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22/5/2023 SCARS Fundraising in 2023
SCARS Fundraising in 2023
We hope to see many of you at our above events which help us raise important funds towards the running costs of the group.
16/5/2023 Annual Report 2022-2023
SCARS Founder and Chairperson Tracy White delivered the Annual Report this year at The Annual Town Meeting in Stalbridge, held at Stalbridge Hall on Wednesday 10th May 2023.
"Firstly, Stalbridge Cancer & Recovery Support would like to take this opportunity to thank Stalbridge Town Council for the invite to attend at this year’s Annual Town Meeting."
Tracy White has continued to work directly with Macmillan as well as having contacts within Yeovil & Dorset County Hospitals, and the Social Prescribers in Sherborne and Sturminster Newton. This work is immensely important for all cancer patients as it has flagged up areas within the various NHS providers where important information is not necessarily being shared as it should be. This type of work is vital to ensure continuity of care and support for all who have received a cancer diagnosis and she is immensely proud that we can be a part of this important work going forward. 
Tracy White remains committed to ensuring that all cancer patients particularly those in semi-rural locations are given the same level of care and support as those who are in larger towns and cities, this forms a great deal of the ‘behind the scenes’ work over and above the peer support. It is vital that we continue to fundraise as this year our running costs stand at £1,500.00, these include our public liability, website hosting, the monthly hire fee for the Stalbridge drop in and our mobile phone. The accounts are audited at the end of each financial year, and these can be viewed at any time by contacting Mrs June Harman. Any suggestions for fundraising or offers to fundraise on behalf of SCARS would be gratefully received along with offers to volunteer at the various SCARS events so do contact us via our website at www.scarscancerandrecoverysupport.co.uk. 
SHERBORNE
As many of you may remember from the Town Meeting last year, SCARS had secured a second drop-in group at The Communal Room, Manor Park, Sherborne. Our first year has gone well and we have regular attendees, and we continue to work closely with Social Prescribers within The Grove, The Apples and Yetminster surgeries ensuring all patients with a cancer diagnosis are given our information and encouraged to consider peer support for their long-term well-being. STALBRIDGE DROP-IN The growth of the Stalbridge Drop-In has remained strong with new members attending regularly. We currently have a lovely chap who joined us in early 2022 who travels from Castle Cary each month as he feels that the peer support and friendship of the Stalbridge group has been an asset to him giving him a safe space to talk about his feelings with people who understand. In late 2022 a member who had been with SCARS since 2014 sadly passed away which was very upsetting for all. He was a good friend to us all as was his wife therefore it was imperative that support was offered to her to ensure that she did not feel alone at that sad time, and we continue to offer support to her. A Holistic Fayre was held at Stalbridge Village Hall in 2022 to raise funds for the continued running of the peer support group which was a great success and was enjoyed by all. In late November SCARS attended the Christmas event at Westlands in Yeovil selling many different Christmas items which was a huge success, so we have booked a place to attend again this year with our varied Christmas wares. 
No-one need face cancer alone. Meet other people who understand the challenges a cancer diagnosis can bring.
Find out more about our support group, allowing you to take 'Time Out' in a friendly, confidential and comfortable environment. Are you, or someone you know living with Cancer? SCARS is here to support anyone with a cancer diagnosis; a cancer survivor; or family or friends of someone living with cancer. SCARS are an independent, self funding peer support group Call 07961 027089 (our dedicated group mobile) (Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm ) 5/3/2023 Open Day in Sherborne
Stalbridge Cancer & Recovery Support invite you to
COME ALONG TO OUR OPEN DAY & MEET OUR FRIENDLY TEAM, HERE TO OFFER YOU HELP & SUPPORT. REFRESHMENTS INCLUDED. No-one need face cancer alone. Meet other people who understand the challenges a cancer diagnosis can bring. Find out more about our support group, allowing you to take 'Time Out' in a friendly, confidential and comfortable environment. Are you, or someone you know living with Cancer? SCARS is here to support anyone with a cancer diagnosis; a cancer survivor; or family or friends of someone living with cancer. WEDNESDAY 29TH MARCH, 11am to 4pm at THE COMMUNITY ROOM, MANOR COURT, NEWLAND, SHERBORNE, DORSET DT9 3JX LONG 50.950238 LAT -2.514110 WHAT3WORDS ADDRESS: https://w3w.co/mount.yacht.butterfly Please note that there is no parking at Manor Court for the Sherborne Drop in. Please use the public car parks nearby. 
23/1/2023 Tracy talks to Abbey 104
SCARS founder Tracy White was recently interviewed on Abbey 104 Radio Station, broadcast on Friday 20th January. You can listen to the interview here by clicking on the play button below
Interview used by kind permission of Abbey 104 radio.
SCARS are an independent, self funding peer support group that was set up in October 2014 by Tracy White, herself a cancer survivor, with the aim of welcoming all cancer patients, survivors, family & friends and to offer support to each other. SCARS currently meets for 'Drop ins' in Stalbridge and Sherborne. view our calendar on the Friendly Drop In page to find out more.
