EnhanceBlueskiesPROOF-Ebook

enhance magazine: spring issue 2017

LAUREN CODLING

FLIPPING
INTO ACTION

“Everything I get involved with
I become deeply passionate
about and Blue Skies is a great
example of this.”

page 5
BLUE SKIES MONTH

page 8

HIDDEN GEMS

page 12

Welcome

enhance E:[email protected] or T: 01253 957381
magazine 3 issues per year are produced with the next due in

September. I do hope you enjoy what you see.
Ann Hedley: Interim Head of Fundraising

Welcome to our new design Enhance more of and what you’re not interested
magazine. in. We’ve also produced this magazine
electronically and you can find that at:
We felt that our previous issues just ***********.
didn’t reflect the tremendous support
that we receive from you our donors If you are reading Enhance for the first
and we just couldn’t fit everything in! I time in one of the Trust venues, at a
do hope that you enjoy this format and friend’s house or anywhere else and
we’d love to hear your feedback. Let would like us to send it to you in the future
us know what you would like to hear please.

Top talent wows crowd and raises
£30,000 for hospital charity.

Sell out show Let The Sunshine In, held in aid of Clifton Cannon and Ball were still on top form after 54 years
Hospital’s patien garden, wowed the crowd at the together and had the crowd howling with laughter.
Lytham Pavilion and raised a mammoth £30,000. To my Cannon, whose mother –in –law lived with
dementia, said: “What a fantastic night. £30,000 is a
Stars, including comedians Cannon and Ball, Stu tremendous amount and what a great cause.”
Francis, Johnnie Casson, Ted Robbins, Coronation
Street and Mount Pleasant actress Sally Lindsay Sally Lindsay, who is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s
and drummer Steve White, all gave their time to Society following the death of her grandmother
entertain and support the cause. The show was from the syndrome, said: “This has been one of the
organised by local comic Bobby Ball and his best charity nights I have ever done.
wife Yvonne along with Fylde Borough Councillor
Brenda Blac shaw following their involvement in last It was emotional, personal, funny and
year’s Dementia Awareness Week events at Clifton amazing. It was an honour to be here.
Hospital.
The money was raised through ticket sales, a raffle
Yvonne and Brenda also gathered a wealth of and auction donations and organisers praised the
donations and prizes for a raffle and auction generosity of local businesses who donated a wealth
to raise funds for the Peace of Mind Appeal, of prizes. Brenda Blackshaw said: “Yvonne and I are
which will help patients living with dementia. overwhelmed. The people of the Fylde are amazing.
The appeal is run by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’
Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, which is overseeing the We have loved every minute and can’t wait
garden makeover at Clifton Hospital. to see the patients’ faces when the garden

The show was hosted by comedian Stu Francis and is complete.
actress Sally Lindsay and the night also included
local singers, Peter Anthony, Mark Jay, Diva and the Head of Service at Clifton Hospital, David Kay, said:
Preston Musical Comedy Society choir. “The Clifton garden project was a vision set out many
years ago and Phase 1 of the project was complet-

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Top Talent

ed last year. “To fund raise for Phase 2 was always what we do without people like Bobby, Yvonne and
going to be difficult to achieve due to the size of the Brenda.
project, but the hard work and dedication of Bobby
and Yvonne Ball and Brenda Blackshaw has enabled £30,000 is such an amazing amount and it
Phase 2 to become a reality. will help patients, staff, volunteers and
families both in hospital and in the
I am overwhelmed by Yvonne, Bobby’s and
Brenda’s support, the support of our local community. We can’t thank them enough.
community and all our staff to raise an
unbelievable £30,000. Comic Bobby Ball, whose mother lived with
Alzheimer’s, added: “I’m so chuffed that everyone
The show ended with a standing ovation. Yvonne has pulled together. They all wanted to get on board
presented the £30,000 cheque to David Kay, and go for it.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Executive (interim) Wendy Swift and Clifton’s The support from the public has been
Clinical Matron Courtney Bikerdike. Interim Head amazing and we are delighted.
of Fundraising, Ann Hedley, said: “What a fantastic
night with such positive feedback. We couldn’t do You can follow the progress of the garden on Twitter
@CliftonHospital.

