BRAY CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE

Spring/Summer 2011

Offering emotional support and practical help to people with cancer and their families andfriends. The Centre is open from Monday to Friday for support, information and counselling.

Welcome messagefrom Veronica

Hi and welcome to ourNewsletter for Jan 2011.

All of us at Bray CancerSupport Centre wish you Peace, Health andHappiness for the New Year and Beyond.

The start of a new year can bring manyemotions. Particularly if the year gone by hasbeen a difficult one. Often it can be hard tolook ahead with hope or enthusiasm.Remember that help and support is alwaysavailable so contact us if we can help you in anyway.

The following is a reflection that my nieceused at her wedding recently and it inspired meto share it with you.

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centred. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish,ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win someunfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.Succeed anyway.If you are honest and sincere people may deceiveyou. Be honest and sincere anyway.What you spend years creating, others coulddestroy overnight. Create anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, some may bejealous. Be happy anyway.The good you do today will often be forgotten. Dogood anyway.Give the best you have, and it will never beenough. Give your best anyway.In the final analysis, it is between you and yourHigher Power. It was never between you and themanyway.

Take care of yourself and see you soon,Love,

VeronicaVeronica O’Leary, Founder and CEO

New Home Campaign Update

BRAY CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE36B Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Tel: 01 286 6966 Fax: 01 276 5512 Email: bcsc@iol.ie

Web: www.braycancersupport.ie

Serving North Wicklow & South Dublin since 1990

As many of you know we launched a campaign to securea permanent home for Bray Cancer Support Centre lastMay. We received a huge response from the generalpublic, the media, builders, electricians, and individualsin support of our efforts to secure a premises that wouldbe suitable for all our needs and we are very grateful foryour support. We thank all of you sincerely for raisingfunds and sending in donations to help us achieve ouraim of providing the community of Bray, Wicklow andSouth Dublin with a cancer support centre ofexcellence that can be used as a model for the rest ofthe country.

Representatives from BCSC met with the Minister forHealth, Mary Harney and Minister Dick Roche onMonday Jan 17th last and the outcome was a positiveone. We intend to pursue the options that were outlinedto us at the meeting and the HSE have agreed to lookinto various properties that would be suitable for ourneeds.

We urge you to raise the issue of support for BrayCancer Support Centre with your local politicians in thelead up to the general election. We welcome yourassistance in any way towards helping us achieve our aimof securing a permanent home for Bray Cancer SupportCentre that will be a legacy for generations to come.

LOVE FOR FASHION–FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Love for Fashion-Friends forLife Fashion Show in aid ofBray Cancer SupportCentre on Thursday 24thMarch 2011 in TheEsplanade Hotel Bray.Special guest Karen MillenOBE. Tickets €35 availablefrom Bray Cancer SupportCentre includechampagne reception,fashion show, Clarins skincare consultation area,goodie bags, BobbiBrown Makeup TouchUps, prizes,entertainment & DJ.

BRAY CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE FASHION SHOW

pc | productions

studio 54 Perfect Theatre Studios BraySchool of Dance, Music & Drama

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EATING WELL WHEN YOU’REFEELING UNWELL PHOTO G

DELL LENDS A HAND!On October 1st 2010 to mark National Day forVolunteering Staff from Dell in Cherrywoodkindly donated their time to help us redecorateour Drop-In Centre on Bray's Main Street.

PAMPERING DAYTo mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month lastOctober the students from BIFE Holistic Healthand Beauty Course hosted a Pampering Day forBCSC clients.

When you’re feeling ill it can be difficult to eat well, you mayfind that your appetite is fading and you eat less. If thishappens it is important that the meals and snacks you do eatare full of nourishment. Below are some hints to help makethe most of your meals.

◆ Eat small meals and snacks more often if your usual mealsseem too big.

◆ Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese or baked beans should bepart of your main meals.

◆ Include foods such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or cerealsin your main meal.

◆ Aim to use at least 1 pint of full fat milk each day. This canbe taken as a drink or added to cereals, sauces, soups orpuddings. If you don’t like milk choose cheese or yogurtinstead.

◆ Avoid using diet or low fat products if weight-loss is anissue.