7/12/2022 A Tree for Stalbridge
Tracy and the team had a lovely day decorating the SCARS Annual Christmas Tree at the Congregational Church in Stalbridge as part of the Stalbridge Annual Christmas Tree Festival. The beautiful tree was purchased from Grassroots at Henstridge as we wanted to purchase locally. It's part of our work to be part of the community we serve, and we are proud to be part of the celebrations. You can view our Christmas Tree at The Congregational Church in Station Road, Stalbridge. To find out how we can support you and your family and friends during this period if you are affected by cancer in any way just get in touch. Visit our website and find out about our monthly, friendly drop in meetings, both in Stalbridge and Sherbourne.
22/11/2022 Fundraiser at Westlands
Below are some photos of the Westlands Event where SCARS had a table on Sunday 20th November.
The total figure raised was £476.50, which broken down was £191.00 from wooden Silent Soldiers, Reindeer and Snowmen made by Stephen White (many prior to the event), £20 from knitted items by June Harman, £176.50 from craft items made by Hailey Judges (Makers Market in Stalbridge and Westlands) and finally £89.00 from Christmas Decorations made by Pauline, the sister of Sandra Pearson. This is a marvellous sum for SCARS to continue their work supporting people with a cancer diagnosis, survivors, family & friends. Thank you to the Committee for all your hard work on the day and for the many laughs we had... Thank you so much. Kindest regards Tracy White 
SCARS are an independent, self funding peer support group Call 07961 027089 (our dedicated group mobile) (Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm ) 19/9/2022 Holistic Fair
Saturday, 24 September, 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM at Stalbridge Hall, Lower Road, Stalbridge DT10 2NF, hosted by SCARS. Tarot Card Reading, crystals, jewellery, Reiki, Reflexology and other treatments, craft stalls, refreshments and raffle. Free entry. Just a week to go now! Lots of fabulous folk with their readings, treatments and more! Big raffle, or just pop in for a cuppa and a slice of delicious cake. Hope to see you there
28/5/2022 Something to look forward to!
SCARS ( Stalbridge Cancer and Recovery Support) are proud to have partnered with a wonderful organisation called "Something to look forward to". The premise is simple, 'Something to look forward to' receive generous donations from businesses. organisations and individuals and then pass them on to people affected by cancer. Find anything from tickets to events and attractions, restaurant meals, hotel stays, beauty treatments, holiday cottages, clothing, toiletries and makeup, food hampers, the list is endless.
Something to look forward to is a charity website supporting people with cancer, their families and carers, to access a variety of ‘gifts’ and ‘experiences’ generously donated by people and companies. Andy and Fiona Coldron started the charity in 2015. Despite the pandemic the charity has now established a nationwide service for distributing their gifts and experiences and invites applications to benefit from these on their website.
Visit the website to discover all the current gifts and experiences available and find out why and how this organisation was set up.
28/5/2022 SCARS Annual Report
On Wednesday 25th May SCARS founder Tracy White delivered the commitee's Annual Report at The Annual Stalbridge Town Meeting.
"What great news it is to finally be able to come together as a community once again to get an update on the wonderful work undertaken by the groups in Stalbridge after such a long time apart during the pandemic. " 
SCARS managed to meet on the last Monday of both January and February 2020 in our new location at The Annexe, Stalbridge Village Hall and it was wonderful to welcome our members back after the Christmas break with new members joining us. Little did we know that life was going to change so dramatically in March 2020 but once the lockdown was confirmed our March meeting had to be cancelled and at that time the Committee did not really have any idea on how we would continue going forward not only with the vital support of our current members and of course people who may need support after a diagnosis during these unprecedented times.
Thankfully, a wonderful member who had been with SCARS from our formation in 2014 set up Zoom on his computer which allowed us to all meet on our usual meeting date as an evening meeting of only 45 minutes as this meant we did not need to use funds as this could was free of charge. The meetings went well albeit strange at the beginning however it was vital to keep the link with each other as many of us are vulnerable (myself included) and as such were shielded and had to stay in our homes for months on end and this was the only contact with the outside world. Not all our members joined us on Zoom as some did not have the facilities to do so as well as some who found it too uncomfortable which is of course understandable. SCARS decided to hold the first face to face meeting in September 2021 but sadly it was not well supported as we had lost some of our members very sadly during the pandemic to their cancer and of course we could not go and say a final farewell to them and pay our respects due to the pandemic, also members still felt a degree of fear and reluctance to be around other people due to their vulnerability. The Committee therefore had to make the decision to leave meeting again face to face until January 2022, but we continued with the Zoom meetings up to December 2021 which was wonderful for us all. Since the first meeting in January this year SCARS has been growing slowly with new faces joining us for the vital peer support that is so necessary for those who have been left to struggle alone after getting a diagnosis and having to go through treatment alone throughout the pandemic. The need to talk to others who have a clear understanding of the fear and emotions of a cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the support of likeminded people can make such a difference to the mental health of anyone at what is one of the worst times of your life, as well as the isolation and loneliness. 
