Together Magazine 2013

oge her

MOVING MOUNTAINS

2013 Issue 8

23 women take on Kilimanjaro

EXPERT UPDATES ON

ALL TOGETHER MEET OUR VOLUNTEER FAMILY

SKIN CANCER AND PERSONALISED MEDICINE

Our Annual Dinner and “Chai Fashion” Show

CONNECTING THROUGH CREATIVITY The benefits of group activity 1

CHAI CANCER CARE

A WELCOME MESSAGE I

am delighted to welcome you to the eighth edition of Chai’s ‘together’ magazine.

There are many elements that make up this very special organisation, and I hope you enjoy reading about some of them.

Chai’s reputation for providing a highly professional and caring service continues to grow. Increasingly, cancer specialists, GPs and educationalists are turning to us as an innovative model of excellence in supportive cancer care. We would like to thank all the experts who have contributed to this issue.

We continue to respond to the community’s needs and I am pleased to announce that in addition to our eight centres across the UK, a new satellite service in Leeds will be fully operational in November 2013. Furthermore, our Greater Manchester team is now providing support to the Liverpool community.

Among the numerous developments at Chai over the past year are the new creative groups at our Flagship Centre, which bring another dimension to client support.

Plus our ‘Chai in Schools’ initiative is helping teachers deal with the complexities of a cancer diagnosis in their pupils’ families.

Also, we pay tribute to the volunteers who are our frontline ambassadors and to all our fundraisers, especially the incredible ‘Chai Altitude’ mountain climbers. In such pressing economic times, and without any statutory funding, everyone’s phenomenal dedication goes a long way to ensuring that we can continue to do what we do.

Our heartfelt thanks to all our loyal friends and supporters.

Louise Hager Chairman

CHAI CANCER CARE requests the pleasure of your company at

THE 2013 NATALIE SHIPMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE

GENETICS, CANCER and YOU Keynote Speaker Professor Rosalind Eeles, Royal Marsden, NHS Foundation Trust Monday 7th October 2013 at 7.30pm The Chai Cancer Care Centre 142 – 146 Great North Way, London NW4 1EH Admission free by ticket only.

Please call 020 8202 2211 to reserve a place.

Cover Image: Alexandra Maurice and Ruth Bray on Mt. Kilimanjaro 2

TOGETHER 2013

CONTENTS The Good News – and the Challenges Ahead

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Chai Reaches New Heights – climbing Kilimanjaro

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A View From General Practice: Dr Ellie Canon

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Strength in Numbers – group activities at Chai

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Service Spotlight: Manual Lymphatic Drainage

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A ‘Runway’ Success – our first fashion show

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Cutting the Supply Chain to Tumours: Professor Gordon Jayson

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The Chai Family of Volunteers

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The Chai ‘All Together’ Dinner

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Risk Factors and Treatments for Skin Cancer: Professor Martin Gore

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The Quiet Philanthropists: Sir Michael and Lady Heller

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When Teachers Don’t Have All the Answers – Chai’s Schools Initiative

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A Hole Lotta Golf Played

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Service Spotlight: Home Visits

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The Year in Photos

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forChaSponsored Activities

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Thanks to All Our Supporters

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President

Trustees

Medical Patrons

Mr Amir Kaisary

The Rt. Hon. Lord Young of Graffham

Louise Hager

Prof Michael Baum

Prof Jonathan Ledermann

Lady Kalms MBE

Prof Michael Brada

Prof Gordon McVie

Susan Shipman

Mr Michael Douek

Dr Jane Neerkin

Founder Presidents

Philip Weinstein

Prof Andrew Eder

Prof Gordon Rustin

Susan Shipman

Lord Young

Prof Rosalind Eeles

Prof Karol Sikora

Dr Ian Ellis

Prof Albert Singer

Honorary Patrons

Mr Daren Francis

Prof Stephen Spiro

Lord Janner of Braunstone QC

Prof Anthony Goldstone CBE

Dr Adrian Tookman

Maureen Lipman CBE

Prof Ian Jacobs

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks

Prof Gordon Jayson

Frances Winegarten z”l Chairman Louise Hager Chief Executive

Prof Daniel Hochhauser

Lisa Steele

This edition of ‘ oge her’ is generously sponsored by The Dorset Foundation 3

CHAI CANCER CARE

THE GOOD NEWS – AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD Chai’s Chief Executive Lisa Steele assesses the future for cancer patients and their families and how Chai services will be supporting them

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urvival figures for cancer are improving. It is estimated that by 2030 there will be almost 4 million people living with and beyond their cancers (currently there are 1.6 million). In some cases, cancer survival now matches the survival of many other long-term conditions.

This is all good news. However, unless there is a radical change in the way the NHS deals with cancer, it will collapse under the sheer weight of demand over the next 30 years. Therefore, the need for Chai’s specialised services will be ever increasing.

Over the past few years we have seen a significant rise in demand, the reasons for which are two-fold. More people are being diagnosed earlier and improved cancer treatments mean that clients are needing and using Chai services for longer periods.

Many cancer patients have to contend not only with their primary diagnosis, but may also need to be treated for pre-existing medical conditions or comorbidities (when more than one disease is present). In addition, with this increased longevity comes a rise in the side-effects of treatment in the short, medium and long-term. Indeed what often slips beneath the radar are the provisions in place for those that have been given the ‘all clear’. Often it is not the cancer itself that our clients are having difficulty with but the longterm effect both emotionally and

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physically; adjusting to the changes that cancer surgery and/or treatment has made to their bodies. The reality is that many clients now have more complex and ongoing needs.

“What often slips beneath the radar are the provisions in place for those that have been given the ‘all clear’.”

