To all my sister Soroptimists in Northern England
April 25th is the start of the World Health Organisation’s World Immunisation Week. This subject of immunisation must be in everyone’s minds at the moment, not only thinking about ourselves and whether we have had one or two jabs, but thinking of the people of countries where access to vaccines is sparse and fraught with difficulties – politically, logistically and economically.
I wonder if there are any joint projects related to COVID-19 where Soroptimist clubs have worked together with their Friendship Link clubs to compare their comparative situations and help each other ?
Do let me know if you have news of any collaborative schemes.
To start this week’s news on an upbeat note, I have received some lovely photographs from S.I.Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District who have been out and about in the sunshine in a socially distanced outdoor get together for 5 members on the seafront at Cullercoats. Rosemary Webb is one of their club well-being advisers who does a great job at organising “Catch-up and Cheer-up” sessions. Each took their own folding chairs, coffee and suitable warm clothing for the chilly sea breezes. Linda Johnson went with a basket of fresh baked ginger scones which were delicious!
We are reminded that our organisation thrives on friendship and a meet-up like this is so good for our well-being after such a cold and solitary winter.
News from S.I.Cockermouth & District on a very interesting speaker from the Dianne Oxberry Trust. The Trust was set up following the death of Dianne Oxberry who was a well known TV presenter for the BBC North West – just 10 days after her diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. Speakers Nicky Thompson and Sylvia Pearl gave information about the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer, which are somewhat vague – bloating, discomfort, loss of appetite, changes to bowel habits and painful sexual intercourse. They encouraged women to think about whether they have these symptoms and it was stressed that speed is of the essence with a 90% survival rate if diagnosed at a level 1 but 37% survival rate at later stages. The only way of getting a positive diagnosis is to push for a CA125 blood test and then an ultrasound as these are the only ways of confirming a diagnosis. Remind yourself that your own body awareness is important and what feels wrong for you. The aim of this talk was to raise awareness and members were asked to share the information with 3 others to create a network where everyone is aware of the symptoms and the need to push for a diagnosis. So thank you to President Claire Rawlinson for reminding us about the need for awareness of this condition.
For more information : https://dianneoxberrytrust.org
https://twitter.com/TrustDianne
If I may add a personal note and plea to this need for awareness of Ovarian Cancer symptoms. Many Soroptimists in Northern England were involved in the “United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening” which ran from 2001 to 2005. The ovarian cancer centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead was the regional base for the research staff and volunteers involved in this extensive study. It was with great disappointment that we read of the outcome of the research in 2016 when the findings were not significant enough to warrant the recommendation that the NHS should establish a national screening programme for all adult women.
So please do remember – if you feel that something is wrong – then please do press for further medical investigations.
…. and now for something to make you smile from S.I. Cockermouth & District – thank you for the bright and beautiful photographs of the crochet daffodils made for the Wordsworth celebrations in Cockermouth. President Claire Rawlinson and Ros Earthy made these as part of the Rotary Club project to decorate Cockermouth for April. This project commemorates the 251st birthday of William Wordsworth who was born on 7 April 1770.
S.I.Middlesbrough have been very busy again with the application for a grant via the Cleveland Police Fund where they received £2,400 to fund 25 “Grab Bags” ( or “New Start Bags”) for victims of modern day slavery along with 25 Tesco mobile phones each with a SIM card and £10 for calls. Members Margaret Clark and Kathy Warrick are seen in the attached photograph taken when delivering the results of their work to the Police.
S.I.Middlesbrough continue to receive good publicity in the local press ( week of 16 April 2021) with an article in the Darlington & Stockton Times about member Susan Mansaray who is a charity worker and a refugee advocate from Sierra Leone. She outlines her reasons for becoming a journalist and how she now uses her skills to speak for women and girls who are silenced and suffering from abuse, often without the knowledge to make positive moves and escape to a better life.
The book “Overco
ming the Odds”, available through Pam Cooper at S.I.Middlesbrough, is still being promoted. Pam tells me that it has now been sent as an electronic copy to Teesside University where it can be used as an on-line resource. Link to Booklet
Also through member to member contact, S.I. Bournemouth have requested an electronic copy for their STEM project which this year is being run with the R.N.L.I. who are organising a ‘Women in Engineering’ day in June. So if you haven’t yet ordered your copy, please do contact Pam as it is an excellent result of a ‘lockdown’ project.
Those us who attended Karen Alexander’s Webinar on Saturday morning were very appreciative of the time and trouble that she took to de-mystify the subject of completing the on-line Programme Action Data Base forms. There was a very good attendance from members throughout our Region, reflecting that it was a tutorial that was much needed. In just over an hour, she had clearly explained the process, where to find the forms, how to think ahead to ease completion and answered many questions from those attending. Bethan Hill-Gorst was assisting with comments and IT skills and also promoting the values of using our own SINE web site section on Advocacy where clubs can share work to emphasise their own contributions when contacting M.P.s and others.
I send my very good wishes to those new Club Officers who are taking up new roles following club A.G.M.s. It is a valuable way to support club work when there is a good team to lead everyone and to nurture new and long serving members to work together to serve projects that enhance the lives of women and girls.
In Friendship
Christine Lumsdon – your Regional President