We hope that you have all stayed healthy since our last newsletter and would like to wish you a Happy New Year for 2025.
A huge thank you goes to Karen Cartlidge who trekked to Everest Base Camp and in doing so raised a magnificent £4525.93 for our Branch.
We would like to thank everyone for their kind donations at Christmas. We are also grateful to the helpers who took part with our Morrison and Tesco collections which raised respectively £429 and £482!
We were able to organise a curry night again and were delighted to raise £427 and our quiz which raised a record amount of £860. All this means we are only £2000 off our 1.2 million pounds raised to date since 1988. A huge thank you for all the unwanted Christmas presents, bottles, and items which are needed for our tombola and raffles. Should any of you have any old bottle bags, please, do keep them for Dayl for the lucky dip.
Remember, if your company is choosing a charity of the year, think of us! As you may have read in the press, a lot of successful research is being done at the moment. Every pound raised does make the difference. We are also looking for sponsors for our annual Fun Run to provide prizes for our runners.
Blood cancer has an open line for anyone who is undergoing any treatment or would like to speak confidentially with the support services team on 0808 2080 888
FUTURE EVENTS
QUIZ NIGHT – MARCH 21st.
We will be returning to Avoncroft Arts Centre where you will be able to bring your own drinks and snacks. The cost will be £28 per team. The quiz will start at 7.30 but we would be grateful for help with setting up the room beforehand.
TESCO COLLECTION – TBC
We have applied for a date in March and will let you know as soon as we have a confirmation.
WALK OF LIGHTS MARCH 29TH – Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham
This is for a 2.5km or 5km night-time walk to light the way to beat blood cancer. Collect your free lantern upon arrival and become part of the light spectacular! The routes are accessible for both pushchairs and wheelchairs. Cannon Hill Park is accessible by public transport and there is limited car parking on site. Follow the link to register:
If you are able to help on the night or simply take part, please let Nicole know on nicnoelharris@aol.com as any money raised from you will then go directly to our branch!
FUN RUN MAY 11TH
Our annual Fun Run will take place at Bromsgrove Rugby Club and will consist of a 10k and a 5k race. All runners will receive a medal and all fundraisers with £30 sponsorship will get a running vest. The 5k route, which can be walked, follows the canal towpath for some of the route so children must be accompanied by an adult. The 10k is more challenging and attracts runners from a wide area, even from France! The run will be using chip timing. We would like to stress that the event is limited to 500 runners so do not wait to register. You can do this online on:
Should you be able to help please do contact Nicole.
HOUSE OF LORDS
We were honoured to be invited to the House of Lords by Blood Cancer UK to discuss the following:
- Disparities in care and survival that exist between regions, socioeconomic groups, and ethnicities.
- The UK Blood Cancer Action Plan sets out 17 realistic, but ambitious recommendations for all four UK Governments, across workforce, diagnosis, care, clinical trials and treatment, and data. Produced by blood cancer experts (including healthcare professionals, researchers and people living with blood cancer), this report is a roadmap to a future where all people in the UK have the best possible chance of survival.
As those of you who have been diagnosed with leukaemia realise, it is not always easy to get a diagnosis very quickly, as symptoms in blood cancers can be very similar to winter viruses and therefore, not always spotted. We now have some leaflets on symptoms, treatment and care, should anyone want any further information. You also may look on the Blood cancer UK website to get further information or download any leaflets which may be useful. Remember, we do not just research into leukaemia but also lymphoma, myeloma and other blood related cancers.
ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL CAROL CONCERT
Sue and Nicole were invited to a fantastic evening in London, raising money for Blood Cancer UK but also to meet the stars and researchers. The scientific director and Birmingham researchers would like you to know how grateful they are for all your help in raising money for them to go further with any research needed and for this HUGE THANK YOU!