Grand National Day was memorable for many people
and 10 year old (11 in June!) Maya Galliano was no
exception. Opening her front door she was shocked to
see a 22lb chocolate Easter Egg sitting on the drive. The realisation that she had won it in Blue Skies’ Easter
raffle took a while to sink in. During a visit to Blackpool the family had popped into The Velvet Coaster pub
and Maya’s Mum bought her the winning ticket. Ann Hedley, Interim Head of Fundraising said:

I rang Maya’s Mum when the draw had been made and
she chose to keep it a secret until I delivered the egg.
It was a privilege to be part of the surprise.

The egg was generously donated by someone who wished to remain anonymous
and the raffle raised an amazing £503.80. Blue Skies would like to thank Funny Girls
Blackpool, HSBC St Anne’s, The Velvet Coaster and our fabulous volunteers who all
sold raffle tickets. Without this help we simply wouldn’t have been able to make the
magnificent sum that we did.

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Charity-Funded

Charity-funded play areas ease stress for

children parents

“It calms them down so it’s less stressful. People
looking after children can be anxious. It makes
such a difference to them.

“We’re delighted with the new play areas. Everyone
has commented on how good they are. We are so
grateful to Blue Skies.”

Children now have safe and fun places to play in Leanne Lamb, a play specialist from the Trust’s
Outpatients’ areas thanks to a health Trust’s charity. Women and Children’s Department, and Mandy
Staff helped to design the colourful new areas at Sanderson, a Paediatric Nurse in the Outpatients’
Blackpool Victoria Hospital and parents and children Department, led the design process.
have given them the thumbs-up.
They said they had given the areas a seaside
FundedbytheBlueSkiesHospitalsFund,theplayareas theme so that there was some continuity with
help to distract children who are receiving treatment the Children’s Ward, which has similar artwork.
for a variety of conditions. The play areas are part One of the play areas is in Orange Waiting Area
of the recent redevelopment of the Outpatients’ where children attend the Trust’s Orthopaedic
Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital which Clinic and the other is in Lilac Waiting Area where
Blue Skies also funded. Elaine Fishwick, Outpatients’ children are seen about various conditions.
Manager for the Trust, said:
Elaine added: “Leanne and Mandy have done a
“The new play areas make it a better experience marvellous job of designing the areas. We’d also
for children when they visit our hospital. like to thank Dr Peter Curtis for his input.”
“The play areas can take their mind off what they
are here for. It also distracts them from any pain Leanne said: “When children come into hospital
they are experiencing. they can be distressed so we wanted to create a
calming area for them. Parents have said what a
difference it makes to have these areas.”

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Goodbye to a Good Friend

Cath Gray, an Orthoptist for the Trust, said: “It’s
wonderful.Theplayareasmakeamassivedifference.

Children often need to have eye drops and then
they have to wait 20 to 30 minutes before they are
called in again. Now there is somewhere they can
play happily.”

Julie Murdoch from Blackpool, whose three-year-old Nicci Hayes, Fundraising Officer for the Blue Skies
daughter Eva receives treatment in the Orthoptics Hospitals Fund, said:
Department, said:
“The play areas look absolutely wonderful and we
“The new play area is great. Eva doesn’t have to are so pleased that the children are getting lots of
sit with the adults. She has been making ‘beans on enjoyment from them at what can be a very anxious
toast’ for the staff! She loves it.” time.”

Goodbye to a Good Friend

It is with great sadness that we bid goodbye to our asked Sam Cleggs Butchers to create blue sausages in
supporter Roger Fox who died on Wednesday 5 th April honour of Blue Skies.
2017 aged 63.
Roger was such a thoughtful and generous man who
Roger was a much loved member of the Poulton-le- Fylde regularly bought items from his own pocket. Over the
community after spending a number a years living years he purchased clocks for the hospital wards, biscuits
n the area following his move there over from Sheffield. to give out to all of the staff on Christmas day and latterly
After receiving life-saving cardiac surgery and follow up bicycles which were raffled off in two of the local pubs.
care over a number of years, Roger decided he would
like to raise money for the Heart of Gold Fund. This is the His support for Blue Skies Hospitals Fund knew no
fund that supports the Lancashire Cardiac Centre at bounds and he always did whatever he could to raise
Blackpool Victoria Hospital under Blue Skies Hospitals money and awareness for us. He was a wonderful
Fund. fundraiser and ambassador for the charity and for that
we will always be truly grateful.
Roger initially came to visit the Blue Skies team to take
collection boxes which he kindly placed in some of We could never thank Roger enough for all that he
the prominent businesses in and around Poulton and did for the charity. The amount of money he raised for
could regularly be seen walking around in his Blue Skies the Heart of Gold fund was just outstanding but more
t-shirt. When his Cardiothoracic Consultant Andrew importantly he was a compassionate, caring and lovely
Duncan and his colleague Nidal Bittar took on a 350km man who put the well-being of others before himself. It
bike ride in Jordan to raise money for the Heart of Gold was an honour and a pleasure to know Roger and he will
Fund, Roger decided he wanted to support them. He be sadly missed.
arranged a sponsored cycle in Poulton square and even