With this in mind, it is clear that innovation is the key. Since its inception, Chai has been a pioneer - a reputation that has been acknowledged within the Jewish community and far beyond.

Chai’s three-way collaboration with Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Royal Free Hospital is leading the way in future provision for cancer care survivorship. We wanted to see patients in a setting where they felt comfortable and we wanted to add another “layer” of expertise to the wide range of services offered at Chai. The Medical Outpatient Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Service enables our clients to have a one-to-one consultation on issues of pain control, help with the physical and psychological effects of treatments, and advance care planning.

The feedback we have received from this service is overwhelmingly positive. Since its launch in 2010, the take-up has increased year on year by nearly 100%.

Consultant Physician, Dr. Rachel Craig, from the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, holds weekly clinics at Chai. There are various ways that clients are referred to the clinic; through their GP, hospital, hospice or through Chai’s referral system.

After an initial assessment often clients are referred for supportive therapies within Chai, the most common being physiotherapy and complementary therapies. Dr Craig comments, “it is great that people are realising that our approach to care can be beneficial anywhere during a patient’s illness and recovery, rather than the old view of palliative care being solely end of life care.

“In the Chai clinic we have seen great improvements in the quality of life of clients regardless of whether they are living with or beyond their cancer.”

Another area which Chai is developing in response to demand is our Children, Teenage and Family Service. We have noticed a dramatic increase across the UK in the number of young parents diagnosed with cancer. The impact of this can be overwhelming, especially for the children living with a cancer diagnosis in their family.

At Chai we see children from as young as two years old, focusing on music, play and art therapies.

TOGETHER 2013

Our recently completed Teenage Resource Centre is a multi-purpose facility. It is used for one-to-one counselling sessions and also as a group room for young people, where they can share their experiences with others in a similar situation in a safe unpressurised environment.

Enabling these youngsters to face and deal with the changes they are experiencing in their families is an investment for their future, helping them to form and sustain healthy relationships into adulthood.

The percentage of people under 40 turning to Chai has risen significantly from 10.7% to 19.0% since 2008.

As more of our clients are living longer with the effects of a cancer diagnosis, the number of those coming to Chai for 5, 20 or more appointments, is increasing year on year. We can see this below and if this trend continues one can see the impact until 2016.

Did you know?

Many people have heard about Chai Cancer Care, but are not aware of the extent of our services.

Here are some key facts: - Chai is currently supporting 1750 cancer patients and their families - 60% of our clients are cancer patients and 40% their family members

Client Age Breakdown 2008 and 2013

- As well as our flagship centre in North West London, clients can now access our services from seven satellite centres across the country – in South London, Hackney, Essex, Southend, North and South Manchester, and Glasgow - Our new satellite centre in Leeds opens in November 2013 - Our clients can now access services in Liverpool on request - We do not have waiting lists. All calls are responded to and clients are seen within 24/48 hours - For clients who cannot come to one of our centres because they are either too unwell or who are in the terminal stages of their illness, Chai offers a Home Support Service

Number of Client Appointments with Projections 2013 - 2016

- If you live too far from a Chai centre, we can still support you by telephone or Skype – in the UK and worldwide - Chai provides a specialist advice and advocacy service, and dietary and nutritional advice can also be accessed worldwide - There are 70,000 Israelis living in the UK. We have added Hebrew speaking counsellors and therapists to our team

I have the privilege of seeing at first hand the difference Chai makes to people’s lives and I am often both humbled and inspired. Our clients, whether they are the cancer patients or their loved ones face uncertainty both physically and emotionally.

Chai remains the constant in their ever-changing world and we are committed to meeting their needs. As one client recently told me, Chai has “set the standard of excellence”. Together we can cope.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

CHAI REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

On Sunday 16th June 2013 ‘Team Chai Altitude’, an enthusiastic and excited band of 23 North West London ladies, embarked on an epic journey from the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, all the way to the summit (and back down again) in aid of Chai Cancer Care. Why had we agreed to do such a thing?

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urely climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world is something you do when you’re at the peak of physical fitness (which none of us are) or something you do when you’re 18 years old and a free spirit on your year off, not when you’re 40 years old (or way beyond in some cases), have a million and one responsibilities, a career to maintain and growing children to take care of? Little did we know about the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental (in more ways than one) journey we were about to undertake.

As one of the ladies, Debbie Hatchwell, said on her return, “This was a challenge that bared us to our souls, stripped us of our defences and raised us up to great heights (literally).”

The following are excerpts from the ‘Team Chai Altitude’ daily Blog, which we posted home to family, friends and all our well-wishers.

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Realisation of what we had embarked on hit home after a 9-hour flight landing in Addis Ababa. Not quite the comfort of Terminal 5 and a 4-hour stop over.

Next was a 2 hour flight to Kilimanjaro where we excitedly saw ‘our’ enormous mountain from the plane - peaking above the clouds. After a 2-hour drive we arrived at our lodge. Dinner was followed not by 1 but 2 pep talks on what was to come. Sobering. Really it’s a bit like childbirth, whatever you hear or learn it’s all very different when you experience it yourself!

After a very stressful morning having our bulging bags weighed and weighed again and again to get down to the required 15kg, we set off, many of us having to leave precious items behind, taking only essentials.

After an hour’s drive, we arrived at the base of Kilimanjaro.

We were introduced to our team who will support us for the next seven days; Chef Moses, King Solomon our head porter, and Florence our male head guide. Their biblical names seemed to reflect their wisdom and the majority of them were clearly religious people. Walking and talking with these men, they would often regale us with stories from the old testament and were fascinated by the fact that we were Jewish.

