Wardlines newsletter - Autumn 2012 - University College London ...

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Lucy’s Story By Lucy Hancock Exactly one year ago I received the devastating news that I had cancer (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma). After 12 sessions of chemotherapy and plenty of fighting spirit I am currently in remission. I would not have got through this battle without the tremendous support of my family, friends and employers alongside the fantastic treatment I received. I wanted to give something back, not only to the two Units where I was treated but also to help others who are currently being treated. For four days starting on March 19th myself and an all girl team of six friends walked from St Austell Brewery in Cornwall to Woodbury Park Hotel in Devon covering 100 miles across the South West Coastal Path to raise money for; the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Unit, UCLH Charity and Elf - Exeter Leukaemia Fund. The event concluded with a party fundraiser at Woodbury Park Hotel with live music, a buffet and charity auction on Friday 23rd of March 2012. Lucy (centre) and friends raised a fantastic £3982.50 for the Unit. Well done! Climbing High in memory of my Uncle By Halit Karakaya Having visited my Uncle at University College Hospital for several years whilst he received treatment for Lymphoma, I found out about the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Unit at UCH. After every visit I was in awe of the staff for their dedication to their profession and was inspired by the fight and determination shown by the patients. Halit, pictured left with a cousin, Uncle Osman Karakaya is on the right My Uncle sadly passed away and in his memory I decided to raise funds for the Unit. Money raised will go towards improving the patient’s experience by providing state of the art medical equipment, complementary therapies and supporting postgraduate education for nurses. Please donate at www.justgiving.com/Halit-Karakaya. Halit is undertaking the trek to the Mount Everest base camp in October. Good luck and thank you. Brian trekked to Utrecht By Brian Kotz, Haematology Unit UCLH I DID IT! On Sunday June 17th, I set off for a walk..... from Crouch End in North London, where I live, to the fine city of Utrecht in The Netherlands. To the site of Da Capo, the wonderful record shop owned by my great friend Michel Terstegen, who tragically passed away in July 2011 after battling stomach cancer. On Saturday June 23rd, after six walks totalling 149 miles from London on foot, taking me 60 hours and 30 minutes altogether (including a 14-hour stretch from Hoek van Holland to Gouda), I achieved what I had challenged myself to do and was greeted by friends and staff from the Diakonessenhuis who had looked after Michel, including the hospital’s CEO, Rob Florijn. The walk was a wonderful experience, and every footstep was worth it, passing through some beautiful Essex villages and picture postcard Dutch towns, as well as the great modern centre of Rotterdam. On two separate occasions, drivers stopped to offer me a lift saying “I saw you further down the road two hours ago and you look like you need one!” I can assure you that I politely declined, stating the reason why a lift was the last thing I needed! However, there was no traffic at all when I found myself on a VERY disused stretch of the old Harwich Road, beating my way through overgrown bramble with rabbits running around me. Brian arriving at Utrecht Thank you so much to everyone who supported and helped me with this challenge to raise funds for two great causes. These are the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Unit, University College London Hospitals (UCLH) where I am proud to have been employed for much of the last five years, where my medical colleagues save lives as part of their job, where friends have been patients, and where patients have become friends. http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/LLU. Also the Oncology Department of the Diakonessenhuis in Utrecht, who looked after Michel and made him comfortable. This is the wish of his wife and son, Saskia and Ramses www.diakonessenhuis.nl/vrienden My page will be kept open until 31 October. Please visit this link to sponsor me: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/trekutrecht. Special thanks to Miriam Okarimia for making the wonderful customised t-shirts I wore en route. It would be great if you could sponsor me for whatever amount you can. SPECIAL DONATIONS Donations have been received by the families of the following patients in their memory. Our thanks to them all. Bryan Archer, Darren Brook, Ashley Camp, Ian Curtis, Phil Hammond, Colin Harris, David Jacobs, Maria Los Pithis, Alan Maloney, Doreen Murphy, John David Richardson, Jonathan Guy Richardson & Paul Shipperlee. 6 • Autumn 2012 • Wardlines
