Latest news with #supportgroup
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Burton Latimer father starts community walking group for dads
A father has launched a fortnightly walking group to provide a support space for local Watts from Burton Latimer, near Kettering in Northamptonshire, created 'Dad's Doddle' after noticing how many social opportunities were available to new mums but not dads. The first walk took place earlier this month at Irchester Country Park, where 19 fathers attended with their children, some in buggies, others walking Watts, who has a 15-month old son, said: "Dads [can] feel a bit side-lined [and] we need to be noticed." Just three weeks after setting up 'Dads Doddle,' more than 500 people have signed up to the group second walk, held at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, saw almost 40 dads attend and future meetups are already being Watts described the group as a place where fathers can be open and feel supported."It's a judge-free zone. You can unwind as much as you want, and we're just there for each other," he 28-year-old father added the emotional response from other parents on social media has made the experience especially meaningful."Even to this day, reading [positive comments] makes me emotional."None of us knew each other before the group started and now we're getting on like we've known each other for years," he said. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
BRYONY GORDON: Truth about the shameless anti-vaxxer nurse who blamed the NHS for her daughter's cancer death
Nothing focuses the mind quite like clinging to the side of a mountain in gale force winds, driving rain and fog so thick you can't actually see further than your nose. But clinging to the side of said mountain with a group of women who have just been through gruelling breast cancer treatment? Well let me tell you, that really shows you what matters in life.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire chronic pain sufferers making new connections
A club which supports people living chronic conditions has created a community network in partnership with a therapy Connect meets several times a month in Gloucestershire to help people who have conditions such as pain is pain that persists or keeps coming back for longer than three French, one of the members of the group, said: "When you talk to somebody and you get the same look back - they get it, which is hugely important." Shannon Dunkley was born with scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine, and also suffers from fibromyalgia."It means a lot to us to help others as well, just to let them they're not on their own - we understand," she said. She added some people think she "looks fine" so would find it hard to understand her pain."They can sympathise but they could never understand," she club, which meets in Lydney, Cinderford and Coleford, was set up to connect people who can understand each other's conditions. Former primary school teacher Emma Richards, from Gloucester, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 20 years she was at university she went blind in one eye, and four years later she began to feel tingling sensations and suffer the pain which led to her diagnosis and a premature retirement from added she has been able to volunteer, including singing with babies at her local library and tutoring for friends."I'm just trying to give back just so it keeps my hand in, it was tough to give up [my] identity," she said. 'Source of strength' Ms Richards said having oxygen therapy at Charcot Therapy Centre in Gloucester has helped her symptoms."I've been going about nine months now, I really enjoy going to the centre. It's not just therapy - it's a community," she centre, named after neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot for his discovery of MS, was set up 40 years ago by a group of Rachael Evans said: "It became an acorn of hope which has grown over the years into a lifeline which is a source of strength and a true community."She said the people that go to therapy "become family".Jade Barnes, Charcot Therapy Centre manager, said the oxygen therapy can help with "brain fog, mobility and fatigue".
ABC News
23-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Meet the breast cancer survivors on a 'slightly unhinged' but growing support mission
When Carol Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, she found solace in her connection online with a woman going through the same treatment. As well as shock, confusion and a search for answers, the diagnosis and new friendship set off a chain of events that led to a "slightly unhinged" development — she joined the "Shitty Titty Committee" in her now home city of Busselton, Western Australia, a movement to make sure women don't struggle alone. Ms Smith was 36 when she discovered a lump on her left breast. "When they sat me down and said, 'You have breast cancer,' my reaction was just shock," she said. "I was just completely numb. Within two weeks, she had her first round of chemotherapy. She turned to the internet to find advice and support from women experiencing the same thing. "I had a lot of friends around me [but] just being able to reassure yourself that this symptom is normal, that this medication is meant to make you feel the way you're feeling, and anything like that that non-cancer people wouldn't be able to understand." Ms Smith threw herself into fundraising after her successful treatment. On the fifth anniversary of her diagnosis in 2023 she held the first Big Boobie Ball in Busselton, which brought local breast cancer survivors and patients together. From there, the Shitty Titty Committee was formed. The support group has grown its membership to about 17 women around the Busselton area. Kate Grainger gave the group its "slightly unhinged" name in 2024. Ms Grainger's breast cancer journey began in 2023 when she travelled from WA's Pilbara region to Busselton Hospital to give birth to her son. There, the expecting mother was given a life-changing diagnosis. "They said, 'You're baby is being born tomorrow' … I started chemo when he was nine days old," she said. She was 1,400 kilometres from home and staying in an Airbnb. But she was overwhelmed by the support of her new community, including another cancer patient who set up a "meal train" of food deliveries. "It was just like giving my heart a hug because I knew I couldn't get up and make my family a meal and I couldn't carry my baby and couldn't hold my two or four-year-old," she said. "I was very unwell for a very long time." Ms Grainger, now 33, had a clear scan in October after long treatment. She said she had turned her attention to helping others via the committee. "I went to my oncologist a couple of months ago and there was this gorgeous woman sitting in the chair having her chemo infusion … she said, 'What's this Shitty Titty Committee?' and I said, 'Oh, it's just a group of us locals who have had the c-bomb dropped on us and we're just stumbling through it together,'" she said. The Cancer Council estimates about 38 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Western Australia. Cancer Council WA supportive care director Melanie Marsh said she was pleased to see country people come together during a "scary" time in their lives. "These support groups in regional areas are just fabulous to be able to bring that face-to-face support for people who need it."
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bereaved man, 70, helped to find love again and 'conquer loneliness'
A bereaved 70-year-old man has found love again after "conquering loneliness" with the help of a friendly group of strangersJohn Holland first went to Talkin' Tables loneliness support group back in 2023, three years after his wife had he arrived at the session at St Laurence's Church in Chorley, he said: "90 percent of the people there were women, and they all wanted to know my name; I was beaming".That day the 70-year-old walked out with the phone number of his future wife Tina Astley, who said she had also been "in a dark place" before she started going to the group. "I was scared and nervous when I first went to Talkin' Tables, but when a friendly smiley face like John comes to greet you it puts you at ease," Tina told BBC Radio Tables was set up in 2021in Lancashire with the sole goal of combatting isolation by bringing people together. John returned to the meetings each day after his initial visit, and it was not long before romance began to said: "I rang her [Tina] up one night and we were on the phone for two hours. I couldn't see her on the phone but I loved listening to her."We talked about our backgrounds, and eventually started meeting at the local pub where we would spend hours just laughing our heads off."John proposed to Tina, now 49, during a trip to Whitley Bay last year, before they married on her birthday on 5 June at Park Hall Hotel. 'Together' "We couldn't believe we were just so alike and loved each other so much. From the very first moment it has been phenomenal," John Tables founder Marjorie Hayward watched their romance unfold and said the pair had "conquered their loneliness together.""Bringing people together is what we're about, because I know that when you do, they will do the rest themselves," Marjorie said."It's a confession to admit you're in a sad state and admit your loneliness, but Talkin' Tables was designed for this."I thought it would last six weeks and here we are four years later."Talkin' Tables now has 100 tables around the UK meeting every week, and three in Cyprus. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
