The ‘força’ is strong in Lymington…
Cycletta challenge and waded
through mud runs.
On 26 April, Race New Forest are
holding the Força Lymington
Triathlon in support of força strength against cancer. To find
out more and to reserve your place
visit www.racenewforest.co.uk.
with cancer (and of course for the
population as a whole).”
In 2011 a group of Lymington mums
founded the unincorporated
association ‘Força 14’ after one of
their friends was diagnosed with
metastatic breast cancer. ‘Força’
means strength in Portuguese and
that is exactly what the group aspired
to bring to their friend. What started
as a group of 14 friends rallying
round to help look after children and
cook meals whilst the exhaustion of
chemotherapy took its toll, soon grew
to be much, much more.
Força 14 were delighted to become a
UK Registered Charity in 2014,
becoming força - strength against
cancer. The team of volunteers has
grown, along with the support given
by the local community and the
number of people that the charity is
now able to assist.
“Our main focus is to raise awareness
and funds in order to support people
affected by cancer in our local
community,” outlined Frauke Taylor,
chair of força - strength against
cancer.
“We want to help improve the
services provided locally to people
receiving cancer treatment. It makes
such a difference if treatment and
support can be provided close to
home, rather than having to travel
weekly to Southampton. At the same
time we would like to raise awareness
and provide practical advice on how
lifestyle and diet can help those living
Money raised so far has been reinvested locally, with donations to
individuals (for alternative therapies
to complement treatment for
example) and to organisations such
as Southampton General Hospital’s
Outreach Programme, which brings
chemotherapy to Oakhaven Hospice
in Lymington. Funding was also
allocated to support the running costs
of the car that takes the chemo
therapy medicine from Southampton
to Lymington.
In 2014, força - strength against
cancer sponsored a ‘Live Your Life
After Cancer’ Day, where two life
coaches helped 20 local people
affected by cancer to have a brighter
outlook to the future. The charity has
also organised and sponsored several
talks led by a leading nutritionist and
herbalist, focusing on the importance
of healthy eating during and after
cancer diagnosis.
In addition, funds have been donated
to help Shine Cancer Support set up
in the New Forest, a network for
adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s living
with and beyond cancer. The group
provides tailored information and
peer support for anyone diagnosed
with any cancer.
From day one, the força team have
raised awareness and funds by
participating in sporting activities and
endurance events. They have run
marathons and ‘Race for Life’; walked
the London Moonwalk and Walk the
Wight; participated in the Isle of
Wight challenge, triathlons and the
Lymington bath race; cycled the
“No challenge is too great,” explained
Heidi Groves-Raines, vice-chair. “We
push ourselves to the limit to raise
awareness and funds, knowing that
there are many strong individuals
facing tougher challenges in their
lives every day.”
força - strength against cancer is
grateful for the encouragement given
by the local community who, over the
last four years, have supported
força’s evening parties, live auctions,
silent auctions, grand raffles, Friday
lunches at Milford Community Centre,
refreshments stalls at Lymington
events, cake sales and family
sunshine strolls. A number of força
supporters have also organised their
own events, such as tennis fun days,
football matches, garage sales, cake
sales and mile runs, making generous
donations to the charity.
You can keep track of força strength against cancer’s events
and news via their Facebook page
www.facebook.com/
forcastrengthagainstcancer. The
charity will be launching a website
later this spring.
To get in touch with força strength against cancer email
[email protected]
força - strength against cancer
Registered Charity Number: 1159552