Blackpool Pulmonary Fibrosis Action Group

A new group is offering support to carers, sufferers and those affected by pulmonary fibrosis.
They meet regularly to discuss, share experiences and to campaig for improved services for
sufferers in this area. For more information please leave your name and contact details with
Mel Rosebury or Hannah Whittaker at the oxygen clinic, Blackpool Victoria Hospital or contact:

Fred Bostock on: T: 01253 713496 E: [email protected].

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Girl Power!

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Girl Power!

For those who haven’t met me yet I am Lauren They were opening an academy and I was
Codling, the new Community Fundraiser at one of their first students. Instantly I knew it
Blue Skies Hospital Fund. This is the beginning was for me! The discipline of training and
ofanewandexcitingtimeforthecharityasthe the commitment required is something
work I am doing involves reaching out too and which I have grown to love. It’s tough and
supporting our many volunteer fundraisers there have been some painful moments
across the whole of the Trust’s area of but it certainly has changed my life for the
engagement. better.After struggling with motivating myself
to keep healthy I went searching for
ThatmeansthatI’llbetravellingfromBlackpool something I could grow to love, and that
out to the South Lakes area, down to Preston didn’t take long. A local wrestling company,
and across to Burnley. I’m passionate about Preston City Wrestling, were opening an
all of the areas of health and wellbeing that academy to teach people how to become
the Trust covers and awestruck about how a wrestler and I instantly knew this was for
many people receive treatment and support me. I began training in 2015 and I soon
from the 6,000+ staff that it employs. My role became engrossed in the sport, training 3
in the charity is new and the first of its kind so days a week in the ring and 5/6 days a week
it’s a very exciting and positive time for the in the gym working on my own fitness. Wres-
future of Blue Skies Hospital Fund. tling is tough. Tougher than I ever thought
it would be. I’ve lost blood, sweat and
EverythingIgetinvolvedwithIbecomedeeply tears countless times.
passionate about and Blue Skies is a great
example of this. In 2010 I had first-hand Perhaps you know someone who has
experience of the outstanding work received treatment from the Trust,
delivered at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals perhaps you have. If you would like
when my Dad had a heart attack aged only to help me with my mission whether
47. The treatment he received saved his life through your workplace, family or
and for that I will work tirelessly to ensure the individually or perhaps you would
best level of care for every one of us across like to become involved as a
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. hobby or to meet new people,
grow your confidence or just
Outside my role I have a very interesting because you fancy it; please get
hobby which keeps me fighting fit… in touch:

WRESTLING! As many of us do I struggled to E: [email protected].
motivate myself to keep healthy and just T: 01253 952369
hadn’t found that one thing which would
tick the box and engage me. I began
searching for a sport and before long I saw
an advert for a local company, Preston City
Wrestling.

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Fashion Bargains Extravaganza

Blue Skies Hospitals Fund
celebrated International

Women’s Day with a
fabulous Fashion Show

and Pop Up Shop.

It was a fashion extravaganza at a local school last
week, when a fashion show was held in aid of local
charity, Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

Around 70 ladies travelled from near and far to
enjoy an evening of ex-high street chic. With clothing
supplied by fundraising fashion show Colours, the
models strutted their stuff and wowed the crowd.
Following the fashion show, which was held at Unity
Academy, there was a pop up shop with rails and
rails of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, all to
be purchased that evening at bargain prices.

