Welcome to the October edition of the Impact Young Heroes newsletter, your one stop shop for all the latest charity, fundraising and cancer news.
Coming up with good fundraising ideas for Halloween is not difficult. Its one of those annual events that nearly everyone enjoys and is a perfect opportunity for large scale fundraising event.
If you’re looking for help with ideas – then look no further than here in Fundraising Idea of the Month.
“Do mobile phones really cause cancer? Can you get breast cancer from deodorants? Does living near a powerline mean my child will get leukemia?
As with any illness that has no universal cure, cancer is surrounded by an abundance of myths and misinformation.
Over the next couple of months I’ll be taking a look at the most misguided beliefs about the causes of cancer; you can read the first installment in this month’s ‘Cancer Controversies’.
The Valentine family from Manchester are the latest family to enjoy a respite break in Lanzarote.
Jake Damms
05/11/1989 – 03/10/2010
It is with great sadness we announce that young hero Jake Damms passed away this month. The 20 year olds story was featured in last months’ Impact Young Heroes newslette, where he and girlfriend Lisa bravely spoke of their cancer journey and their experience of living with Impact Living.
Last November, Jake was diagnosed with Soft Tissue Sarcoma, a cancer which develops in the soft, supporting tissues of the body. In Jake’s case his cancer was in his thigh.
Immediately Jake began Chemotherapy at Sheffield’s Weston Park Hospital however the treatment had very little effect on the cancer. The next course of action was radiotherapy, however during his treatment doctors dealt a further blow by diagnosing him with malignant cancerous cells for which there is currently no known cure.
After 25 grueling courses of Radiotherapy, brave Jake returned home; shortly after moving into Sheffield’s’ Wilfred Drive accommodation where he and Lisa received support.
For a couple of months Jake appeared well and was left feeling positive in the knowledge that the tumour in his thigh had stopped growing. However just weeks later he discovered a lump under his armpit which was identified as another sarcoma tumour; doctors also learned that the cancer had rapidly spread to his lungs. Jake faced yet more chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
In the days that followed Jake took a turn for the worst and sadly passed away on the 3rd October 2010 at 8.45am surrounded by family and friends.
Jake battled his illness with such dignity and bravery.
On behalf of Young Heroes we send our deepest condolences to Jake’s girlfriend Lisa and Jake’s family.
Rotary Conference
Later this month Young Heroes will be attending the Rotary International District 1060 Conference down in Torquay.
Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) have over 55,000 members, with each of its 1,855 clubs raising tens of thousands of pounds for community events, local and national charities and local businesses.
Back in April, the charity attended a conference in Birmingham where we were privileged to rub shoulders with elite Rotary club members and share with them the fabulous work of Young Heroes.
Young hero and newsletter columnist Katie Brooman joined us at the event and bravely spoke to individuals about her experience with cancer. “The Rotary Conference in Birmingham was a great weekend” says Katie “It was fantastic to be able to meet so many people and speak to them about Young Heroes. It was a privilege to be able to represent the charity and speak on behalf of the young people who they have supported over the years. I am looking forward to the Torquay conference and hope it is a successful weekend all round”.
Been recognised by the Rotary International would magnify Young Heroes’ chances of success and mean our charity would be able expand services and increase the number of families we support.
Join us in the November makeabigdifference newsletter to hear all about the event.
Well done….
Young Heroes would to say a huge well done to Eddie Robinson for completing the Bradford City Run 2010 in aid of Young Heroes.
Watch out for the November newsletter when we hope to speak to Eddie about the best / worst parts and ask him how he coped with his very first marathon.
Katie’s corner
Trick or treat?
Spider web and ghost buns
Ingredients;
100g/4oz Margarine
100g/4oz Caster Sugar
2 Medium eggs
100g/4oz Self raising flour
Bun cases
To decorate;
Icing sugar
Red and yellow food colouring
Black writing icing
Mini marshmallows
Heat oven to 190C, cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, adding a little flour with each. Gently fold in remaining flour. Half fill the paper cases with the mixture and bake for about 15 minutes until firm. Decorate when cool.
Nutty toffee apples
Ingredients;
6 Cox apples
6 small wooden ice lolly sticks
225g/8oz granulated sugar
110ml/4fl oz water
30g/1oz butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
4 tbsp finely chopped mixed nuts
Push the wooden sticks halfway into the apples at the stalk end. Dissolve the sugar and water in a thick-bottomed pan over a gentle heat. Add the butter and syrup to the mixture and bring to the boil. Continue to boil, without stirring, until the toffee reaches 290C (use a sugar thermometer to measure this). Remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the nuts. Carefully dip each apple into the toffee, making sure each apple is well coated, and set aside to harden on a baking try lined with non-stick parchment.