Quick and Nourishing MealsIf cooking becomes a chore, avoid the temptation to just ‘getby’ on tea and bread. Nourishing, light meals can be preparedin minutes using simple foods.Eggs: Poached, scrambled, boiled or in an omelette combinedwith ham, tomato and mushrooms and accompanied withbread or toast.Soup: Add cooked, chopped cold meat or chicken, milk,grated cheese, leftover potatoes or vegetables to a basic soupto enrich it and improve flavour.Sandwiches: Use different types of bread and rolls for varietyand fill with cold meat, cheese, boiled egg, sardines, tuna,rashers. Consider making sandwiches in the morning andkeeping some for later in the day.

If you are finding cooking difficult or tiring do not be afraidto use convenience foods. Supermarkets and some smallershops have a range of frozen, chilled or packet ready-meals.Usually these can be boiled in a bag or microwaved, grilledor oven baked. They may seem expensive but as they areconvenient to prepare there is less time, energy and foodwastage involved.

Store CupboardIt is important to keep foods which will stay fresh and can beused when it is not possible to get out. Try to have at leastsome of the below in stock for when you need them.◆ Tinned meats and fish◆ Packet or tinned soups◆ Skimmed milk powder◆ Pasta, rice, cereals, instant mash◆ Baked beans◆ Complan or Build Up

Finally, choose your favourite foods, enjoy them and eat ‘smalland often’.

Information courtesy of Coummunity Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Health Promotion Departments

IRISH GIRL GUIDES STEP INThe Irish Girl Guides donated 400 neckerchiefsto Bray Cancer Support Centre. L-R:Betty Prenter(Area Commissioner IGG), Linda Peters (CEOIGG), Conor O'Leary (BCSC), Patricia Gibbons(BCSC). seated: Carmel Robinson (BCSC), MaryByrne (IGG)

GALLERY

Help us to help you!Please consider donating to Bray Cancer Support Centre bydirect debit or standing order. We receive only one quarterof our funding from the HSE and so we rely on fundraisingand donations to fund the remainder of our annual budget.All of our services are provided free of charge.

By Credit Card: Log onto www.braycancersupport.ie andclick on the “Donate” link on the top right.By Cheque: payable to Bray Cancer Support Centre. Sendto Veronica O’Leary CEO, Bray Cancer Support Centre,36B Main Street, Bray.By Credit Transfer: Bank Details—Bank of Ireland, MainSt, Bray. Account Number: 90404825. Sort Code: 90-10-36.

*ALL DONATIONS WILL BE RECEIPTED*

Ladies Mini-marathonThe total amount of moneyraised by the 2010 Women’sMini-marathon was €31,679.

Very many thanks to all our supporters and gratefulthanks to the following organisations for their supporton the day: Knights of St. Columbanus; Fusco Foods;Tipperary Water; Coco-Cola Hellenic Ireland;Musgraves Cash & Carry; Kerry Foods. The 2011Mini-marathon will take place on Monday June 6 next,so pop on those runners and start training! To helpprepare for the event, our meet and train group willtake place each Monday from 7th March at 7.30 pmfrom the Bandstand on the Seafront in Bray.

FUNDRAISINGNEWS & EVENTS

POTTERY WITH MARK MEAKINDoreen MacRaois and Mark Meekin enjoying acreative pottery class.

Thank You to all our friends, supporters and fund-raisers foryour help and support during 2010. Your continued supportenabled us to continue to help the many thousands of people

who access the Centre each year.

MUSIC AND PIZZAS!Rachel Tymlin, Brendan O'Leary & Anita Nolanat a fundraising night in Pizzas ‘n Cream recently.

20TH ANNIVERSARY BALL 2010Veronica and Brendan O’Leary pictured at the BrayCancer Support Centre’s 20th Anniversary Ballwhich was held on the 23rd October 2010. Due tothe great success of this occasion we are planninganother event, called the 'Purple Ball', on Saturday29th October 2011 in the Esplanade Hotel, Bray. Lourdes Pilgrimage 2011

Our trip to Lourdes takes place inassiociation with the Order ofMalta. This year's Pilgrimage departson Friday 30th April and returns onThursday 5th May. Cost is €750 perperson. For more details contact Officeat 2866966.

Lug ChallengeThe Lug Challenge took place on Sunday 5September 2010 and was a great success. Intotal we raised €15,922.76. Sincere thanksto all our walkers and helpers on the day.

MONDAY◆ Drop-In Centre open at 10am for support and information.◆ Counselling and Complimentary therapies by

appointment.◆ Support and Information with our trained support staff.◆ Volunteer Transport Service by arrangement. ◆ Home Support and Hospital Visiting by arrangement.

