THE VOICE TALKS TO:
Carole Stainton, Cancer Laryngectomee Trust
“Our newsletters go directly into people’s homes.
It’s a different approach to clubs; while they do
exceptional work, they’re not right for everybody.
Some of our members may not have sufficient
mobility, or just aren’t ready to engage in a club
environment. In some cases, going to a club might
even mean going back to the hospital where they
had their surgery – and that’s not something that
many members want to do for a little while.”
“It seems we’re getting it right – readers tell us
that the newsletter is pitched perfectly – not too
highfaluting, but chatty and accessible. We’ve
simply retained the approach that Mum and Dad
started” says Carole.
“Mum always wrote an introductory piece about
family matters – maybe even a bit about the
garden, and we’ve tried to continue in the same
vein.”
Members who do like getting together though are
rewarded with plenty of events – there’s certainly a
busy calendar of fundraisers, including the London
10K run and of course, lots of Christmas parties.
“Our main sources of fundraising are our raffle for
a weekend hotel stay, and our very popular postal
race night. We generated around £4,000 for our
last race night – and I think that proves that our
efforts are genuinely appreciated.”
Looking ahead, Carole is hoping to run a further
Radio 4 appeal, after the CLT’s previous on-air
appeal generated such a lot of interest a few years
ago. She says that they will also continue to lobby
as and when, “We recently got behind the petition
to provide Micron filters on prescription for neck
breathers, hopefully helping them to ward off
swine flu.”
But there’s still plenty of work to be done. Carole
believes that, broadly speaking, larys’ lives
have changed for the better, but admits that it’s
not always so clear cut. “There are improved
guidelines now for how people should be dealt
with, but it doesn’t always follow through in reality.
Things are still better on paper than in practice.”
Carole points out that the CLT is still confronted
with members’ very practical, day-to-day concerns
too.
“It seems we’re getting it right – readers tell us
that the newsletter is pitched perfectly – not too
highfaluting, but chatty and accessible. We’ve simply
retained the approach that Mum and Dad started”
“The meals are funded through events and
donations – and they’re an important part of the
rehabilitation process – they’re important for the
carers too – giving them the chance to compare
notes and reassure themselves about some of the
things they’ve had to deal with.”
Carole is quick to sing the praises of members’
generosity.
“An additional service we offer is that we can
make grants of up to a few hundred pounds
to members in financial hardship. In 2009 for
example, we made grants to help a member
purchase a humidifier, and another towards
the cost of a replacement servox machine. But
we can also help out with travelling costs to
attend radiotherapy sessions, or even put a little
something towards group summer outings!” ?
Summer 2010 | THE VOICE
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