser for Forest Holme Hospice said: “We are absolutely delighted to be one of Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club chosen charities for 2023.

“Thank you to everyone involved in making the Charity Golf Day such a success and all the members for their continued support, corporate sponsors and special thanks to Hendy Group for fund matching the fantastic amount raised. This money will make a big difference to local people who need our care and support at the most difficult time of their lives.”

Golfers compete in the event for the chance to win the Norman Hendy trophy, which was this year won by the team 4Play comprising Peter David, Edward Booth, David Booth and Rob Jelley.

Paul Hendy, who competed in one of two Hendy teams, said: “It is always a memorable day, and a real privilege to play for the Norman Hendy trophy.”

Innkeeper Maggie’s cancer battle stirs support for local charity

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An Innkeeper from Poole has told how she was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after agreeing to host an event for a local cancer charity.

Former jazz singer Maggie Dale, who owns the Inn In the Park in Pinewood Road, learned she had breast cancer last August after a routine mammogram.

She had just agreed to hold a fundraising event for The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).

Maggie explained: “I was absolutely stunned to learn I had cancer.

“I regularly check my breasts and thought I was fine. But I was called back after the mammogram and as soon as the nurse examined me, she said: “Oh yes, there’s the lump!” which goes to show just how important mammograms are.”

Maggie owns the Inn In the Park with her husband Darren.

She said“After getting over the initial shock of the diagnosis my next thought was: “How am I going to run my business?

“I am self-employed with a big mortgage and Darren and I have to work every day to keep the Inn running and to pay ever-our rising bills. And as with many hospitality owners the last few years have been particularly stressful for us because of the effects of Covid.

“I literally had my surgery on the Monday and was up to serve breakfast the next day.”

Maggie also went on to have radiotherapy. She is now in remission but must follow a lengthy drug therapy regime.

She said: “Luckily, we caught the cancer early and it was not aggressive.

“Running the hotel and the support of our customers has helped me get through this and I feel incredibly lucky to still be here – and that’s why I also want to do everything I can to help The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).”

The DCCF was started by three local nurses from Poole in 2013 and through events organised by its supporters has raised £672k which has been awarded in grants to support 773 local families experiencing cancer.

Maggie continued: “My Dad died of cancer and my mum has had cancer. My sister has also had breast cancer.

“After my own brush with cancer it has only proved to me how vital this charity is for local people.

“Quite by coincidence, I had already agreed to host a quiz for the charity before my diagnosis. We held this in May and raised £900 for DCCF.

“We’ve now also just hosted the charity’s monthly coffee morning and that has raised a further £600 thanks to its supporters and some of our fantastic regulars.

“The charity tells me this money will go straight out to families who need it and that’s fantastic to know.

“I feel extremely lucky to have survived cancer, hugely thankful to the NHS and very proud to support the DCCF and Darren and I and our wonderful regulars will be doing more to support the charity in the future.”

Maggie’s friend and long-standing DCCF supporter Judy White said: “Maggie jumped at the chance of supporting the DCCF and little did we know, but she was about to face her own battle with cancer.

“We are all so proud of the bravery and amazing sense of humour she has shown throughout.

“She is a perfect landlady because she brings people together and that has been shown brilliantly in the amazing amount of money she has raised for the DCCF by just two events.

“We hope other businesses will be inspired by Maggie to support us too and in doing so help Dorset families who are experiencing severe hardship because of cancer.”

To find out more about the DCCF, how it help cancer patients and how to support the charity please visit: www.dccf.co.uk or email: hello@dccf.co.uk

Specialist care company offers support to local cancer charity

By News

A family-owned specialist care company stepped up to sponsor a local cancer charity’s coffee morning.

CARING TOGETHER – (Left to right) Guy Montrose, Director of Apple House Ltd, Romaine Lawson, Director of Apple House Ltd, DCCF Trustee Di Bird and Jane Montrose, MD of Apple House Ltd.

Apple House Ltd operates five homes across Dorset and Hampshire which provide residential care and support for adults with learning disabilities, including those with complex needs.

The company, which was founded 18 years ago by Jane and Guy Montrose, sponsored the latest charity coffee morning organised by the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).

The event took place at Oriel on the Quay in Poole and raised over £200.

Jane said: “We became aware of the work of the DCCF through its co-founder Eve Went and greatly admire how it helps local families which are struggling because of cancer.”