TUESDAY◆ Drop-In Centre open at 10am for Support and Information.◆ Counselling and Complimentary therapies by appointment◆ Relaxation class at 11am. Booking necessary. Starts 25

January for 10 weeks.◆ Men’s Group Support at 11am.◆ Swimming hour at the Merrill Leisure Centre and Spa,

Royal Hotel, Bray. Booking essential, at least 24 hoursnotice required.

◆ Volunteer Transport Service by arrangement.◆ Home Support and Hospital Visiting by arrangement.

WEDNESDAY◆ Drop-In Centre open at 10am for Support and Information.◆ Counselling and Complimentary therapies by

appointment.◆ Yoga Class at 11am. Course of 10 weeks starts January

26th. Booking necessary.◆ Pottery/Ceramics Class at 2pm. Course of 10 weeks starts

January 26th. Booking necessary.◆ Volunteer Transport Service by arrangement.◆ Home Support and Hospital visiting by arrangement.

THURSDAY◆ Drop-In Centre open at 10am for Support and Information.◆ Counselling and Complimentary therapies by

appointment.◆ Men’s Group Project at 11am. ◆ Volunteer Transport Service by arrangement.◆ Home Support and Hospital visiting by arrangement.

FRIDAY◆ Drop-In Centre open at 10am for Support and Information.◆ Counselling and Complimentary therapies by

appointment.◆ Go For Life Physical Activity Programme at 11am,

followed by group discussion. Starts January 28th for 10weeks. Booking necessary.

◆ Swimming Hour at the Glenview Hotel and Leisure Centreat 1pm. Booking essential, at least 24 hours noticerequired.

◆ Volunteer Transport Service by arrangement.◆ Home Support and Hospital visiting by arrangement.

Phone us at 01-286 6966 for details of all our classes,therapies and workshops or email us at bcsc@iol.ie

NEW SPRING CLASSESWITH BCSC

Mel Manina will run a new series of YOGA classesbeginning on Wednesday 26 January for 10 weeks. Held atPerfect Theatre, Bray Bowl, the yoga workout focuses ongentle stretching and relaxation. Time: 11am–12pm.Donation €5.

CERAMICS AND POTTERY classes are being offered byMark Meakin in Open Door, Vevay Road beginning onWednesday 26 January from 2pm–4pm. Learn the basicsof pottery and bring your work home! Donation €5.Booking required.

The MEN’S GROUP GARDENING PROJECT is ongoing atthe Festina Lente Foundation. No particular skills arerequired, all you need is a bit of enthusiasm and one or twohours a week. BCSC on Tuesdays at 11am and Festina Lenteon Thursdays at 11am. Contact Brendan at 2866966 formore details.

GO FOR LIFE physical activity programme for older peopletakes place on Friday mornings at BCSC from 11am–12pm,followed by tea and chat. Next course begins on Friday 28January, facilitated by Nuala Murphy and Margaret Byrne.

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SERVICES AND THERAPYPROGRAMMES

Spring/Summer 2011

Follow us on FaceBook at BrayCancer Centreto keep up-to-date with news and events.

www.braycancersupport.ie

● National Conference for Cancer Survivorship,Dublin Castle, 4 and 5 March. Hosted by theIrish Cancer Society. BCSC will hold aninformation table at the conference andtransport will be provided on both days.Contact the Irish Cancer Society for full details.

● A Social Get-Together for all our clients andthose who care for them will take place onFriday 25th February in the Esplanade Hotelfrom 11am - 1pm. The event will include anopportunity to meet the Centre's Staff,Volunteers, Drivers, Counsellors, Therapists andour Breast Care Volunteers. Information will beavailable and a demonstration will take place onPink Ribbon Pilates by Lina Power of PerfectTheatre. These are gentle exercises toencourage movement, stretching and flexabilityin the upper body area. More details from theCentre at 2866966.

● Love for Fashion-Friends for Life Fashion Showin aid of Bray Cancer Support Centre onThursday 24th March 2011 in The EsplanadeHotel Bray. Special guest Karen Millen OBE.Tickets €35 available from Bray Cancer SupportCentre include champagne reception, fashionshow, Clarins skin care consultation area,goodie bags, Bobbi Brown Makeup Touch Ups,prizes, entertainment & DJ.

● East Coast Radio Coffee Morning, Friday 8thApril in the Martello, Seafront, Bray.

● Easter Flower Workshop, Villa Pacis, Queen ofPeace Church, Bray, Friday 15 April.

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UPCOMING EVENTS