Events

The Ovacome weekend

After many months of planning, the Ovacome weekend dawned bright and sunny. 76 members gathered in London for the first of two days jam-packed with information, news updates and training, as well as sharing experiences, meeting old friends and making new ones. We were delighted and honoured to have a fantastic programme of speakers and presentations.

Professor Max Parmar and Dr Helen Pearce from the MRC (Medical Research Council) gave excellent talks on research into ovarian cancer; both completed trials and trials in progress, and we were most fortunate to be given preview information on the results of ICON4 (for further info see page 8). Professor Hilary Thomas gave a dynamic and thought-provoking presentation on current oncology practice. Mr Barnaby Rufford took us through the important and challenging subjects of screening and raising awareness. An honest account of the pros and cons of genetics, with discussion on how to improve the NHS genetics service, was given by Dr James Mackay.

We were very fortunate to have speakers of such a high calibre; and it was evident that they had given much thought, and taken a great deal of effort, to make their presentations appropriate to the Ovacome audience. Discussions carried over into coffee and lunch breaks, with queues of members waiting to talk with them, and we are especially grateful that they stayed much longer than they had been asked, to be able to talk with us further.

Following lunch we heard from Kathryn MacKenzie from the Bristol Cancer Help Centre. She talked about the work of the centre, and the principles of its practice.

Next it was an opportunity to update members on developments within the charity. We enjoyed a good discussion on where the charity should be aiming its efforts, and these suggestions will be discussed at the forthcoming member's committee strategy day.

We said farewell to those heading home, and the 24 staying overnight took the opportunity to rest before gathering for further chatting over an evening meal.

Saturday evening was not perhaps as relaxing for one member of the team - Nikki Sienkewitz, who had been attending in her new capacity of committee member, very bravely stepped into the breach when late on Saturday, our speaker for the counselling skills session on Sunday, had to cancel due to illness. Everyone agreed that her session was outstanding. Nikki: once again, a hundred thank-yous.

Later our Fone Friends discussed how the network had been over the past year, and how it should develop. There were some fantastic suggestions which will be followed up in the near future.

In all, an exhilarating and exhausting weekend; but great fun, and so inspirational.

Our thanks to the team at the Ryan Hotel, Kings Cross, Merck Pharmaceuticals who made a donation toward the cost and, as ever, Lesley, Ruth and Lisa in the office.

THE OVACOME AGM 2003

This year's AGM is to be held on
Saturday 20th September 2003
at King's College, London

11.30 Registration and refreshments
12.00 Welcome Rosemarie Williams
12.10 Annual General Meeting
12.40 Lunch
13.30 Life in the front line: The work of the Ovacome office
14.15 "Fine, thanks": an experience of ovarian cancer through dance Hannah Young, Stuart Sumner and Noeline Young
15.00 Refreshments
15.20 Developments in ovarian cancer: an annual report from the medical profession Prof. Hilary Thomas
16.00 Celebrities and charity: working well together Jenny Aggutter
16.30 Close

Please book your free place by calling the Ovacome office on 020 7380 9589

THANKS TO OUR FUNDRAISERS

Marathon News 1: Christine
I was very nervous waiting at the start with thousands of other crazy people who had decided that running 26.02 miles was a good idea. Once the nerves had gone the running began, and what an amazing experience it was! The crowds along the route cheering and clapping really made a lot of difference, especially when mile 22 came into view. It was then that my energy level had gone, and I still had four miles to go. I thought a lot of people had sponsored me, so if they had faith in me I had to keep on running. Mum died of ovarian cancer 10 years ago age 62; she was the reason for my doing this marathon. I know that, as I was running, mum was with me every step of the way.

When I saw the finishing line I heard cheering and people shouting my name, and I looked across and there were my husband and two sons, what a welcome sight they were. My time for the marathon was 4 hours and 55 minutes, not bad, I suppose, for a 44-year-old. It was a truly amazing experience and one I will never forget. I hope to raise over £1000 for Ovacome. What will my next challenge be? I just don't know!
Christine Johnson

Marathon News 2: Kay
I took part in this year's London Marathon as a tribute to my dear, dear mum whom we lost to ovarian cancer in 1996. Having completed a local marathon just before my mum died she joked with me that my next marathon would be the London! Well it was, although it's taken me eight years to get around to it.