The DCCF was set up in 2013 by three nurses from Poole and organises regular events to fund financial help for families experiencing cancer.

To date, its supporters have raised £672,000 which has helped 773 Dorset people pay for everything from transport to and from hospital to utility bills, accommodation costs and counselling.

Jane continued: “The DCCF is making a huge difference to the lives of cancer patients here in Dorset. At Apple House we recognise that cancer can also have a profound impact on those people within our community who may be living with a disability.

“Guy and I have lost dear friends and family to cancer so, by supporting the DCCF it feels like we are making a difference to peoples’ lives in the communities we serve.

Guy agreed: “Sponsoring the DCCF’s latest coffee morning has enabled us to meet some fascinating people, some of whom have gone through cancer themselves, as well as fellow DCCF fundraisers. We hope this will be the first of many opportunities Apple House Ltd has to support the charity.”

Di Bird, a Trustee of the DCCF said: “We are extremely grateful to Apple House Ltd for sponsoring our latest coffee morning. We simply would not be able to operate without the help of supporters like them.

“As with all the money raised for us, Apple House Ltd’s contribution will be awarded to a local person with cancer within a few short weeks.

“We hope other companies reading this will also contact us to find out how they can be involved.”

For details of the DCCF’s next coffee morning and further events, plus how to apply for financial assistance, please visit: www.dccf.co.uk or email: hello@dccf.co.uk

Oxygen Wellbeing therapy business shows support for the DCCF

By News

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A Sherborne clinic which offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy hosted a coffee morning to help the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation.

HOW OF SUPPORT – left to right – Jazmine White Charity manager of the DCCF, Emma Rhys Thomas, Steve Thornton co-owner of Oxygen Wellbeing, Nick Ackland, Meryl Ponsford DCCF Trustee and Juliet Thornton co-owner of Oxygen Wellbeing.

Oxygen Wellbeing at West Down Farm in Corton Denham, reached out to help after learning of the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation’s (DCCF) wish to help more people in the north of the county.

Oxygen Wellbeing is owned by Juliet and Steve Thornton from Wincanton.

Steve is a retired Metropolitan Firearms Officer and the couple set up the business largely because of Steve’s ongoing work with people from blue light and military backgrounds who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – or HBOT – sees users breathe 95 per cent oxygen within a pressurised hyperbaric chamber. The drug-free therapy is used to help the body heal from injury or surgery and to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in conditions such as Arthritis, Long Covid and Multiple Sclerosis.

Juliet explained: “We are also privileged to be helping some local cancer patients, so, when we heard that the DCCF was trying to publicise its work in and around Sherborne we were keen to help.”

The DCCF helps Dorset people and their families who are experiencing financial hardship because of a cancer diagnosis.

The charity’s non-refundable grants are used by recipients to pay for costs such as travel to and from their hospital treatment, household costs, childcare and respite breaks.

Funded entirely by supporters and events, since 2010 the DCCF has given over £663,000 to 760 individuals and organisations.

Oxygen Wellbeing’s DCCF Coffee Morning raised over £135.00.

Steve said: “We were blessed with great weather and great company and as well as raising funds for the charity, Jaz and Meryl from the DCCF were able to share valuable information about the charity to our visitors. We also had a raffle which was kindly supported with some great prizes from local businesses.”

Jazmine White, charity manager for the DCCF said: “We were delighted when Juliet and Steve offered to raise money and awareness for the charity.

“The DCCF is making a real difference to the lives of people with cancer in the east of the county and we would like to help people from all over Dorset, including Sherborne and its surrounding areas.

“We know there are many people who would benefit from our help, and perhaps would also like to fundraise for us. So, please get in touch.”

The DCCF can be contacted via phone: 07593 890879, via email at: hello@dccf.co.uk or online at: www.dccf.co.uk.

Oxygen Wellbeing can be contacted on: 01962 34996, or via: hello@oxygenwellbeing.com

DCCF steps in to help new mum after shocking diagnosis

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A new mother from Dorset has told how The DCCF  helped her family when her suspected ‘breastfeeding problem’ turned out to be an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Barbara Jeffery, 31, was initially referred to the Poole Hospital Breast Screening Unit last August with what was thought to be a blocked milk duct. At that time, she was breastfeeding her daughter, who had left neonatal intensive care just six weeks before, after being born prematurely at 33 weeks.