There was also a charity raffle and tombola with some the event, the children who did such an amazing
fabulous prizes, along with refreshments and cakes job at helping us on the evening, Colours for a great
which were provided by the school. Some of the show and the fabulous audience who all helped to
schools children even got involved by selling raffle make the night a huge success”.
and tombola tickets and serving cakes to the fashion
hungry ladies. Karl Moon, Head of Orange House at Unity Academy
said “The students in Unity Academy’s Orange House
Nicci Hayes from Blue Skies said, “It was a brilliant continued to show their dedication to engaging
event which resulted in almost £700 being raised. with the community and raising money for Blue Skies
Thank you so much to Unity Academy who hosted Hospitals Fund.

The concept of a fashion show was initially rather
alien to them, but they embraced the challenge
of supporting the event and through selling tickets,
offering refreshments and chaperoning, they
worked tirelessly during the evening.

There was a real range in age groups, from 7 to 15,
yet they worked as a team and they are overjoyed
with the amount of money raised.”

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A great big thank you!

During January – March 2017 these are some of the items that
you helped us buy to enhance patient care:

T£O12T6A,9L1:6WNMftCfoaAheIrPoCDnU£aaCreatohtr£Dtap£atpcl14aaeoyirenStnaerdg8h1nhs2rpsnean1£CiHfdpeidriicfe2Nifaeonadt,a£op7e7emaaal3areccCetua1draerh1ail.rr,lne3iritdnte7a5ndaU7sfeLrsNmh9ontscoie5tntnslr0oC1e2ohuiiircUa0eeoasuci.lefrtCtu1te.oKpnn7nlshes4£rCegaytgsetr1Ca61yruedaibn,cis7asiecaCpc1fflpoloRreUaei7CDAe£rtrentni£ictacd.6hdnhSei1Cdht£61ayayt9aeanSeara,e01c6olilmt2btf,rrxrrsoCesl5kdo,iec9elero3xeifaik7tloratn9aaonece1hrUr4cetnctr.ieiti4cstna5ho.dkhUUeii5.enstse0nn7e0iittr8VAAsidnr£toyf1lloUepWurpn,Cs6atlciafacthDoDote3clieemelreenk0Cr£AQtpnrthbamtr£aat4rueCelegeesrra£1oid7-eetlkiaCgimm3tffe8,1ottUfrlDT7mHoceouiel,h.tnouno7i0oalr2neecaignuttrdt60n9ahtaycsoatel2etarito.n7n 5aFClfnoSo£ghdtrrryCia9eot£omchiu,nkreus5e6retCaSsrCtOfIaDP7T3totoom£taWthrarrhieyu£ar4np0ooCi1earinastptlnsdhk9b.p.dhrlg5riaf5as0eorifedoaer9oat-ie,prngo00rttl0i7foinmglyoneetsh0’g.ransRe9ey0ltens2TlHtha£aPeHwx1ateraobiratAmatm2tshWiiCWikpecp1ionDHi,noaenuehapn0h6aineoentTbentiutSraaetraetoT2epdfsrRhixdeiC£p£toahltlstpanli£,efusaoiieeo8cgteooeroh£72diFrcortr1fgdTaCcsCr.toanplaotc2,9hreom6umcyrCt5oi7tliarrliaaaeoorses,sc,ir9lattelz512erto0lfilgritihitenieoDcfnawnisnotsoi.05e0yortcarcdst9foCins7nv0alaioc8IelTtdU
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Blue Skies Month

