Events & Activities
This is a blog of activities we have promoted, organised, sponsored or supported, such as conferences and awareness events. 

Too Quiet! Too Long! Print Email

This was the first event to be held outside London for Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week on 9th July 2010 to encourage increased awareness and early detection of cancer.  It was chaired by Rose Thompson Director  BMECC who opened the event with the reading of a letter by TV Personality and Entertainer, Des Coleman.  Dr Chris Packham,  Director of Public Health, Nottingham PCT was the guest speaker; the theme song "Too Quiet! Too Long" was performed by Freddie Kofi - BASCA Award Winner.  Cynthia Dwyer related her experience of losing her husband who had a late diagnosis of prostate cancer; Wayne told his story of recovering from prostate cancer and members from the Paul D'Auria Cancer Support Group, London expressed their experience of good practice and effective support for BME cancer patients.

The resounding success of this event is best captured from images the feedback we have received from attendees.

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"It was an extraordinary event! Hope it will be held every year (Jason 2 Smooth Booth, British Super Bantam Weight Boxer)"

"Firstly I would like to congratulate you on organising an excellent event last week. There was a real buzz amongst all those that attended, and could see they were both moved my each of the personal testimonies and keen to increase their knowledge. Well done!" (Ali Ali Orhan; Project Manager - Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities Heart Health Resources & Community Support)

"Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication, Friday seemed a great success. It was wonderful to meet such inspiring people and especially your family and team. There was a real buzz about the whole event, let's hope this can happen again next year. Regards." (Dawn Bowes, Senior Account Manager, Language is Everything Ltd)

"I lost my own mum to inoperable advanced ovarian cancer about a month ago so it was closer to my heart than I might have expected. Best wishes" (Health Professional)

"Today I have gained great experience. To hear so much about cancer enlarged my knowledge."

"Really informative meeting Could do with more regular meetings"

" I found the event very informative, moving and interesting. A lot of information I was not aware about. Hope it will be an annual event as the information needs to get out there"

"The event has been an extremely useful learning event. Thank you and your team for pulling this together in such a short space of time. Loved the opening with Freddie Kofi (Song Too Quiet To Long). Very different and very appropriate. Touching and moving to hear about Cynthia , Wayne and Pauline. Would like to see the event happen annually"

"Very informative and organised.  Good contributions from a range of people. More people and a larger venue would be good.  Bring in GP’s, so they can be more aware."

"These sessions could be arranged on 3 sessions per year. Perhaps target some schools, so children are aware of prostate cancer and the effects on the well being of Grandfathers, Fathers, Sons, Brothers, Uncles or other male persons."

"More media coverage.  An extremely valuable event. Please hold as an annual event.  "Need monthly reviews, some sort of written feedback"

"Lots of useful information. Very, very informative. Moving testimonies. Event very well put together"

"Excellent event. Can’t think of anything that could have been done better. Please bring it back every year."
 
African/Caribbean cancer support group in South West London Print Email

In August 2007 we assisted Comfort Mante, a service user from the Cancer Resource Centre (Now the Paul D'Auria Cancer Support Centre), to develop an African/Caribbean cancer support group in South West London. Comfort wanted to start the group because of her own experience of cancer, and the need for appropriate culturally sensitive support. She also lives in the borough of Wandsworth where 10% of the population are African Caribbean, and are increasingly affected by cancer.

Prior to our involvement, attempts at starting the group had been unsuccessful, but after advising Comfort and Centre staff, in December 2008, 9 African Caribbean cancer patients attended the group's first official meeting at the centre.

We continue to support Comfort and the group on a voluntary basis. There are now have over 20 members.

The African Caribbean Support group is open to patients and their carers, many of whom are keen to raise cancer awareness in their own communities. In response to group members requests, we organised a number of community cancer awareness raising events, that have been sponsored by the Centre with the aid of a Macmillan Cancer Support grant. Activities have included the following;

 

6th March 2008

A 'Diet and Cancer' conference at the Age Activity Centre for African Caribbean elders

Venue - Age Activity Centre - Garratt Lane, Tooting 

http://www.ageactivity.org

Attendance - 110

Speakers included

Laurel Johnson   - African Caribbean cancer support group member

Sadiq Khan        - Member of Parliament for Tooting.

Dr Ian Gibson    - Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer           

Rose Thompson - Chaired the conference

Entertainment during, and after evaluation was provided by

Caribbean Steel International (http://brentholder.com/)

Over 90% of evaluation forms were completed. The conference ended with members of the audience dancing to the beat of the steel drums. 

Feedback was positive, and similar future events requested.

Special thanks to managers and staff from the Age Activity Centre, including former managing Director Celeste Nri OBE, who recently retired.