We started our first climb at 1pm through a stunning rain forest where we saw small black monkeys in the trees. Diverse vegetation from different climate zones graced the slopes of Kilimanjaro – we spotted gladioli, golden daisies, giant ferns, heather and copious amounts of tree moss.

It was fascinating to see how a group of 23 women, all different, some of whom had never met before, were beginning to support each other on the first steps of this adventure.

“Really it’s a bit like childbirth, whatever you hear or learn it’s all very different when you experience it yourself!”

‘Pole Pole’ (pronounced polee polee), is the term most used by the guides, which is Swahili for ‘slowly slowly’. It’s the best advice they can give us – acclimatisation can only happen at a delicate pace.

It was a great relief to arrive at our first camp to see all the tents set up, and for the first time during the whole long day, a chemical toilet! We were tired but happy to be finally on the mountain. Dinner was served and who could imagine that vegetarian food could taste so wonderful!

TOGETHER 2013

Team Chai Altitude...we Salute you: Alicia Ani • Leticia Azar • Lisa Barnett • Tracey Levi • Natalie Belson • Ruth Bray • Alexis Coleman • Bernice Davis • Rachel Frank • Debra Hatchwell • Karen Haftel • Dalia Kay • Abigail Levinson • Sian Levy • Jennifer Levy Goldstein • Jacqueline Matyas-Benjamin • Alexandra Maurice • Louise Nathanson • Fabiana Abadi • Lisa Steele • Debra Tammer • Rachel Vecht • Julie Wiernik Tabbouche

We had a tough day today. Over 8 hours of walking, obviously up hill! We were all in good spirits but towards the end of the day it got much harder with some of us falling far behind the front and trudging the last hour in the dark. We were tired and emotional, the terrain was incredibly tough, tougher than we all expected.

It’s hard to sleep and very few of us do, insomnia being another sideeffect of the high altitude. Most of us experienced headaches but very little sickness so far.

“We spontaneously laid out rocks in Hebrew and English spelling out ‘Chai’.”

Gosh! Arrived at Base 3 – where we will spend the next 2 nights at Mawenzi Tarn camp, which is 4335 meters above sea level.

plants, although the occasional flower or thistle can still be found. At this point, reality check…..no trees and the rocks are getting smaller to hide behind…but we cope admirably well!

Debra Tammer reflects: “I had formed a new appreciation for buckets of hot water cleverly named ‘washy washy’ brought to us by our porters.

There is no way we could have survived without these brilliant men and I will always remain grateful to them for caring for our health and well being and guiding us up the mountain with gentility, humour and compassion.

It wasn’t just the mountain that humbled me, but the simplicity and beauty of the Tanzanian people.”

It is now day 5. We all know what is ahead if us, and we are nervous. The schedule for Summit is strict and not a minute can be lost. We leave camp in the morning and walk for 9 hours. This is to be followed by an early dinner.

On the mountain we spontaneously laid out rocks in Hebrew and English spelling out ‘Chai’. A very emotional moment, leaving our everlasting mark on the mountain.

There are a few of us that are now suffering from altitude sickness which is tough as we all feel responsible for each other and we want the whole team to be well. Gwyn, our guide, is truly impressed with us and is hoping we will all make it.

We are camping by a natural lake in the foot hills on the edge of the Alpine Desert. The views of the clouds beneath us, and the peaks ahead of us are breathtaking. This arid, semidesert zone has no trees and few

Friday night dinner was very emotional when we all thought about our families back home and missed them terribly.

Everyone lit candles and we said our prayers together. Angela Jacobson had made Bella Shapiro’s recipe for

challahs which we all shared and thought about loved ones past and present, especially Bella z’l, who had brought many of the team together because of the support she had received at Chai. Finally our Shabbat Zemirot rang out around the camp.

We are clear as to why we are here.

Our commitment to Chai, to the people we love who have been helped and are still being helped by them - truly amazing people.

Alex Maurice reflected: “I wanted to do this climb to pay tribute to my sister-in-law who was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, and through Chai’s support, has borne her illness with extraordinary strength, a positive attitude and an undaunted zest for life.”

Our briefing by Florence for this morning was strict - today had to run like a military operation. We had to leave camp by 7am, packed, with breakfast inside us and ready for the long walk across the Alpine Desert.

The day started cold but with bright and beautiful sunshine and amazingly, we were out and walking at 7 on the dot. Even our professional South African rugby playing neighbours were impressed. We have been sharing our journey with them from the very start.

“Friday night dinner was very emotional when we all thought about our families back home and missed them terribly.”

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CHAI CANCER CARE

The terrain was rocky at first. Then as we reached the desert we were able to walk side by side, not something we have been able to do so far as the trails have always been too narrow.

“We are clear as to why we are here. Our commitment to Chai, to the people we love who have been helped and are still being helped by them.”

The scenery was once again breathtaking and we were all doing well, but half way across a few of us started to feel unwell. We stopped, and laid them down. Saffron our doctor and Gwyn our guide were on hand, and we were able to carry on after a short break.

Altitude plays havoc not only with your sleep pattern, but with your emotions, too. The journey was extremely difficult today as we reached over 4600 meters so our bodies took a real beating.

Some of us haven’t slept for 5 days.

We reached ‘Kibo Huts’ by 1.30pm which is base camp before the Summit. We rested in the afternoon preparing our bodies for the massive climb to come.

It’s 10.30pm and we are leaving in 30 minutes! It’s freezing. Hand and foot warmers all over place, woolly hats, balaclavas, head torches, mid-layer 8

jackets, outer layer jackets, snack bars galore. The iPods are charged and ready to go. We all know that with very little oxygen, talking will be limited and for some, listening to music will be a much needed comfort. Last minute coffees and off we went. And yes, we were all VERY apprehensive.