Announcing the You’ Box. This is something which some schools
Advent of have joined us in distributing. For one month we are
asking ppeeoopplleettoossaavveeththeeirirchcahnagnegeanadndtotsoesnednidt tiot
Blue Skies Month utos.uWs.eW’ree’loreokloinogkifnogr cfoormcpoamnpieasn,icelsu,bcsl,ufbasm,iflaiemsialineds
iannddiviindduiavildsutoalgsettoingveot livnevdo.lved.
We couldn’t do it without you! Together we are
building our community and working to help people Blue Skies Month is a time not only to raise awareness
live longer healthier lives. The support that you give and funds but also to go out and enjoy yourselves
is invested in Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS whilst doing something for others. It the opportunity
Foundation Trust and as you can see throughout to get friends, families, colleagues and neighbours
Enhanceyoureallydomakeadifference. Ourpatients together to do something fun or that you’ve always
hail from an area covering South Cumbria to South wanted to do but not got around too. So please
Preston and across to Burnley, and that’s not challenge yourself for Blue Skies in June.
including all those holidaymakers who visit our
beautiful countryside. There’s a serious side to this too. During the week
For that reason we have decided to promote June as 19th-23rdJunewehavelinkedwithEllenFaysolicitors
Blue Skies Month. Our first event is the Morecambe whoarewaivingtheirusualfeedforpreparingLasting
Bay Walk on 4th June and we also have the Summer Powers of Attorney in return for a donation to Blue
Solstice Abseil which you can read about on the Skies. This will enable you to appoint someone you
back page of this magazine. We’re asking all of our trust to make decisions about your property and
supporters to do something in this month. financial affairs or health and welfare at a time if you
It may be raising awareness of the charity, taking are no longer capable of making those decisions for
part in an organised event or arranging a fundraiser yourself. This offer is for preparing the documents
themselves. No matter how large or small from a and does not include registration. Call Ellen quoting
simple supper asking friends to give a donation Blue Skies on 01772 722373 for more information or
or a work-based fundraiser to taking part in the to make an appointment.
Great North Swim; every penny raised will benefit
patients, their families, volunteers and staff in our If you would like more information, to order your
local community. change box, to register for an event or just to ask
Each day we hear stories of courage, love and how you can help then please get in touch with either
determination. They inspire us to do the job that we
do and make us passionate about Blue Skies and Ann on : T: 01253 955766
the support that you allow us to give. E: [email protected]
With each issue of Enhance posted out to our Or Lauren on 01253 952369
supporters we have included a ‘Change Through E: [email protected]

STOP PRESS!!!!
Marks && SSppeenncceerr,, BBlalacckkppooooll ~VViiccttoorriiaa Hospital
and Smyths Toys, Marton have kindly consented
to collect unwanted gifts and donations during
June. These will be used as prizes in Tombolas and
Raffles by our many supporters and Fundraisers.

EVENTS ALREADY ORGANISED:

4th June Morecambe Bay Walk
16th June White Collar Boxing Event, Viva, Blackpool
17th June Assault Course
17th June Jim Frey Fishing Competition
19th – 23rd June Lasting Power of Attorney week
21st June Summer Solstice Abseil

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Event Calendar

FUNDRAISING EVENTS - JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2017

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Sponsored Slim 15th Wray Charity Sheep Show 16th - 23rd Grand Canyon Trek

8th July Paediatric Ball 30th September Dinner Dance

100 hours of busking

Visiting 69 cities with a donation made following each visit

Captains Charity at Green Drive Golf Club

Sale of hand produced woollen toys

Join me in the race to 5k

Alma Stewart, one of our Communications department experts, has set herself
a challenge and is looking for people to join her. She is warming up to train
intensively during Blue Skies month and has this to say:

‘DESPITE being menopausal, overweight and probably a little bit crazy, I have
set myself the challenge of running a 5k again for the first time in ten years.
I have drafted in the help of my ex-military uncle and my 15 year old
daughter to help me keep focussed and raise as much money as
possible. Why not come along and challenge yourself too? We
are runnin in the Illuminations 5k in Blackpool on August 26.
It starts at 7.30pm so bring your day glo!

You can also sponsor me here:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alma-Stewart?newPage=True’

If you would like to contact Alma for more information please

T: 01253 953538 or
E: [email protected].

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Sheep Dog Trials

Big thank ‘ewe’
as farmer Lisa raises more cash for charity

SHEEPDOG experts are flocking to help a hospital go in a straight line between the obstacles with a
charity raise money. ‘shed’ at the end, where one sheep was separated
from the other two. The best skilled, gained the most
Last year mum of two Lisa Huddleston, who underwent points.
life saving cardiac surgery at the Lancashire Cardiac
Centre at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, took the unique Two judges decided the winner and had even
steps of donating the proceeds of a lamb sale to the travelled up from Wales, to the field near Lancaster.
hospital’s Blue Skies Hospitals Fund’s Heart of Gold The trial was scored out of 100, with Richard
Charitable Fund. Hutchinson winning with a score of 91.

And this year she has raised even more for the cause Lisa has chosen to support the Lancashire Cardiac
by holding a sheep dog trial which raised £285. Centre with her donation after she underwent open
heart surgery for a life-threatening condition she
Current English National Champion for Brace (a trial never knew she had.
where two dogs are worked together at the same
time), Richard Hutchinson, offered to organise the Lisa,wholivesinWray,nearLancaster,hasasheepand
trial for the Fund, after he heard about the sale of beef farm with her husband, Andrew, and their two
the lamb, which went for £400, last year. children Harry, eight, and Anne-Marie, five.

