I have walked the Moonwalk in London at various times and been inspired on every occasion. The atmosphere is electric and the bonds you develop with other walkers are ones you will always remember and cherish. I 'walked the walk' with my friends, my relatives and my Mum, who was suffering from cancer at the time.

Following the loss of my Mum in 2006, after a six year battle, I could not think of a better way to keep her memory alive, together with the memory of many others, than by creating our own walk locally. Easier to reserve a place,no major travelling expenses, local people walking for a local charity and ALL for one common cause - to help local patients and families through their cancer journey.

The aim of the StarWalk event is two-fold. Firstly, to raise awareness of CancerCare and the services we offer and, secondly, to raise much needed funds to help CancerCare keep up with demand for our services from local people who's lives are affected by cancer.

So ladies and gentleman, get those trainers on and register today! Whether you are walking or running in memory of a loved one or as a personal challenge, it's a moonlight experience you will never forget.
 

About CancerCare

CancerCare is a local charity dedicated to the support of people with cancer, their families and their carers, and those bereaved by cancer.

Our services are available free to anyone in North Lancashire and South Lakeland, and have been developed in response to the expressed needs of those whose lives are affected by cancer.

We need people to help with our fundraising efforts to sustain our services in the local community. Currently one in three people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime so demand on our services are growing. Every penny we raise goes back into helping local cancer patients and their family members.

The services we provide are invaluable to our patients and their family members. As facing cancer, whether as patient, carer or member of the family, is almost always a life-changing experience.

Cancer Care aims to work with people as they come to terms with and manage these changes, in particular by providing relevant information and emotional, social and psychological support.

This may include distress about diagnosis or recurrence, and coping with the demands and difficulties of treatment.  Shock, anxiety, fear, trauma, uncertainty, isolation, depression, anger and pain are also effects that CancerCare services may be able to help with.

People coping with the changes cancer may bring in appearances and its effect on relationships may also find our services helpful.

Specific symptoms associated with particular conditions for which CancerCare's therapeutic support may be appropriate include:

Pain management issues        Lymphedema           Needle phobia

Breathlessness                      Poor posture            Sleep disturbance

Loss of appetite                      Nausea

We have a dedicated Children and Young Person’s Service  supporting three to eighteen year olds, affected by cancer in some way; whether it’s their own diagnosis, that of a significant other, or bereaved by cancer.    We provide therapeutic support to help children and young people express their emotions and find meaning to their experiences.  This can be in the form of counselling, play therapy, dramatherapy or working systemically with a family.  We also offer consultations to parents/carers who need support at a particular time in the cancer journey, offering guidance and support at this difficult time.  The Children and Young Person’s Service also deliver training to other professionals in order to assist in understanding cancer, serious illness and the impact of death, from a child or young person’s perspective.  We have two, well equipped play rooms where our clients come, explore their feelings about cancer and grief in a safe, confidential space.

Sessions are provided at our two centres, Slynedales in Lancaster and the Lakes Centre in Kendal, with some additional support provided in our other local hospitals and in the community. Our services are FREE and  priceless to the individuals who benefit, but it is only the kindness and generosity of the public that allows us to continue this network of support.

Referrals are taken directly from cancer patients and their carers, and from healthcare professionals. Children and Young People’s referrals come from families, social workers and teachers.