Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group
Newsletter May 2016
TIME TO BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR THE RIVER CRUISE! SUNDAY 26 JUNE, WALLINGFORD
Our three river cruises have been incredibly popular and this year’s is booking fast – more than half the places taken at the time of writing. The cruise takes place on Sunday 26 June, 2.30 to 5.30 p.m., and will start this time from Wallingford so that we see a different stretch of the river. There will of course be cream teas and a bar, with jazz provided once again by Mike Wills and his friends. The cost will be £11 per person.
If you have already reserved a place: Please send a cheque now, made out to OPCSG, to George Goldsmith,
2 Ridgeway Court, Wolage Drive, Wantage, OX12 9NP. Payment should reach George before 6 June.
If you have not yet reserved a place: Ring George on 01235 763486 to get your name(s) on the list, then send him a cheque for £11 per person at the above address. Payment should reach George before 6 June.
There is free parking at the riverside in Wallingford where the boat will depart. Full details in June Newsletter.
NEXT GROUP MEETING – MONDAY 20 JUNE AT 6.30 FOR 7.00, OXFORD GOLF CLUB – WIVES AND PARTNERS ESPECIALLY WELCOME
Gemma Crane, who used to work as a specialist prostate cancer nurse at The Churchill, is now roving cancer nurse specialist for UCare, and will talk about her role speaking to people in the community about cancer. She will tell us something about her role with UCare meeting the public, with one or two anecdotes of successful outcomes, and how her role may change in the future. She will talk about the possibility for OPCSG members to come out to give talks to community groups, and we will try to open up discussion to hear from wives and partners about the challenges they face supporting men with PCa. Please come along to hear and to discuss, and as always, bring a raffle prize if you can.
SATURDAY 16 APRIL AT OUFC – SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING
What a result! Although Oxford United’s loss to Luton Town may have been a big disappointment (since redeemed by promotion), it was still a good afternoon out at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday 16 April for OPCSG. Our excellent team of volunteers combined to collect no less than £778 in the hour before kick-off. We share the takings 50/50 with PCUK who provided the contact with the football club, so OPCSG has banked £389. A massive thank you to the volunteers, to PCUK for facilitating, and to Oxford United for allowing us to collect on match day.
Thanks also to Mike Breakell, who collected £360 shared equally between OPCSG and PCUK at the talk he organised in Finstock on 22 April, ‘Russia and Europe – what now?’, a fascinating evening of travel reminiscence.
LIFE AFTER PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Professor Eila Watson of Brookes University, with whom we have collaborated before, has a new PhD student joining her team in an established research project. This researcher is going to be focussing on the experiences of couples affected by prostate cancer. Before she begins interviewing for her study it would be really helpful if she could do a couple of pilot interviews. Would any couple feel able to volunteer to be interviewed? It would take about half an hour to an hour for each interview, the man and partner would be interviewed separately, and doesn't matter what age they are. If you are willing to help, please contact Eila Watson direct via ewatson@brookes.ac.uk or 01865 482665. Thank you in advance.
COLLABORATION WITH WITNEY ROTARY
We are delighted to announce that the incoming President of Witney Rotary Club, Steve Holborough, who will take up office in July, has asked OPCSG to be the main beneficiary of Witney Rotary’s fundraising efforts during his term of office. Watch this space for news of ways in which OPCSG and Witney Rotary club will work together in the next year.
THE CHAIRMAN’S WALK
With a 70th. birthday in the offing and an arthritic hip saying ‘Walk now while you can’, I decided that this was the year to activate a plan that had been gaining traction in my mind for quite a while: to walk from my present home outside Oxford to my childhood home in south Somerset, a total of about 125 miles. Delving into maps showed me that I ought to be able to do it in nine days – but what would the legs say? To find out I walked the first four days (Oxford - Wantage – the Ridgeway – Marlborough – Devizes, 58 miles) in April. No bits fell off and I could still stand (just about) afterwards. So the dates are fixed at the end of June for completion of the last five days. You’ve guessed already why I am telling you this? That’s right, I have decided to add some fundraising for OPCSG to the fun of walking and I’m going to be asking for sponsorship. Full details of how to donate will be in the next Newsletter.
AWARENESS EVENTS THIS YEAR – COME AND HAVE A DAY OUT HELPING OPCSG
Can you spare an afternoon or a few hours to help us handing out leaflets, talking to passers-by, and enjoying an event? OPCSG will be at the following events this summer. If you can spare some time, please contact John Goldsmith on 01865 580152 or me as below. You get free entry to any of these events, and time to enjoy the show while you are there.
27 June – Cassington Bike Night; 23 July – Witney Vintage Steam Fest; 28 August – White Horse Show, Uffington; 25 September – Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride at the Victoria Arms, Marston.
DATES FOR YOUR DAIRY 2016 – MEETINGS AND SOCIAL
The committee have agreed the following dates in 2016:
20 June UCare; Sunday 26 June river cruise from Wallingford; 12 September Macmillan Cancer Care; 17 October tbc; 10 December skittles.
More details will follow nearer the time of each event.
If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter please let me know on john@grundybell.demon.co.uk or 01865 730110. For news updates keep an eye on our website at www.opcsg.org.
John Grundy Chairman, OPCSG