This is the plan: the first stop is Gilman’s Point, which will take us 6-7 hours and is considered the summit as it is on the rim of the volcano. After a short break we will then go on to Stella Point and then to the final peak known as ‘Uhuru’. This will take a further 3 hours.

We are nervous, we have experienced the challenge of the climb today and are fully aware of what is ahead of us - a massive black ski run, in -20 degrees, in the dark!

We are quieter than usual and we have all said our prayers.

Well, what a night!!! If you could have seen the panic packing for the summit climb you would not have believed it!

It was cold and pitch black but the moon was full and there was even a shooting star! It is a vertical walk up to the summit on a very slippery surface.

The gradient must have been about 70 degrees. Whatever has gone on before this moment is simply child’s play to what is about to follow.

You push small rocks down the mountain as you walk and you try and stay focused on going up and up, higher than any of us have been before.

As you looked up at the vast black shadow of the peak ahead, there were countless head torches of fellow climbers snaking up the mountain path. We have to “snake” up along the paths as it’s too steep to go straight.

The biggest issue is how each individual has acclimatised so far. Altitude sickness has no respect for age, fitness, waist size or any other physical parameters.

We stopped at certain points to catch our breath and have a snack, and anyone who was brave enough to “use the facilities” did! The conversations had come to an end – not a lot to be said…

The will is there but, for some, the bodies will just not respond. The rock face becomes even harder when suddenly we have actual boulders to climb over – no one prepared us for this.

TOGETHER 2013

Team

FINALLY we reach the summit, 5,681 metres above sea level. It’s dawn and the sun begins to shed its light over the immense crater and glacier beyond.

Some had to turn back at this point with acute mountain sickness or chest pains and some continued to Stella Point and then all the way to Uhuru Peak (the Swahili word for freedom).

There we proudly stood with the Chai banner and had our photos taken before starting the arduous descent, which took forever and for some was even harder than the ascent.

“At 4600 meters our bodies took a real beating. Some of us haven’t slept for 5 days.”

By this time we were physically exhausted. Water still frozen, the terrain was crumbly and soft, pretty much like going down a ski run without skis! We struggled back to camp totally depleted of any energy, parched, bedraggled, thankful and relieved. All we could do was get to our tent and lie exhausted in a heap, grateful to be “home”.

After a few hours sleep the day was not yet over and we had another 4-5 hour walk down to the next camp.

So excited by the enormity of what we have achieved, today we walked down the final 9 hours through beautiful rainforest, to the exit gate and off the mountain.

On the coach ride to the airport we had the time to think about the people we were raising money for.

Cancer has affected all of our lives in one way or another and this is why we had chosen to raise vital funds for Chai Cancer Care and more specifically for its Children, Teenage and Family Service.

There were many similarities between our journey and those of the people Chai supports. The 23 of us often felt isolated, frightened and had major reflections on life. At times we felt vulnerable and exposed and there was nowhere to go but onwards.

We all needed both physical and mental strength to keep us going and sometimes spiritual strength helped us too. Our challenge had a ripple effect on our families left behind worrying about us and hoping we were well.

Lisa Barnett remembers: “I tried to only focus on the feet in front of me and when they moved so did mine. Friends along the way became ill, vomiting and unable to breathe easily. They were told to turn back. I was not able to help, as to stand still would cause me to get even colder. I was told to keep walking. I felt very alone.”

Lisa Steele: “Climbing Kilimanjaro was a great leveller. We were stripped of all our defences, disorientated, vulnerable and alone, even amongst a group of 23.

of us reached the top, some didn’t but it was not about that for this group - it was about the journey we shared together every day and for what and who we were doing this for.”

Alex Maurice reflects: “We were all too aware that the difference was that we could choose to walk away from the mountain and this challenge at any time. Through our efforts, hundreds of people now know more about Chai Cancer Care, should they ever need it.”

On behalf of Chai and ‘Team Chai Altitude’, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity. It has been a privilege to have been involved in this challenge, and to date we have raised a staggering £330,000.

We are planning more challenges in the future. If you would like to get involved, please contact Alexandra Maurice at alexm@chaicancercare.org and challenge yourself to make a difference.

To view more pictures of this incredible experience, please visit our photo gallery on our website at www.chaicancercare.org.

“Lack of sleep, no control, nausea, dirt, were all par for the course. Some 9

CHAI CANCER CARE

A VIEW FROM GENERAL PRACTICE

When NHS resources are stretched, GPs who refer cancer patients to Chai know they are giving clients an invaluable resource of support unavailable anywhere else.

Dr Cannon explains

Dr Cannon is an NHS GP living and working in north west London. She is the regular health expert on Sky News Sunrise, and writes a weekly column for the Mail on Sunday, Mailonline and Woman magazine.

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hen I first visited Chai last year I was in awe of the work I saw and I was truly bowled over by the facilities and the services offered to the community.

As a GP in London’s Abbey Road, I am very familiar with the real life NHS services that are available and it was staggering for me to see what a dynamic third sector organisation can achieve. Public funding leaves enormous gaps in important care areas and this is truer than ever as we see funding cut for “low priority” services and therapies. The charity sector is a valuable partner of the NHS, and for me, Chai is leading the way with this.

The Jewish community has always had a very dynamic welfare system funded by charity, actively helping patients with problems including mental health, disability, and special educational needs. When David Cameron talks about the “big society”, there is already a great model within our community. Chai has taken this to another level working in partnership with the NHS in order to create an even better service for its users.

“It is so valuable for doctors to have confidence in a service to which they can refer patients.”