I was lucky to get a place in the race but my running partner and best friend Trudi didn't. Having already decided to raise money for Ovacome it was wonderful that they gave Trudi a Golden Bond place so we could run together.

We trained hard for month after month. It was a juggling act with work, kids and everything else. On cold dark nights did we really feel like going out at 8 o'clock to run repeatedly up and down a ridiculously steep hill? No not really, but we did: for me it was the thought of my mum and how proud she would have been of us. Trudi, being a very strong minded and determined person, kept me going on days when I felt lousy and I hope I did the same for her on occasions. We had so much fun during our training, Trudi regularly falling over, getting lost only miles from home, we even climbed a tree once for a short cut, but all came together on 13th April when we did cross the finishing line together, both of us crying! (In pain and relief I think.) So I would like to say how much I hope Ovacome's work will continue for many years to come.

To finish, could I thank Mark (Trudi's husband) for all the hours of babysitting he did; my Dad, who often picked us up when we'd run miles in one direction and couldn't make it home - they both provided so much support; and finally my son Ben and Trudi's children Becky and Christopher who shouted, cheered and were there at the end. Thank you all.
Kay Matthews

Marathon News 3: Annette
Annette joined our marathon runners this year and successfully completed it after much hard training. Her friend had created a training programme for her and she says she was "totally driven". Annette said that she feels she has managed to do something really positive in memory of her mother and to raise money for Ovacome. Annette also joined us in the Flora Light Challenge for Women in Hyde Park in September last year.

She is a Health Visitor and is pictured with two toddlers in her local nursery school, where they too raised funds for Ovacome.

Martin Shaves his head
Please find enclosed cheques to the value of £500, raised by my 16-year-old brother Martin who decided to have his head shaved.

My mum Joan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on 15th August 2000. Soon after diagnosis she underwent chemotherapy (carboplatin) which held the cancer at bay for 12 months (surgery was never an option), but unfortunately the cancer returned and again carboplatin was used, this once again kept the cancer at bay. After consultation with the doctors it was decided to give my mum a stronger treatment, this time Taxol, this is what urged my brother to raise the money, if his mum was going to be bald so was he!

Martin was sponsored by so many relatives, friends, work colleagues and colleagues of family members too, the total kept climbing: he never in his wildest dreams thought he would raise this amount of money.

Martin went through with his plan and a trusted barber shaved his hair. So now both my mum and my brother were bald.

In the end the doctors decided to give my mum only four treatments of Taxol instead of six as first discussed. Mum had a blockage in the bowel which was causing her a lot of discomfort. Although she was still shopping, looking after two grown-up boys and generally continuing with life as normal (just like our mum). However, she went into hospital to try and have the blockage removed, and was there for seven weeks. She became weaker and could not walk, how she hated this, she had lost that independence she had fought so hard to keep. Our mum was not home three weeks when she died, she had lost her battle on 5th April 2003. And we had lost our best friend.

Our mum will not see Martin reach his 18th birthday or Chris's 21st birthday in July, or even see her grandchildren that she was so looking forward to.
I know our mum was very proud of Martin for raising this money and she felt more comfortable out in public wearing a headscarf knowing that Martin was right beside her.

Here are two photos of Martin (before and after) with his dog Mollie.
Anne Marie Nelson
Lichfield, Staffs

Lighter than air
I am writing with pride and delight to tell you that on 8th May 2003 I managed to abseil down the cliffs at Devil's Gorge in Loggerheads, North Wales, and as a result I am enclosing a cheque for £108 for Ovacome. It was a good experience even though today my legs are feeling utterly 'finished'- but they'll be all right tomorrow. I have expressed what it felt like in the attached poem. I feel like a woman who has conquered an Everest!!

Abseiling
I am tilting backwards,
Settling my body on a stretcher of air.
The trees lean in, looking surprised, to look at me.
The clouds spin,
And I begin to spin,
Floating down on threads of silk:
I am a waterfall,
Dissolving in shatters of light;
I am a feathered seed,
Drifting on the whim of the wind -
I will come to earth and grow,
Green branches reaching out;
In spring my hands will be
Full of white flowers.
The clouds spin;
The world spins.
I
Am
Lighter
Than
Air.
Gill McEvoy

Editor's Note: what an amazing thing to have done, I'm sure I wouldn't be so brave, but having met Gill I know that she really is a truly courageous lady, a character, who once met will never be forgotten. You can read more about her experiences of inherited ovarian cancer on page 13.