Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am a Consultant Maxillofacial/ Head and Neck surgeon who set up the Orofacial cancer Unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, on my appointment in 1995.

There is only a finite amount of money in the NHS so over 15 years ago I set up Face up Cymru as a charity to help Head and Neck cancer patients. This was totally patient orientated and run by the patients

Successful surgery is only the first stage in recovery from this most harrowing form of cancer. The after-effects of surgery - especially facial disfigurement, loss of speech and problems with swallowing - can have devastating, traumatic effects on patients.

These may include loss of identify, self-esteem and self-confidence, stress within the family, marital difficulties, feelings of hurt, humiliation, isolation and depression

faceupcymru – the head, neck and oral cancer foundation – wishes to provide opportunities for patients, their families, trustees, staff, volunteers and friends to share in, and sustain, the main aims of the charity.

Achieving our aims:-  Face up believes that there are three strands to this task

             1.      Patient self-help 
Confidence building; Coping strategies; Target setting; Coping with disfigurement;       Sharing; Patients' forum

             2.      Support services 
Coping strategies; Counselling; providing support; providing encouragement; Establish locality Support Groups; Providing a meeting place; Refreshment area; Social gathering space; Confidentiality rooms; Users Committee

             3.      Advice services

Recreational and educational opportunities 
Trips; Visits; Concerts; Information services;                                                                    Enabling learning opportunities

        Alternatives 
Aromatherapy; Reflexology; Hypnotherapy

faceupcymru works closely with the multi-disciplinary teams at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, as well as in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.  These  dedicated teams concentrate not only on successful surgery and physical recovery, but also on rehabilitation - helping patients resume a normal life.

To this end  Faceup has already financed the appointment of a Clinical Nurse Specialist; a dietician as well as a Speech and Language therapist. This has enabled our patients to have the best care available. 

We are now looking to provide a physiotherapist, a wound nurse, further allied health professionals as well as audiovisual aids for the wards.

I will continue to work tirelessly in helping our patients both professionally as well as driving the fund raising efforts so that we can achieve our aims and help our patients.

Any help - however small will go a long way on our pathway.    I do hope you agree

Diolch yn Fawr