Another tremendous success for SCARS since the start of 2022 is the wonderful growth of our vital work with a new SCARS group being set up and now running in Sherborne. The meeting is on the third Monday of every month (except bank holidays) in the Communal Room, Manor Court, Sherborne, DT9 3JH between 2-4pm.
Having met Roger Marsh of the Chairperson of the Patient Participation Group of The Grove Surgery in Sherborne at a Networking event through Dorset Community Action in 2019 a discussion took place with Tracy White about the potential of a cancer support group with the surgeries in Sherborne as it was apparent this needed. Further discussions took place until the pandemic took over in 2020 putting the matter to one side until we could resume discussions face to face. Tracy White received contact again in early January 2022 to further discuss this matter further with a meeting arranged with Tracy White, June Harman and Lyn Robinson in early February in Sherborne. Agreement came for SCARS to hold the drop in with the group having recognition around the local area. It was at this point that the SCARS Committee made the decision hold a ‘drop in’ rather than a ‘meeting’ and this has proved to be a success in both Stalbridge and Sherborne. The second drop in at Sherborne sadly fell during Easter therefore not well supported but we have just had our third meeting on Monday 16th May and we welcomed fresh faces as well those who had visited before, and much laughter was had by all as well as a lovely cuppa and biscuits with new friendships being made. 
As had been the case for all groups over the pandemic vital funds have diminished with no events, this has had an enormous impact on everyone. SCARS have now decided three events in 2022, one of which will be an Afternoon Tea in July. Full details of this event will be available at the right time along with details of our other events, it will be wonderful to get to see people again and to raise vitally needed funds to support cancer sufferers and/or their families with travel expenses, days out etc.
Although no real expenditure during 2020/2021 our accounts are fully up to date for 2019 onwards and audited and available for viewing should anyone wish to view, please do not hesitate to contact us. A grant was made by Macmillan in February 2022 for SCARS to have a new website built and this was undertaken by John Fieldhouse of Fieldhouse Design & Print along with fresh marketing material and we are extremely grateful for his work and the wonderful website and printing materials he supplied. John is also hosting our site and will continue to do so as we feel it is important to provide business locally. The new website address for SCARS is https://www.scarscancerandrecoverysupport.co.uk and new A4 & A3 laminated posters are available should you wish to display one (also supplied for the annual meeting). Tracy White Chairperson/Founder SCARS (Stalbridge Cancer & Recovery Support) 
"I have thought very carefully about whether to commit my thoughts to words on a very public forum knowing the danger of negativity towards me, please allow me the time without judgement to share my feelings as this does not just apply to me but to so many silent voices you will never hear..."
- Tracy White
My concern however is that the NHS is not sufficiently funded to support the lives they save from cancer. They try so very hard but particularly now with a pandemic it’s harder than ever. It’s all about money as is always the case and cancer is still changing lives everyday despite the pandemic but the NHS is not even able to save all the lives from cancer as the hospitals do not have the space or staff for both. Nobody should ever have to choose between life or death we are all people who deserve to live and be well without hesitation.
So I now hear that the first centre to support those with long covid has been set up and I celebrate the support for those affected as they too want the ‘you’ they were back and to not have to struggle. Yes the Country needs these people to be well and to support the Country in the future with taxes so I am not being negative towards those affected but my question is what about the long term effects of cancer? The NHS and the Government have known for years the long term effects of cancer on our bodies and minds but there has never been funding found to support those affected. It’s been almost 10 years since I faced my battle and I face my mental and physical scars every single day and I know through my cancer support of so many who walk the same road. The emotional damage is not with you every day as you can put it to the back of your mind but it’s never gone. Anxiety is dangerous as it affects every part of you and is recognised as a mental health condition and yet support is hard to access as funding has never been adequate over years and years. 
So ultimately I am asking everyone to read this and understand that yes the pandemic is very serious and every single death is beyond heart breaking. Yes long covid is a fact and yes those affected need support without question. It’s being mentioned constantly in the media so everyone is becoming aware of it and feels such heartbreak for those living with it myself included. However just because you don’t hear it every day please don’t forget those who have fought and survived cancer, we too are suffering long term affects it’s real and it’s a fact. We are struggling every day and some are even classed as terminal due to secondary cancer from those rogue cells but they can live with help from medication. They fight every single day silently struggling with the emotional effects of the long term battle. You don’t know who they are, they don’t wear a badge or even look ill but they are there and they are real!
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SCARS are an independent, self funding peer support group.
Call 07961 027089 (our dedicated group mobile) (Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm )
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Call 07961 027089 (our dedicated group mobile) (Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm )
[PRIVACY POLICY]
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