At their purpose-built centre in Hendon, Chai has pioneered the first formal collaboration between a charity and the NHS. Their users are offered the opportunity to see their consultant and palliative care team at the centre. The medical rehabilitation offered by a consultant from the local NHS hospital is integrated with the counselling and complementary treatments Chai offers.

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It’s a one-stop shop for patients joining up all aspects of their care - the type of holistic approach GPs like myself, strive for. In my experience of working as a doctor in London, this is very special and quite unique – a fantastic coup for patients and their relatives.

I know from my own practice, the journey a patient goes through with cancer can be so complex and tortuous. Chai is making this journey easier. The care offered to relatives and carers is similarly impressive.

Dr Leora Harverd

When Lisa Steele first showed me around the Chai centre in Hendon, I was impressed to hear about the counselling services on offer not only to patients, but also for their relatives. But I am a realist and also a jaded NHS worker, so my automatic reaction was to ask Lisa about the waiting list for counselling. “We have no waiting list,” she told me. This made such a strong impression on me, I can still visualise the exact spot Lisa and I were standing, when she said it. It is a truly remarkable facility.

My fellow GPs are equally impressed with what Chai has to offer. It is so valuable for doctors to have confidence in a service to which they can refer patients. Making

TOGETHER 2013

a cancer diagnosis is, of course, distressing for GPs and terribly traumatic for patients - knowing you can recommend a wonderful service is a great comfort.

Privileged indeed. Chai not only lends support to patients and their relatives, but also to the GPs looking after the Jewish community.

Dr Michael Ingram is a GP in Radlett. His impression of Chai is, like mine, one of a very accessible service.

He says, “Chai offers a fast and consistent response so that when I have recommended patients, they have found that there are no barriers and they are engaged immediately. This is so important today, when access to many NHS services can be delayed and difficult.

Far too often I find myself apologising to patients about the services I can and cannot refer them to.”

Dr Stuart Wolfman is a GP also working in the heart of the Jewish community in Golders Green. It is not just the facilities offered by Chai that he enthuses about, but also their attitude. “In my experience people who work with cancer care tend to be very special and have often experienced or been touched by someone close who has had cancer. The word cancer carries a stigma often based on fear, prejudice and ignorance.

Chai is amazing at dealing with these problems in a really non-threatening, innovative and sensitive way.”

Prioritising needs To me, this is such an important insight: while many health chiefs will focus today on targets and quantifiable criteria, Dr Wolfman reflects on what is crucial to a patient – a caring approach and the comfort this brings at the most harrowing of times.

“Chai not only lends support to patients and their relatives, but also to GPs looking after the Jewish community.”

Dr Michael Ingram

Dr Ingram’s patients find the centre in Hendon “nurturing and diverse”, and many use the psychological support and counselling facilities.

By comparison, the local NHS services which his patients have access to can be “overstretched, something that never seems to happen at Chai.”

Dr Wolfman finds his patients will refer themselves to Chai, something I too have found in my practice in St John’s Wood. It is always a comfort to receive a letter from Chai informing me that a patient of mine has accessed their services. Dr Wolfman thinks self-referral is better as patients are then “more motivated to benefit from all the treatments and opportunities provided.”

A remarkable resource GPs working nearer Chai in Hendon have more opportunity to refer into the service as their practice population is local. Dr Leora Harverd is GP partner in a busy practice in Temple Fortune where a large proportion of her patients are from the Jewish community. She is justifiably glowing about Chai.

“We are very fortunate to be blessed with Chai. It’s a wonderful local charity that will support patients and families when a cancer is diagnosed. Having visited the centre several times there is a wonderful positive atmosphere that certainly helps families when they are feeling at their most vulnerable. The staff and team are professional and there is a wide array of conventional and complementary therapies available including physiotherapy and counselling sessions. Importantly, there are also child orientated therapies available.

“The new facilities are spacious and bright and the aroma of homeopathic oils as you enter the front door instantly has a calming affect,” continues Dr Harverd.

“Teams are educated regularly and have close contact with Royal Free oncology and palliative care consultants who can share their knowledge. We are very privileged as professionals and a community to have access to such a special centre.”

Dr Stuart Wolfman

With an ageing population and earlier screening opportunities, it is a sad fact that cancer diagnoses are on the increase. This is made even harder to swallow at times with the tremendous pressure on resources and lack of funds for what health chiefs would choose to call low-priority facilities.

Thankfully, Chai is leading the way in prioritising all the needs of cancer patients, which is a bonus not only to the patients themselves but equally to their carers, their doctors and the wider community.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Since we expanded into the new wing at our flagship centre in Hendon last year, our group activities have flourished, giving Chai an additional dimension

Served with love

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veryone’s cancer experience is different, and for many the diagnosis forces a person to pause and evaluate their life and identify what is really important to them.

Often, this reflection inspires a new emphasis on discovering new talents, experiences or interests.

We search out things that give pleasure and fulfilment and allow us to grow despite whatever challenges are being faced.

Our new wing has enabled us to extend the range of groups offered. There are Art and Ceramic Workshops, Meditation, Pilates and Yoga groups, Music, Gentle Movement and Gym, Computer Lessons and Wednesday afternoon entertainment. The newest additions, initiated at client requests, are groups for photography, jewellery making and reading for pleasure.

Photography Class

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Jewellery Workshop

In these groups people young and old, experts and beginners, come together and share their interests or hobbies with others, benefitting from an unspoken yet powerful bond that is found throughout Chai.

Uniting one another One client who attends the Art Workshop describes its importance: “Many of us live with cancer and endure regular three- or six-monthly scans.

