On Saturday 1st July, members of Portsmouth Breast Cancer Friends met for a delicious high tea at the Pavilion Tearooms. The event was a celebration of the amazing achievements of the people who have worked tirelessly for the group since it was set up in 2001.
In particular, the group was celebrating the hard work of Sandy as the previous Chair of the group, and Lauren who is stepping down as Treasurer after many years of dedicated service. We wanted to thank them for their steady presence, for holding the responsibility for running the group and keeping it going through thick and thin.
The occasion was a great opportunity to acknowledge that the group has been proactively supporting patients for over 2 decades, surviving all changes that have happened in that time. Since moving out of Queen Alexandra Hospital at the start of the Covid pandemic, Portsmouth Breast Cancer Friends continues to thrive and is developing its offer in the community setting.
The achievements of the group under Sandy as Chair are too numerous to list but countless people with a breast cancer diagnosis have benefited from a listening ear, a cuppa, an arm around the shoulder, a timely piece of encouragement or signposting to the right help. Over the years the group has funded equipment and amenities, paid for information packs, run the tea trolley at the breast clinic, supported people in need…the list is endless. No community group can function without someone to take care of the finances. The group is so grateful that Lauren has diligently performed this role over the years: banking cash, making payments, and keeping meticulous records for us.
There are many people who have contributed to the group’s success over the years. Each of us have an important part to play in helping new members to feel welcome and heard, regardless of any formal position in the group. We can all be a listening ear, offer a kind word of encouragement, approach challenges with an open heart, and take a turn with the washing up!
Thank you to Sandy and Lauren for all their hard work and we wish you both well for the future.