Scary Gingerbread men
Ingredients;
350g plain flour plus extra for rolling out
1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 level tsp ground ginger
1 level tsp ground cinnamon
125g butter
175g light soft brown sugar
1 medium egg
4 tbsp golden syrup
To decorate;
Ready to roll icing (white)
76g colour writing icing
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/ Gas 4. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon into a large bowl. Rub in the butter and then stir in the sugar. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together. Add to the flour and mix to make a dough. Chill the dough for 15 minutes. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of ½ cm thick. Cut shapes out with gingerbread cutters, remembering to take off a few limbs and head for added gore. Place on a baking tray, leaving a gap between them in case they spread a little. Bake for about 15 minutes. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
When cool, let your imagination run wild! Use the red writing icing along the edges of the missing limbs and heads as blood. For the skeletons and mummies – either pipe with white writing icing or roll out the ready to roll icing to 3mm thickness and cut shapes slightly smaller than the gingerbread. Lightly brush the gingerbread with boiled water and carefully place the icing on top. Using the black writing icing decorate as a skeleton or mummy!
Enjoy!
Cancer Controversies
Throughout the years there have been many cancer myths floating around. The question is: Is there any truth to these cancer myths?
In this two part special we probe the most well known cancer myths and stamp out the fact from the fiction.
Cancer myth:
1) A shampoo additive called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) causes cancer.
Fiction.
These chemicals are simply detergents and not carcinogens, and they have never been linked to cancer. Because SLS and SLES are so good at cleaning oil and dirt, they are indeed used industrially. But the assertion that they cause cancer is untrue.
2) Wearing a bra causes breast cancer.
Fiction.
This rumour is based on the mistaken idea that wearing a bra compresses the lymph nodes and leads to breast cancer. However findings indicate good support doesn’t lead to bad health.
There is no scientific research that proves any bra or compression causes breast cancer.
3) Deodorants and anti-perspirants cause breast cancer.
Fiction.
Smell fresh without fear. These concerns were started by an email hoax and currently there is no convincing evidence to say that antiperspirants or deodorants cause breast cancer.
Although it’s true that about half of all breast cancers occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, it’s because most of the breast tissue is located there — not because it’s adjacent to the armpit.
4) Microwaving food in plastic containers / cling film causes cancer
Fiction.
There is no scientific evidence that microwaving food in plastic containers or wrapped in cling film can affect the risk of cancer.
According to the Food Standards Agency you can use cling film in the microwave, but make sure the cling film doesn’t touch the food.
Whenever you heat something, including plastics, you increase the likelihood of pulling chemicals out but there is no evidence that this process could affect the risk of cancer.
Even so, it is a good idea to minimise any potential risks by using plastics and cling film correctly.
5) Mobile phones cause brain tumours
Fiction.
So far there is no good scientific evidence that using mobile phones can cause any type of cancer. While it is unlikely that these phones could increase the risk of cancer, we do not know enough to completely rule out a risk.
The largest study so far on mobile phones and cancer is a Danish study, which looked at over 420,000 people. It found no link between mobile phones and any type of cancer including brain cancers and leukaemia. Reports from the Interphone study, which included over 6,000 people with brain cancer from 13 countries, have also found that brain cancer is not more common among mobile phone users.
6) Fizzy drinks cause cancer.
Fiction.
A group of scientists in 1981 raised fears over the safety of saccharin – sweeteners which can be up to 200 times sweeter than natural sugars. Tests showed saccharin – which was considered to be carcinogenic or cancer causing – caused bladder tumours in rats.
However, more recent studies now indicate that the results of the experiments with rats are not relevant to human beings.
Scientists from America’s National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences now confirm that saccharin does not pose a health risk.
PLEASE NOTE:
All information provided has been sourced from outside of Impact Young Heroes therefore the author or Young Heroes assumes no responsibility as a result of this article.
References:
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/arcticles
www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions
Did you know?
- Cancer is the number one cause of non-accidental death in young adults in the UK.
- One in 312 males and one in 361 females will get cancer before they are 20.