My Marathon Experience by Wayne Vallentine Wayne and Vicky at the London Marathon I was given the fantastic opportunity to run the London Marathon and raise some money for a fund very close to my heart; the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Unit at UCLH. Back in the mid nineties, whilst showing off my dance moves in The Playhouse in Basingstoke and through skill and good looks I attracted the interest of Vicky Ellis and we were soon inseparable. Six months later Vicky left my 18th birthday preparations with her Mum for a GP appointment. I received a phone call that shattered my world. Instead of joining me later, Vicky had been admitted to the local hospital diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. At the insistence of her family, Vicky was transferred to the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Unit at University College Hospital and we were told on arrival that without treatment Vicky had two weeks to live. Intensive chemotherapy started immediately and Vicky’s world was reduced to the hospital room in which she was being treated. I drove to London with Vicky’s dad and sisters every day to support her. It was a really hard time for everyone. The treatment was savage and extremely difficult to watch a loved one go through. The Unit staff were amazing and their support, kindness and encouragement really helped us get through this ordeal. Vicky spent her 18th birthday in hospital and staff helped us decorate the room so we could all celebrate together. Six months later, after four lots of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from her sister Lianne, the cancer was beaten. Vicky’s treatment was based on the most up to date research and methods available, another amazing factor about the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Unit at UCLH. I was terrified I would lose the girl I loved and without this unit I think I would have. Fifteen years later, (having married on Valentine’s Day in Vegas and changed my name to Vallentine) Vicky Ellis is now my wife. She completed her training as a Clinical Psychologist and is now Dr. Vallentine working with adults with Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Vicky is my more intelligent and attractive “better half”, I am, however still the best dancer! The money raised for this fund are used to support patients throughout and beyond their treatment, purchasing specialist medical equipment, funding research and development and includes a small fund to assist patients in the purchase of wigs which perhaps helps to retain a sense of normality. I could not think of a more worthy cause to raise money for. When I was offered the place I had been running a maximum of three miles a couple of times a week. I hired a personal trainer (Campbell Noon of www.re-leafmk.com) and spent the next 12 weeks on a punishing bespoke fitness regime. I wanted a sub 4hr time and was told numerous times that I was crazy, with the exception of Campbell and Vicky who knew how stubborn I was. Then, before I knew it, I was on the DLR on my way to the starting line feeling anxious and excited. In no time I was up to my target speed and feeling strong. At mile 14 seeing Vicky and her family raised my spirits. At mile 18 my sister and her family were screaming their encouragement and giving me the boost I needed to keep going. “Easy, easy, this is easy” was the chant I had in my head but by mile 23 every ounce of strength felt drained and it was NOT easy!!! Running along the Embankment I could have sworn that the Houses of Parliament and the Clock Tower housing Big Ben were getting further away! However I powered through to the end. Seeing the finishing line was amazing - I had been visualising that moment in training - and finally here I was. I crossed the line with my arms in the air, deliriously happy. I am not an overly emotionally person but I found myself hugging the woman who gave me my medal! I hobbled to meet my cheerleading squad and have my first well earned beer since January! I could barely walk the next day but it was totally worth it and I feel so happy that I was able to give back to the hospital Unit that did so much for me and the people I love. Thanks to all our 2012 London Marathon Runners: Eva Levin, Simon Quinlan, Craig Smith and Wayne Vallentine who between them raised over £10,000 for the Unit. 5 a side charity tournament raises vital fund for UCH in memory of David Jacobs In July, 18 teams of amateur footballers from Dagenham raised over £5,000 for the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Unit at University College London Hospitals. The football fundraiser took place at The Goals Soccer Centre in Dagenham was played in memory of David Jacobs who died in February 2011, aged 22, after losing his battle with leukaemia. Prizes in the charity auction organised by ex West Ham United Player Alvin Martin included a cricket bat signed by The England Team and a “Red Bull” jacket signed by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. Jan Jacobs, David’s mother said:”It was excellent to see so many people taking part and the money raised will help raise vital funds for the hospital. It was a fantastic day and we were overwhelmed with the support and donations made by friends and family. The tournament was so successful that it is already arranged for the 14th July next year”. David Jacobs Wardlines • Autumn 2012 • 7
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