Fifty dogs and handlers ran the course on Lisa’s field, Lisa said her donation was in thanks to the care
starting when it was light enough to see, finishing and treatment provided by the Lancashire Cardiac
around 3.30pm. Centre, especially cardiothoracic surgeon Andrew
Duncan who carried out her life-saving surgery.
The course involved a long outrun, where the handler
sends the dog out to go and fetch three sheep, then Blue Skies Hospitals Fund will be attending the Wray
navigates them around a number of obstacles, Charity Sheep Show on 15th August. Look out for us
between small gates, trying to get the sheep to there.

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Fundraisers

sweetFundraisers are really

TOTAL

£382
RAISED

The Hint of Pink Breast Care Charity and the Trust’s Blue Skies Hospitals
Fund have benefited from a‘Choc-a-Bola’ event at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Volunteers from Hint of Pink, which is based at the hospital’s Breast Care Centre, and Blue Skies staff held the
fundraising event on the mezzanine at the hospital on Wednesday, April 5. Denise Parkinson from Lytham
and Lyn Kendall, Ruth Boardman and Rena Shanahan from Carleton raised money through the Choc-a-Bola
and a raffle.Rena said:

“Everyone has been absolutely tremendous. We are so grateful to everyone
who donated prizes. Everything has gone!”

More than 200 prizes were donated to be raffled
and put on the Choc-a-Bola stall at the event.

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Hidden Gems GHEIDDMENSThere are some areas of the Trust which are less well
known than others. In this and our future issues we
enhance hope to feature a piece about one of them which
magazine we hope will help you to understand the diversity
of the Trust and its work. This issue features our Clini-
cal Research Centre and the article is written by Mi-
chelle Stephens, Research and Development Man-
ager.

Towards the end of 2012 the new £300,000 Clinical
Research Centre opened at Blackpool Victoria
Hospital. It was with grateful thanks that the
Research Team received £168,000 towards the
capital build of the Centre allowing the Team
to grow its services and to take part in ground-
breaking trials.

Our award winning team can have over 140
research studies open at any one time. They may
include looking at new medicines, new devices
and equipment or new ways of treating patients.
We also have observational studies looking at the
distribution and patterns of illnesses and conditions,
their characteristics, causes and influences.

Since 2008 we have recruited over 14,000 patients
to studies at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, 8,000 of
those since the Centre opened in 2012. This and
the developments in medicine and would not
have been possible without having the dedicated
research clinic space in a central venue.

Our connection with Blue Skies continues as we
have just been awarded £68,400 to expand the
Clinical Trials Pharmacy unit. With a large number
of our studies testing new medicines, pharmacy is
critical to our work and we had outgrown our
original space. Struggling to cope we had been
forced to turn research away but hopefully we
will grow our commitment moving forward and
continue to contribute towards innovative
treatments and medicines for the future. We’re
hoping to complete this work by June 2017 and
can’t thank the supporters who have donated to
Blue Skies and made this possible.

Our work doesn’t always take place in the Centre or
a laboratory. We frequently engage with patients

Become a Friend

in their homes or on the wards and without them As I don’t often get the chance to talk about the
we couldn’t achieve what we have or receive the Centre I couldn’t finish without being a little cheeky.
recognition as a centre of excellence that we do. Currently we are fundraising for 7 iPads which will
Thank you to each and every one of you who has help our Research Nurses to collect information
been involved in this both on our behalf and on more efficiently and securely. These small things
behalf of all those people who you have helped help us to be more efficient and patient friendly.
and will help in the future. If you would like to make a donation towards these
please do so at:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Clinical-Research-Centre

and if you would like more information about our work please:

T: 01253 955336

E: [email protected].

Would you like to be our Friend?

A special new group has now grown out of the interest of our supporters. Would you like
to be part of that, make new friends, do something good for the community and have FUN?

In January we invited people to join our new Friends of Blue Skies group. We know that some
people wish to support us but often don’t have the time commitment or simply don’t know how
too. The Friends Group allows you to help out on an ad hoc basis or to do what you can when
you can. This might include giving an hour of your time at a supermarket event, helping people
register at our Morecambe Bay Walk or helping to arrange an event with others. It might be
something as simple as putting a poster up in your local shop or as interesting as arranging a music or
theatre event. The support that we’ve received is amazing and there have been some fantastic ideas.
Sometimes it’s just nice to hear what people might like to see taking place and what they would like
to support.