- Young people often receive hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities catering for children or the elderly. Up to 16 years, a teenager will be treated in a paediatric ward alongside children. After 16, the same teenager will be treated in an adult ward with elderly patients.
- Young people get some of the most aggressive cancers. But because only 0.5% of all cancers occur in young people, they are often misdiagnosed initially. This decreases their chances of survival and can mean they are excluded from clinical trials.
- Incidence rates are now higher in 13 to 24 year-olds than in children, yet survival rates for this age group have not improved as much.
- Boys up to the age of 15 have a one in 450 chance of developing cancer, rising to one in 208 by the time they reach 24. Girls up to the age of 15 have a one in 517 chance of developing cancer, rising to one in 239 by the time they reach 24.
Sourced from
http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/who-we-are/about-us/facts-and-statistics/
Fundraising Idea of the month
Here are some spooktacular fundraising ideas to get you in the ‘spirit’ of Halloween.
Trick-or-Funding
Halloween trick-or-treating is one of the few times of the year when you’ll be face-to-face with all of your neighbours; instead of sweets, why not trick-or-treat and ask for donations for Young Heroes?
During daytime hours (don’t interfere with the kiddies’ fun at night!), get your staff members or a group of friends to dress up in Halloween costumes and go door to door.
When the door opens, say, “Trick-or-fund!” and offer a brief explanation of what Young Heroes does. You’ll be surprised at how lively people will be in giving donations, especially if the costumes are good!
Not only is it a great opportunity to raise funds but a fantastic way of educating the community about the charity.
Young Heroes would be happy to provide you with information leaflets to hand out to donors. Please email me further details kim.tetlaw@impactliving.org
Halloween Ball
Everyone loves a costume party, so why not have one for a good cause?
A Halloween Ball is an easy sell to the community, regardless of whether it’s family-oriented or for adults. There are a number of ways to raise funds with a Halloween Ball.
The easiest way is to charge an admission fee, but you can always be creative with this — admission can be free with a costume to generate publicity and get more people in the door.
A donation table is a must at any party, regardless of theme, but other things that can raise funds include raffles, a costume contest, apple bobbing games, pumpkin carving etc.
Pumpkin Sale
Are you letting the local shops and supermarkets sell all the pumpkins?
Cut Young Heroes a slice of the action and hold a pumpkin sale the week before Halloween.
Most people would rather buy when they know some of the money helps a charity.
Team up with a supplier or wholesaler and split the profits. Alternatively offer a supplier a pitch at your workplace or school for an agreed price.
You might also be able to sell ready carved pumpkins to local businesses, shops, bars and restaurants for their window displays.
Witch Hockey
Here’s one that would capture the imagination of the local press and guarantee you some great publicity.
Two teams of witches in full regalia face each other for the ultimate challenge. Using their brooms as hockey sticks and a small football they play 20 minutes each way.
Meanwhile you work the crowd with all your other fundraising activities.
Latest Cancer News
Curry spice stops cancer returning, scientists say
An everyday ingredient used to make curry could have special cancer-fighting properties, scientists working at the University of Leicester believe.
Research carried out into the potential benefits of curcumin, an extract from the root of the spice; found that it helps to improve the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy treatments.
While this has already been shown through a number of previous studies, this latest research also revealed that turmeric may also play a key role in preventing the return of cancerous cells, particularly those that cause the common colorectal form of the disease.
Writing up the findings, lead researcher Dr Karen Brown explained that these latest findings could help doctors determine what types of treatment to use for specific types of cancer.
“We hope that our work will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which curcumin targets resistant cells in tumours,” she said.
According to Cancer Research UK, improved diets could help prevent around 35 per cent of all new cases of colorectal cancers, which accounts for the third-largest number of all cancer deaths in the Western world.
Sourced from: www.canceradvice.co.uk/cancer-news
Young Cancer Survivors struggle to stay in Education and Work
More than seven out of ten young people diagnosed with cancer survive, but they may be missing out on vital education and career opportunities, with many having to leave school, university or employment because their care is not always coordinated or appropriate for their age, according to CLIC Sargent.
A report published by CLIC Sargent shows that almost two-thirds of 16 to 18 year-old cancer survivors interviewed by the charity had fallen behind with their studies, and almost three in ten 16 to 24 year-olds (29%) had left school, college or university as a result of their illness.
Of those that were in employment, 93% reported that it had been affected, with four in ten leaving their job and three in ten taking unpaid leave.
Sourced from: http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/Aboutus/Mediacentre/Latestnews