Barbara said: “The duct was initially drained but was blocked again within 24 hours. It was drained four more times and then at the end of October, I had a biopsy on the liquid and one other breast area of “suspicion” which was under monitoring and swollen lymph nodes.

“Given the statistics of breast cancer and my age, I wasn’t overly concerned. However, I had a heightened awareness because of my family’s history of cancer. I have since learnt this is more common than I knew, especially during and after pregnancy, as the same hormones that grow and nurture a baby, also grow, and feed cancers. Yet, it is not discussed in any maternity care.

“On November 2, I returned for a follow-up appointment and was told I had breast cancer. I was also told I had to stop breastfeeding immediately.”

Barbara continued: “I had the children with me at the appointment, so it was difficult to digest a diagnosis that is associated with being a death sentence.

“I had my baby daughter on my lap and my son was struggling, so his dad stepped out the room with him when the news was broken to me.

“I was then sent for a PET-CT scan two days later and was informed it was Stage 3 and classed as ‘aggressive locally advanced’.”

She went on: “I was in a state of shock, but my children were my priority. The consultant said I needed to meet with the oncologist, but that I was likely looking at chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. I was taken away with one of the Breast Care Nurses whilst my fiancé at the time broke the news to my sister – I came out of the meeting and we just held each other in the corridor crying.”

In addition to their daughter, Barbara and her husband have a two-year-old son. He also had a challenging start to life after being born in a poor condition at 33 weeks’ gestation. He has delayed development and is neurodiverse, and is currently under the numerous departments at both Poole and Southampton Hospitals.

“Once we got home my thoughts turned to our wedding,” said Barbara.

“We had everything planned and booked for May 27th 2023 but I now had chemotherapy starting in a few weeks.

“I phoned Minster Bridal Boutique in Wimborne to see how quickly they could get my wedding dress and moved the wedding forward to the end of November.

“In the weeks following I was juggling scans, appointments, wedding dress fittings, hair trials, dental appointments and trying to get all the administrative tasks that come with a cancer diagnosis.”

Barbara heard about the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) from a leaflet the breast care nurses at Poole Hospital gave her.

She said: “The immediate and huge problem we were facing was how I would continue to care for the children during chemotherapy. My father passed away from cancer in 2018, my mum is a full-time SEN teacher, and my husband works full time.

“I had been told to switch to bottle feeding in preparation for the treatment. I was also worried about caring for my son and both of the children’s’ countless hospital and doctor appointments.”

Barbara applied to DCCF for a grant to help pay for a Special Educational Needs SEN nanny alongside other things to help during the transition between breastfeeding to bottle feeding, and then chemotherapy.

“The charity came back very quickly and said the grant had been approved. After two traumatic births and then the cancer diagnosis this was like having a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” she said.

Barbara continued: “In the initial stages the nanny provided huge relief alongside my husband’s parents. But the DCCF grant went further than just helping with childcare. It helped with dog walking on treatment days and upkeep of the house, which would have been impossible with the side effects of the gruelling weekly chemotherapy regime I put was on due to the severity of my cancer. Some days I slept for 21 hours and could manage very little else.”

She added: “Ultimately the DCCF grant has allowed us the space to breathe through the chemotherapy treatment, which, in addition to the weekly infusion also involved nine blood transfusions, a magnesium transfusion, and seven trips to the oncology access unit for acute reasons and an inpatient stay.”

Barbara’s cancer journey is far from over. She has been identified as a BRAC1 cancer gene carrier and is now facing a double mastectomy, radiotherapy, continued immunotherapy and reconstructive surgery.

She said: “At this point we are unsure how we are going to make it through the next gruelling period of treatment, especially in the cost-of-living crisis. But the DCCF certainly made chemotherapy possible, and I will be forever grateful for that and to their supporters whose generosity has helped me so much.

“My family would never have been able to cope financially so far without the help of DCCF. I can’t thank them enough and once I am well enough will be trying to repay that help through some fundraising of my own.

“Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I had abseiled Table Mountain in Cape Town and Bungee Jumped Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa – so I am sure I can find a challenge to help pay it forward, so DCCF can help other families.”

An exhausted Barbara and her children partway through her gruelling cancer treatment

 

For more information on how DCCF can help you, or if you would like to become a fundraiser for the charity please visit: www.dccf.co.uk or email: hello@dccf.co.uk