|
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injuries, is needed to replace the current outdated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
|
