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The 21K Appeal has been launched
with the aim of raising £21K for 21 years of
care within the NHS system. The money raised will
go towards diagnostic equipment for the detection
of bowel cancer and other serious bowel conditions.
To give something back - a tribute to the many talented
Surgeons, Doctors and Nurses - to show support to
the system which helped me and helps all those facing
ill health.
In 1988 I was diagnosed with FAP
(Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) at the age of 25
and having recently given birth to my first child.
I was fortunate enough to receive an early diagnosis
and within days underwent surgery to remove my colon.
Without this operation, and the ongoing NHS care I
have received during the last 21 years, I would not
be alive today.
I am grateful for the life I have
been given and as a tribute to the many talented Surgeons,
Doctors and Nurses and to show support to the system,
which helps me and helps all those facing ill health,
to give something back to our health system will be
a dream come true. By giving our time effort and hard
earned cash today to help make someone else's day
better tomorrow.
Not intending or meaning to enter
into any political debate when I say, from what I
can see and hear, our health system is unable to provide
every thing for everyone - in an ideal world there
would be enough funds and resources to treat everyone
with every piece of up to date equipment available
- but sadly there just isn't that capacity.
We are working very hard to raise
funds to help bring these 2 pieces of much needed
diagnostic equipment to The Shrewsbury and Telford
Hospital NHS Trust:
1) An endo-anal ultrasound scanner and probe (54K)
used to detect early rectal cancer and assess damaged
muscles, particularly in women after childbirth injuries,
is needed to replace the current outdated 2 dimensional
14 year old piece of equipment which has served us
well but is now prone to breaking down. The new equipment
will give a 3 dimensional image with far better information
delivered to the surgeon without the worry of the
equipment developing a fault.
2) A transanal endoscopic microscope (47K) used for
resecting large rectal polyps is currently unavailable
in our cancer region: Stoke, Stafford, Wolverhampton
and Shropshire, patients have to travel to Birmingham
or Liverpool to receive this treatment at the moment,
a journey they and their families could well do without.
The 21K Appeal now has a total of
26 events and activities to raise funds. The 3 main
events are:
1) The Bridgnorth Walk on 25 May - currently we have
a team of 28
2) The Sponsored Tandem Skydive on 20 June - currently
we have a team of 10
3) The Solstice Walk on 21 June - we have a team of
21
There will also be a grand finale event to draw to
a close the appeal with a live music on 10 October,
for which 200 tickets will go on sale.
There will be a 21K team t-shirt,
which has corporate sponsorship, for all members of
the 3 main fundraising events to wear. The appeal
leaflet has been produced and printed for no charge.
The web site: www.shrop.net/the21kayappeal has been
built for no charge. There will be no postage, stationery
or administration costs to the appeal.
All the funds raised will be presented
on 10th October to Mr Schofield MS FRCS, Consultant
Surgeon in the colorectal unit at The Shrewsbury and
Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
It is easier for people with bowel
conditions to talk and listen without embarrassment
about bowel issues as it becomes just part of life
for us. For the majority of the people who are actively
fundraising for the 21K appeal this is a whole new
area. It is a subject many choose to ignore or 'sweep
under the carpet'. Hopefully the appeal will also
raise awareness - it is not that long ago that cancer
was known as the big 'c' and talked about in whispered
tones and tuts - it is also not that long ago that
other forms of cancer where also felt to be too embarrassing
to discuss e.g. breast, testicular and prostrate cancers,
they are far more openly discussed now. Unfortunately
bowel cancer and bowel disorders are not yet easily
talked about - we know many find it difficult to discuss
and many find it difficult to hear about. Wouldn't
it be great to start a new trend of openly talking
about a taboo subject!
I look forward to the day when, like
other cancers and disorders, bowel cancer and bowel
disorders are not something that is hidden and people
needing medical attention seek it sooner rather than
later without embarrassment.
Kay Shinton
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