The Cancer Care and Haematology Ward at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (previously known as the Wooden Spoon Ward) is an outpatient centre specifically designed to cater for patients who require treatment for cancer and haematological disorders.  This commonly includes chemotherapy, blood transfusions and complimentary therapies.  Receiving this type of treatment is a long process which can take between 6 – 8 hours per session and the ward offers patients a relaxed and positive environment to receive their treatment in, which goes a long way in helping patients reinforce their mental strength during an otherwise traumatic time.

It was in 2003 that my dad Peter Lewis was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer which attacks the bodies’ lymphatic system.  He was assigned a course of chemotherapy and reported to the ward every 3 weeks for his medication.  One of the things he would always mention was the other patients he had met there and a feeling that he wasn’t going through it alone.  Even to this day my mum is still in contact with some of the patients and the families he met there.  Ultimately my dad did lose his battle with cancer in 2005, however the help and support he received at the ward was invaluable and for this I am grateful to them.

Therefore this year in memory of my dad and to honour the help and support the CC&HW gave him and our family; I will be running the London 2012 Marathon on their behalf.  It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and the combination of bad luck (marathon places are allocated by ballot) and my love of beer and pies have always given me reason not to do it 

So if you would like to sponsor me, please donate using the donation button on this page.  The ward is very small and survives on donations and fund-raising so rest assured that any donation you make will make a difference and allow the ward to continue providing this much needed service.

Thank you x

 

 

 

 

 

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