The burden of being constantly tested and waiting for results is incredibly tough. At these times, the art workshop group naturally unites to comfort or celebrate, whatever the outcome. This support meets a specific need, which I cannot imagine finding anywhere else – and it demonstrates how special Chai is.” A hugely rewarding result of their work is the annual calendar that is produced. The jewellery group, too, produced a wonderful array of pieces for our annual Gift Fair.

Reading for pleasure

“In these groups, people come together and share their interests, benefitting from an unspoken yet powerful bond that is found throughout Chai.”

Food glorious food!

Yet another beneficial spin-off from the groups is that clients are tending to come early or stay on after their appointments to enjoy each others’ company. The recently extended kitchen has enabled us to provide light lunches three days a week.

With advice from our in-house nutritionist, our team of qualified volunteers prepare and serve a selection of appetising dishes. It is all adding to the enriching, supportive and welcoming environment we have created at Chai.

TOGETHER 2013

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT

MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

Chai is providing specialised treatments not readily available on the NHS

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ntil a person has been touched by cancer, it is difficult to understand the long-term effects that can remain years after the cancer itself has been brought under control. Lymphoedema is one of the most common of these effects with around 200,000 sufferers in the UK.

There is usually no way of repairing the damage to lymph tissue that is not working properly, but the specialised treatment we provide encourages other healthy parts of the system to work more effectively, and to prevent further problems from developing.”

Lymphoedema is a swelling that can occur after cancer treatment. It can develop weeks, months or even years after and may be caused by the initial surgery or removal of the lymph nodes, or by damage to the skin by radiotherapy.

As one client Vivian explains: “I returned to Chai following an operation last October for recurrent breast cancer.

Unfortunately I developed lymphoedema in my hand and arm following surgery. I was recommended to have manual lymphatic drainage. I have been seeing Sallyann on a regular basis. She has a very gentle, empathetic manner and is so supportive. The treatment I have received has improved my condition and I realise how fortunate I am to have such an experienced therapist and a centre like Chai to help me through this challenging time.”

The lymphatic system drains excess fluid from tissues and if this ability is lost, the excess fluid will cause the tissue to swell, most commonly in the arms or legs, and occasionally elsewhere in the body.

Unfortunately, many people suffer in relative silence, often feeling it is a relatively minor complaint compared to the cancer itself. Treatment for the condition is specialised, difficult to access and generally only made available as a short-term intervention.

At Chai, we recognised how difficult it was for our clients to get effective management for a disorder that can cause long-term physical and psychological problems. Five years ago, we established our Lymphoedema Clinic at our flagship centre in Hendon, led by specialist practitioner Sallyann Kaplan.

The treatment she carries out is called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) – a specific type of massage to stimulate the lymphatic system. The aim is to encourage the extra lymph fluid to move away from the swollen area so it can drain normally and it is usually combined with the wearing of compression garments or bandaging to maintain its effectiveness. Sallyann provides this both at Chai and in clients’ homes, where appropriate, as well as giving advice on exercise to help minimise the swelling.

Sallyann explains, “Having gone through the pain and distress of cancer treatment, many people then suffer the indignity of swollen arms or legs which leads to pain and mobility loss. It can also make everyday life very challenging.

“Many people suffer in relative silence, often feeling it is a relatively minor complaint compared to the cancer itself.”

Jonathan, who had major surgery to his neck, explains the difference MLD has made to him: “Chai provided me with help during my convalescence after my cancer treatment, which involved major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In particular, the lymphatic drainage massage I receive regularly has been so beneficial to me, reducing the swelling and oedema in my neck and aiding my recovery and spirit.”

Lymphoedema is often a long-term condition which once treated successfully will require maintenance on an ongoing basis which Chai’s clients can access and benefit from.

For more information on our services, visit www.chaicancercare.org

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CHAI CANCER CARE

A ‘RUNWAY’ SUCCESS The backstage buzz, the audience anticipation, summer’s smartest looks, the goodie bags it can only be Chai’s first fashion show fundraiser!

CHAI CH CHAI IN SHAIO FA N FASHIO FASHION

B

ack in May, when winter was still in full swing, summer put in a stylish appearance at the Kinloss banqueting suite. The event was the ‘Chai Fashion with Averyl’ show, as hot a ticket as any on the fashion circuit, which drew more than 350 ladies with an eye for a good cut as well as a good cause.

Summer collections from Averyl, the popular Temple Fortune fashion store, were sashayed down the catwalk by loyal customers and Chai supporters, alongside professional models, to a vibrant soundtrack produced by Jeremy Horowitz at Muzika. Down came a dazzle of Max Mara, Amanda Wakeley, Paule Ka, Red Valentino, Marc Cain and Maria Grazia outfits, and up stood the guests to cheer – it was the best-dressed riot in north London! An extra surprise was the sneak preview of what Averyl’s got in store for winter.

A sensational raffle sent several lucky ladies home with a dinner for eight hosted by Carole Sobell, an Escada handbag, two £500 John Frieda vouchers, a Gerard Darel handbag, a personal styling session with Nachum Shonn, four tickets for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, orchids from Absolute Flowers and beautiful Mochino scarves - and these were only some of the prizes.

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Take a bow: Our fabulous models with Averyl (centre, in black): Jackie Conway • Taly Dahan • Naomi Fisch • Natalie Hoff, Roz Laren • Isabel Oberman • Gabrielle Singer • Sandra Sorsky • Susi Spiers • Joanna Trup • Tanya Wynne.

Goodie bags for all were filled with jewellery, Gross chocolates, beauty treats, vouchers for Averyl and a copy of OK!. And as befits a chic event, guests enjoyed a delicious and beautifully presented lunch, courtesy of Carole Sobell and her wonderful team.

