One of the region’s best loved entertainers has swapped her popular BBC radio show to help people all over the UK fight cancer.
Former BBC Newcastle presenter Sue Sweeney has taken up a new role with North East based cancer charity Fighting All Cancers Together (FACT) where she was a patron for more than five years.
Her new role is very diverse and as well as helping with much needed fundraising and PR activities, Sue is tackling the day to day tasks that make the charity work such as coordinating volunteers, answering telephones, welcoming visitors and organising events.
“It’s a fantastic place to work with a very much family-based feel. The work that FACT does makes such a difference to people affected by cancer and their families too. Last year we delivered over 12000 support service sessions and in 2014 it looks like we will deliver over 14,000 sessions. I’m really enjoying the work and the satisfaction I get helping people is unbelievable. There’s a wonderful team here and both the staff and people who use our services are amazing,” Sue said.
FACT founder and Chief Executive Joanne Smith was herself diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, a factor that prompted her to start the charity to help others in a similar situation to herself.
“Originally I set up a voluntary sign posting group as I felt that there was little or no support for those diagnosed with cancer and their families. The group developed rapidly and I quickly realised that more help and support was needed. Now, almost 15 years after my diagnosis and 11 years after setting up the charity, FACT offers counselling services, support, advice and education and helps to raise awareness of cancer and the options available. We’ve come a long way in such a short time and its fantastic to have Sue involved with FACT in her new role.”
Indeed, development is on the cards as the charity’s current base is rapidly becoming too small for the work they do. Joanne has major plans to build a state-of-the-art centre which will cater for cancer patients from across the northeast and beyond.
Coincidently, the new centre will be based on the site of Joanne’s old school at Dunston Hill in Gateshead and will offer treatment rooms, fitness centre, children’s play area, activity rooms and a coffee shop that will be open to the public.
Education is an important aspect of the new development and programmes for schools, colleges, community groups and local businesses will be run including cancer awareness, education, and advice around lifestyle cancer implications, healthy living, prevention, signs and symptoms, early diagnosis, screening and treatment processes.
“This will be a major resource not only for the region but also for the rest of the UK. People will be able to come here and receive therapy and other treatments in a relaxed, family orientated atmosphere. We’ve already had pledges of help from local businesses and our fund raising is well underway,” said Joanne.
To help with fundraising www.fact-bigbuild.co.uk
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Photo: Sue and Joanne at FACT
Credit: Highlights PR
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