The Christie charity Impact Report 2021-22

A local lifeline Receiving a diagnosis of advanced metastatic breast cancer was a huge shock to Helen Langan. She had worked as a clinical research nurse for 14 years at The Christie, and she, more than most, knew what to expect from the journey ahead of her.

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One of the things that helped Helen to cope, was the feeling that she had control over her treatment. She continued to work at The Christie and could coordinate her appointments during working hours. But when Helen changed jobs and started working in Wirral, she felt the enormous strain of travelling. It was an 88-mile round trip from her new job to Withington and 46 miles from her home in Cheshire. She remembers: “That 88 miles impacted on my working day. The tiredness. The fatigue. It impacted on my daily life.” Now Helen travels just eight miles from home to use the Cheshire-based St Luke’s Hospice blood testing service. It takes away so much anxiety and means that she can spend more time doing the things that she wants to. The small change to her routine makes a big difference to how she lives her life. She added: “Lots of days are disrupted due to the complexities of treatment. I’m living with metastatic cancer for the rest of my life, and having the bloods taken locally helps to reduce that disruption.” Thank you to the Mark Benevolent Fund for its generous support. Our supporters can still help this vital project in the future by sponsoring a clinic.

The Mark Benevolent Fund this year has donated £28,795 to cover the set up costs for providing the ‘bloods closer to home’ service in 11 clinics around Manchester. The Mark Benevolent Fund is responsible for the raising and distribution of funds nationally on behalf of Mark Freemasons to charities within the wider community. Its Provincial Grand Almoner, Barry Heal, explained: “We try to find a way to support a specific cause or organisation that is close to our heart. The work that The Christie does is close to all our hearts. We are all touched at some times in our lives with a loved one or friend suffering from cancer. “The Mark Benevolent Fund is delighted to be able to help The Christie and importantly, so many people who will benefit from the new facilities. It really is an example of ‘making a difference’.”

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