“On her first visit to Chai, however, she discovered a place where, she said, ‘at last I was able to unburden myself without causing stress and upset to my family’.”

Chai client Katherine Lennard then spoke on behalf of the 1750 clients Chai currently supports. Her deeply moving and uplifting speech told of her own journey with cancer, from the devastation of diagnosis and early cynicism about what a Jewish cancer charity could offer her.

On her first visit to Chai, however, she discovered a place where, she said, “at last I was able to unburden myself without causing stress and upset to my family.” She explained how Chai supports her family too, in particular, her son and mother. ”Chai offered me what I needed before I knew I needed it. When I walk in, I feel cared for, respected, supported and above all safe.

“It was wonderful to see so many of Chai’s longstanding supporters and it was the first opportunity, too, for many to hear about Chai’s vital work.”

My future is uncertain - but I know that whatever it holds, Chai will be there - not just for me but for my family.”

The event raised £75,000 and Chairman Louise Hager said, “We’ve been overwhelmed with the response. It was wonderful to see so many of Chai’s long-standing supporters and it was the first opportunity, too, for many to hear about Chai’s vital work. It is events such as these that enable us continue to offer our expertise and care.”

Very special thanks also to: Jeremy Coleman Photography, Creative & Commercial, Gross Chocolates, Jeremy Horowitz at Muzika, OK! Magazine, Carole, Bianca and Jonathan Sobell, Tabledressers

TOGETHER 2013

Orly Wolfson, Amy Lux

Danielle Rubin, Elaine Curtis, Jacqueline Meller

Roberta Benscher, Daniela Pears

Joy Cohen, Phillippa Hasenson

Katherine Lennard, Ann Robson

Claudia Salem, Emma Samuels, Danielle Levy

Louise Hager, Lady Pamela Kalms, Lisa Steele

Maxine Leslau

Gloria Smith, Angela Rubin

Lee Garston, Anita Rubin, Susan Terry

Naomi Zamet, Louise Norton, Deborah Katz, Linda Lawrence

Varda Korczak, Natalie Tahan, Ruthy Yelizarov

Diane Morris, Alexis Coleman, Caroline Reeback, Stella Buckland, Pamela Wagman, Brenda Elton, Lisa Fraser, Jules Gishen

Beverley Emden, Sabine Israel, Rina Grossmark

Janet Cohen, Brigette Reid 15

CHAI CANCER CARE

CUTTING THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO TUMOURS

As we start to understand the biological changes that allow tumours to grow, ovarian cancer specialist Gordon Jayson, Professor of Medical Oncology at Christie Hospital and the University of Manchester, looks at one area of treatment research offering cause for optimism

Professor Jayson’s research focuses on the development of anti-angiogenic agents for the treatment of cancer, in particular ovarian cancer.

After studying medicine at Oxford University, Professor Jayson trained in oncology and undertook a PhD in molecular biochemistry and angiogenesis at the Christie Hospital and University of Manchester. Professor Jayson provides a supra-regional service for patients with new diagnoses and previously treated ovarian cancer.

C

ancer research is at an exciting point. For decades we have known that tumours need a blood supply in order to grow, which is one of the common features that distinguish cancerous from normal tissue. The blood supply provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing tumour and removes waste products. This process of new blood vessel formation is called angiogenesis and the cancer research fraternity is engaged in a worldwide effort to find drugs, known as anti-angiogenic agents, to block the process.

“It’s now 13 years since the first drugs that blocked blood vessel formation were given to patients.”

Recent trial results have suggested that these drugs are effective in multiple cancers including ovarian cancer.

With colleagues from around the world, we are leading the search for tests that identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from them. This new work is now identifying those tests (called biomarkers), and they will help doctors to prescribe anti-angiogenic agents to the right patients. This is very important as it means that patients who will not benefit can be given alternative drugs.

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It’s now 13 years since the first drugs that blocked blood vessel formation were given to patients. The first approach was to adapt antibodies, which our bodies usually use to fight infection. These were targeted specifically against the growth factors (like hormones) that drive angiogenesis. The first target was vascular endothelial growth factor, known as VEGF. The rationale behind this research into anti-angiogenic agents was founded on the knowledge that aside from very specific needs, for example in wound healing, during menstruation and through pregnancy, new blood vessels in adults are largely not needed – in fact, they stop growing when we reach adulthood. Given that cancer tends to affect people after childbearing age, drugs that inhibit blood vessel development should be able to target cancer, cause minimal side effects, and just work inside tumours.

The approach turned out to be not quite correct and side effects, although usually not critical, did emerge. These include increased blood pressure or loss of protein in the urine in approximately one in ten patients. Fortunately, blood pressure can be easily controlled and doctors are not too concerned about loss of protein in the urine. Other rare side effects are mostly related to the fact that normal blood vessels can be slightly damaged when traditional chemotherapy is given and VEGF inhibitors impair their recovery. Rarely, this results in a slight increase in the risk of developing thrombosis (clots). While this list sounds worrying, patients and their doctors are very used to the range of side effects from conventional treatments like chemotherapy, and how to manage them.

Following the initial discovery of drugs that could block VEGF (the blood vessel growth factor), a large number of clinical trials tested the value of them in different cancers.

The results showed greater effectiveness in particular situations. Some cancers responded to the drugs when given alone (e.g. kidney, ovarian, liver, brain, neuroendocrine and thyroid cancers), while others only benefitted when the drugs were given in conjunction with traditional chemotherapy (e.g. bowel cancer).

TOGETHER 2013

“This area of cancer research is starting to offer new treatments and, perhaps of even greater importance in some cancers, new ways to maintain the benefits of traditional surgery and chemotherapy.”

