Bristol & South West Group
Contact
For more information about the Bristol & South West Group please contact
Chairperson: Jacky Robertson
or visit their websiteKeeping Abreast Bristol & South West
Phone: Jacky - 07531 712804
Email: jackyrobertson@keepingabreast.org.uk
Breast Reconstruction Nurse: Caroline Oates
Phone: 01173 403063
Email: caroline.oates@nbt.nhs.uk
Dates for 2013
***New Support Group Venue***
On Saturday May 18th we will be holding our first meeting in Gloucester for KASW. It will be a drop in coffee morning at The Barnwood Trust , Barnwood Rd, Gloucester, from 10:30 to 12pm. Please feel free to come along, bring a friend or member of your family for an informal chat. For more information please contact Jacky.
Support Groups
Wednesday 5th June - Guest Speaker: Camouflaging ScarsTBC
Wednesday 17th July - Guest Speaker TBC
Wednesday 11th Sept - Guest Speaker TBC
Wednesday 6th November - Guest Speaker: Miss Catalina Estela FRCS Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Wednesday 11th December - Christmas Raffle & look back at 2013
Our meetings are held at the Plastic Dressing Department in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. Doors open at 7pm, meetings start at 7.30pm.
Refreshments & Raffle on the night. Our meetings are informal & relaxed and all are welcome who wish to gain more information on Breast Reconstruction after mastectomy. Family & friends also very welcome. If anyone wishes any further information please do not hesitate to contact Jacky on the numbers above.
Further dates for the Gloucester Group will be available soon
Bristol & South West Gallery
Check out some of the photos of our latest fundraiser where we raised an amazing £245!! Thank you to Gill Powell and her daughter for all of your help.
*NEW PHOTOS ADDED*
Bristol & South West news
Race for Life 2013
KASW are pleased to announce that we will again be attending The Race for Life events in Gloucester Park 23rd June & Cheltenham Race Course 3rd June. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to spread the word & sell some of our merchandise, but most of all support Cancer Research UK & all that are running, walking, dancing & just generally having a great time. Come along & see us, you CANT miss us with our "Bubble Gum" pink marquee. This year we are having a guest appearance who can do a trick or 2!!! Barney our Mascot who is our beautiful Border Collie. He is in training for a small trick that will hopefully come off on the day?.... & yes he will also be wearing his pink KASW t-shirt!
Wedding News!
We have the pleasure of announcing the wedding if Matthew Barnes & Sarah Guilfoyle who are great friends of Jacky Robertson. They are geting married on Sunday May 26th & have very kindley stated that if anyone would like to donate to KASW alongside any wedding gift given. This is a very kind gesture & KASW wish them every happiness for their future together.
KASW draw in the crowds at Race for Life
Jacky Robertson and her team of helpers were on hand to make KA's presence at the Race for Life events at both Gloucester and Cheltenham recently.
As well as attracting lots of attention with there shiny new Keeping Abreast gazebo, they made lots of contacts that will hopefully raise the profile of the charity in the South West area, and raised some money by selling our merchandise.
Thanks must be given to David Savill who,(after the girls lent him a chair!)took some photos for them and gave a donation whilst also taking some photos of all the ladies that crossed the finishing line. Images will be available soon at www.davidsavillphotography.co.uk
The KASW stand will hopefully be at the Race4Life Men in Gloucester on the 19th August so if you are about please pop along.
Images from this event are now available in the Gallery above.
The Wonderful comments continue!
"Hi Jacky, I Can't thank you enough for your honesty and it was just what I needed to think about putting what I want first rather than running around keeping everyone else happy.
Thank You... it was the best thing I've done for myself for a long time"
The following is an extract from a lady who attended one of our support groups;
"It was so kind of you to take the time to come all the way over here to share your story, and so generous of you to be so open and to show Pauline and I the results of your surgery. It made it all more real and not so daunting.
You answered my questions which has helped me to imagine the operation and more importantly life afterwards!! You are a shining example of the benefits of positive thinking and a great advocate for the procedure!!"
This is the exactly why Keeping Abreast was set up and we are glad we were able to help her.
South West Going from Strength to Strength
Our two chairpersons in Bristol who are running Keeping Abreast in the South West have been doing a fantastic job promoting the charity and breast reconstruction in their area.
Jacky and her son recently set up a stand in the Regents Arcade in Cheltenham and although their was some aching feet by the end of the day lots of awareness was raised and also some networking done with other charities that could benefit us in the future.
Keeping Abreast South West have also been invited to do a presentation at a conference for the Breast Care Nurses & teams from the Southwest, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset. This is an amazing achievement and hopefully it will lead to our South West team getting some more people on board to assist them with the fantastic work they are doing.
Below is a group photo of KASW first support group of 2012