As a small Team this has made an amazing difference to us. By distributing posters and raising
awareness our events are filling up quicker, people are having great fun through attending more
of them and patients are benefiting from all of this. If this is of interest to you please get in touch
with Nicci Hayes T: 01253 57904 E: [email protected] and she will tell
you when our next meeting is. We’d love to see you and I can assure you that
you won’t be pressurised into anything that you don’t want to do; you will get a
brew and a biscuit though. We want you to enjoy your time in this group and
to help out with the events and tasks that you are interested in so come along
and meet us and see what you think.

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Fight Against Leukaemia

Delighted dad proves there is

A patient recovering from leukaemia Lucy-Mae was born in the Fylde Coast Birth Centre
is thanking medical staff for helping at the hospital on December 17, 2015.
him get well for his son and for
enabling him to have a baby daughter against Glenn and his friends and family first noticed that
the odds. Glenn Salmon, 44, from Bispham in things weren’t right in 2010. He was lethargic and
Blackpool, is delighted that despite being told he pale but he battled on. He said: “I went to see Luke
might never have any more children, he and his for Christmas. I get on well with Luke’s mum Rachel
partner Lindsey Drinnan now have a three-month- and she said to me: ‘You don’t look well’.
old baby girl. Little Lucy-Mae Salmon is a true
miracle baby as Glenn had thought his treatment “Come Boxing Day, I was really ill. Rachel took me
might have made him infertile. However, thanks to hospital in Crewe.
to pioneering treatment at Blackpool Victoria
Hospital’s Research and Development Centre,
Glenn has survived three years of cancer treatment
and is bowled over by the arrival of Lucy-Mae.

Glenn is participating in a clinical trial at the hospital
and says he is glad he decided to do so. He said: “I
want people to know that if you are going through
any kind of cancer treatment there is hope.

“My son Luke helped me to get through it – I love
him to bits. Lucy-Mae is the icing on the cake. When
she was born I had tears in my eyes. I was in the
room with Lindsey and I cut the cord.”

“My son Luke is besotted with Lucy-Mae. He abso- “I needed a blood transfusion and they did lots of
lutely adores her.” tests. My haemoglobin level was 4.5 and the normal
level for men is 12 to 15.”
“Thinking about Luke got me through the treatment
– he was my focus and my reason to get better. He Glenn went back to Blackpool in January of 2011
was only four years old when I first became ill. Luke is and he was placed under the care of Consultant
10 years old and lives with his mum.” Glenn thanked Haematologist, Dr Paul Cahalin.
the hospital staff for the expert care they provided:
“I owe my life to the staff,” he said. “I can’t thank Dr Cahalin explained: “We needed to confirm
the nurses enough. The support has been magnifi- Glenn’s diagnosis so we performed a bone marrow
cent. I see my consultant as a friend now.” examination.

Glenn, who went to Baines Primary School and St “The results confirmed that Glenn had acute
George’s High School, was an IT specialist for a large lymphoblastic leukaemia.
national company before he became ill. He also
worked for the Post Office and is now working for “We sat down with Glenn and his family and we told
Bispham Van Hire. Lindsey, 28, who works as a staff him he had a serious blood cancer but with modern
nurse in the Lancashire Cardiac Centre at Blackpool treatments it was very treatable. We explained that
Victoria Hospital and is also from Bispham, said: “We it would be a long road and the treatment would
have a beautiful little girl now. She is our miracle.” last for a number of years.

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hope in fight against leukaemiaFight Against Leukaemia

“At that point in time we introduced the idea of When Glenn felt able to take Luke out on his own
clinical trials to Glenn. A national trial for adult they decided to go for a trip to Blackpool Zoo. That
patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia called was where Glenn met Lindsey who was working
UKALL14 had just opened and Glenn was the first at the zoo.
patient at Blackpool to go into this trial.
He explained: “I was a bit cheeky. I asked Lindsey
“The trial is ongoing and it is looking at lots of things, to write her number down on the receipt and she
but mainly at the benefits of newer drugs in the did!”
treatment of acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Glenn and Lindsey went on a date and have
“We have been looking at a new drug called been together ever since.
Nelarabine, which Glenn received, and whether it
is beneficial for patients with Glenn’s particular type They were keen to have a baby but thought it
of leukaemia. We still don’t know if it is beneficial as might not be possible due to Glenn’s illness and
trials take many years to follow up. treatment.

