On Sunday 13th April, I’ll be running the Newport Half Marathon in memory of the lovely Martine Peel, a close relative who passed away last year following a long and courageous battle against cancer. With your help, I am hoping to raise funds to support the Approaching Cancer Together Community Group which Martine was actively involved in.

Some information about the Approaching Cancer Together Community Group (ACT)

ACT has grown and flourished since a small number of members connected just over 4 years ago to share information, experiences and to provide support to each other through such challenging and overwhelming times. The Group now has almost 100 members, all of whom are living with or supporting someone with cancer, the majority of whom have a Stage 4 diagnosis. Martine became one of the ACT leaders soon after she joined, bringing with her an abundance of research, new members and so much enthusiasm and valued support to everyone .

ACT holds fortnightly online community meetings, and invites well respected and knowledgeable speakers, including nutritionists, doctors, and a wide range of practitioners who themselves support people living with cancer. These meetings offer members a deeper insight into how to support themselves and each other to live as good a quality of life as possible, alongside conventional treatments.

Running alongside this, ACT has several WhatsApp groups so that members can support each other, both with practical ideas, but also emotionally. ACT provides valuable connections, much needed support, and hope that members are not alone and can continue to live with cancer.

Ways in which donations like yours can help:

1. As the majority of the Leadership team are themselves living with a cancer diagnosis, ACT has recently employed administration support to help run the Group.

2. ACT has a wealth of supportive information and research, which it would like to make more accessible to members through the development of a website.

3. Each year, ACT meet together face to face for the annual ‘huddle’, more recently at The Penny Brohn Cancer Centre in Bristol. The Centre provides a space to stay, connect and practice some much needed self-care, through a range of activities, healthy food and laughter in a beautiful tranquil place. ACT has been fortunate to be able to subsidise the cost, making it more affordable for more of the members to attend though the generous support of people like yourself in Martine's memory.

Any sponsorship you can provide, however big or small, for this very worthy cause that was so close to Martine’s heart would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you!