“Wearecontinuingtorecruitpatientsfromthewhole Before he started his treatment Glenn had decided
of Lancashire and South Cumbria, a population to have his sperm frozen on the advice of medics.
of 1.6 million people.” To his dismay he was told the leukaemia had killed
off a lot of his sperm.
Glenn said: “I focused on my little lad. He was my
inspiration. I was single at the time. My mum and However, just under a year ago Lindsey discovered
dad, Linda and Paul, came over from their home she was pregnant and the couple couldn’t
in Spain to look after me.” believe it.

For more than a year Glenn went through intensive Lindsey said: “We were overjoyed. We’re both so
drug treatments and chemotherapy to target happy about it.”
the cancer. He was in and out of hospital and
says the staff from the hospital’s Haematology Dr Cahalin said: “We’re thrilled with the
department helped to get him through his darkest new addition to Glenn’s family.
days.

He said: “When I was recovering the fatigue was
terrible. I managed to start walking again in 2012.

“I persevered and saw Luke as much as I could.”

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Kilimanjaro

Ward clerk has second chance
to scale Africa’s highest peak

It was second time lucky for hospital ward clerk, Mandy said: “We wanted to do it ourselves and we
Mandy Gibson, who reached the summit of Mount also wanted to raise some money for the Stroke Unit
Kilimanjaro after being defeated by altitude while doing it. It was gruelling but I got to the top this
sickness on her first attempt. Mandy, who lives in time! It was very emotional and exciting to reach
Layton in Blackpool and works at Blackpool Victoria the summit. I was very proud of Hugh. The climb hit
Hospital, climbed 19,341ft to the summit of Africa’s him hard and at one point he felt as if he couldn’t
highest mountain with her husband Hugh. go any further. He did make it to the summit but it
was pretty intense. The fact that he got up there was
They decided to do the climb for the Blue Skies impressive. We were both relieved that we had
Hospitals with all money raised going to the Stroke made it but the climb down was agony on the
Unit where Mandy works. Mandy first attempted knees.
to climb Kil manjaro 14 years ago when she was
working for a hospital in Ayrshire in Scotland. We could never have made it without the support of
Unfortunately, she suffered severe altitude sickness the wonderful team from Chief’s Tours Moshi!”
and didn’t reach the summit. However, on her
second attempt in March, Mandy completed the Mandy’s somewhat unconventional training regime
gruelling climb with Hugh. The pair did the seven consisted of walking to and from work, walking
day climb starting on March 14 accompanied by approximately five miles each day around the
two guides, a cook and eight porters and raised hospital site as part of her job and walking in her
more than £400 for the Stroke Unit. local park. She said: “My favourite bit was scrambling

on the Barranco Wall. It was a real highlightfor
me because I love scrambling. The adrenaline
was pumping. We started off in the rainforest and
climbed up to an alpine desert. The landscape

was tremendous.

We were privileged to see the glaciers as the
ice is melting and it probably won’t be there
in years to come.” Mandy has now set her
sights on climbing to the Everest base camp.
She said her colleagues on the Stroke Unit
were all very proud of what she had achieved
and they had contributed to her fundraising
activities.

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Beaverbrooks

Beaverbrooks staff

make kind donation

to help young people

STAFF from a leading Lytham business have donated or lose confidence which can then have an impact
more than £1,000 to help youngsters across the on their relationships and behavior.
Fylde coast.

Each member of staff at Beaverbrooks the Jewellers We are really grateful
is given £100 to donate to a good cause and for the support of everyone
members of the Accounts and Finance Team
clubbed together to donate their money to the Child at Beaverbrooks.
and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

A grand total of £1,300 was raised and received by
David Eaton, Service Manager, from the CAMHS
team. He said: “The funding kindly donated from
Beaverbrooks will be put to good use and we will
be asking children and young people who use or
have used CAMHS how best to spend it. There is
increasingpressureandexpectationsputonchildren,
young people and families today.

This pressure can often lead children and young
people to suffer and feel anxious, depressed, lonely

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