For breast and lung cancers, the benefit was found to be too small to be of general use across the whole population of patients. However, that’s not to say some patients would not benefit. The problem lies in being able to identify those patients who will gain from treatment with these drugs.

The situation is similar to drugs used to treat breast cancer such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) or tamoxifen. If everyone were treated with these drugs, the benefit to the whole population with breast cancer would appear to be very small. However, there are tests that can be carried out on breast cancer tissue to predict whether a patient will benefit from them. The discovery of comparable tests for VEGF inhibitors will be a step towards our greater understanding and treatment of tumours. But for now, there continues to be little benefit from these drugs in treating all patients with breast, lung, pancreatic or prostate cancers while patients with kidney, ovarian, liver, brain, neuroendocrine and some thyroid cancers might benefit from such drugs.

The big question is why some cancers are not controlled by anti-blood vessel treatments such as VEGF inhibitors.

There are a number of answers. The primary one is that our bodies use multiple, different growth factors (like hormones) to regulate blood vessel formation. Additionally, in some patients it seems that other growth factors take over if VEGF is inhibited. And in other cases, that different growth factors drive blood vessel formation from the start.

Current clinical trials are evaluating a new generation of anti-angiogenic drugs, which inhibit other growth factors.

We already know that drugs that block the function of another growth factor, called Angiopoietin, are active in ovarian cancer. Though not licensed yet, the evaluation of clinical trials for Angiopoietin are at an advanced stage.

“We are moving towards an era in cancer care where doctors will prescribe drugs by studying the patient’s genetic and biological make up; the era of personalised medicine.”

This area of cancer research is starting to offer new treatments and, perhaps of even greater importance in some cancers, new ways to maintain the benefits of traditional surgery and chemotherapy.

The first generation of anti-angiogenic agents, VEGF inhibitors, is firmly established in the cancer clinic and doctors and their patients are already testing the next generations of anti-blood vessel drugs. It’s clear this class of treatment is here to stay. Our next focus must be working on the tests (or biomarkers) to work out who will gain the greatest benefit from these drugs and a large amount of research is focused on working out these tests. Ultimately we are moving towards an era in cancer care where doctors will be able to prescribe the right drugs by studying the patient’s genetic and biological make up; the era of personalised medicine.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

Photography: Adam Lawrence

TOGETHER 2013

THE CHAI FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS

CHAI CANCER CARE

NOW MEET THEM… They drive clients to hospital for treatments, cook up lunches, give make-up lessons and entertain. We just can’t do without them as they are our frontline ambassadors, as well as the backbone of our organisation! Meet our multi-talented, dedicated volunteers The Receptionists “Chai is a big, warm and welcoming family with no hierarchy. It’s immensely fulfilling but however much I put in, I get so much more back” “Chai is a safe haven” “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I rejected all offers of help, I was in too much shock. When the time was right however, I trained to be a volunteer – discovering Chai made me feel like I’d won the pools” “On reception, you’re answering the phone and welcoming people in. It’s important to be positive and up-beat, you’re the first face and the first voice of Chai”

Receptionists: Melanie Steinberg, Katie Cohen, Irene Peters, Lesley Morris, Valerie Barr, Priscilla Liffchak. Seated Angela Sedley, Valerie Bloohn

“In the jewellery class, it’s the fact you like pink beads that defines you, not your cancer”

The Kitchen Team “Offering lunches has added another dimension to Chai. After a session, clients stay on, sit with each other in the lovely garden room, chat and connect” “I feel strongly about volunteering for Chai because it gets no state support”

Rebecca, jewellery group

Chefs: Judy Sheldon, Lynda Shaw, Hilary Schuman, Carol Lubliner

The Wednesday Social Group “We arrange events such as quizzes, live music, magic shows and memory sessions” “You see people forgetting about why they’re here when they’re with us – that’s so rewarding”

Jewellery Group: Sarah Shipton, Belinda Shipton, Rebecca Silver

The Jewellery Group

Wednesday Social Group: Lynne Silver, Barbara Freedman, Sharon Pollins

“Seeing the positive impact the class has on people is very special and knowing you’ve contributed is wonderful” “Making jewellery is very creative but you don’t have to be an expert, so everyone feels they achieve” “In the jewellery class, it’s the fact you like pink beads that defines you, not your cancer”

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TOGETHER 2013

“I retired early from a very senior position at Apple where I was regularly making multi-million pound deals.

I can honestly tell you, volunteering at Chai gives me a buzz that making those deals never did” David, driver

The Befrienders “Because Chai volunteers have all been touched by cancer in some way, we can help clients feel less isolated” “Providing listening skills to Chai clients is a most rewarding and fulfilling experience”

Befrienders: Tamar Wood, Elise Buckman, Lisa Bogush

“It is truly humbling to be able to support people in a meaningful way”

The Art Group “The art room is beautiful, the group is lovely and cohesive, and clients can chat about anything. It’s great to see the work they produce go towards the Chai calendar” “The art class had a very tranquil atmosphere and clients become completely absorbed in their work, which takes the focus off the cancer.

Hidden talents emerge in people who never dreamed they were artistic – it’s amazing to witness”

What makes our Chai volunteers so special?

Art Group: Bondia Zimmerman, Sorelle Kafton, Jane Jacobs,

Image Consulants “To give someone a little confidence when they’re feeling low, and see a smile on their face when I’ve shown them they can look great, even without eyebrows or eyelashes, makes my day”

Image Consultants: Amy Wright, Taly Dahan, Sandra Cedar

The Drivers “Taking someone to hospital or to a therapy session, is a small act that changes how a person can live their life” “If they want to talk, I listen. If they don’t, that’s fine”

Drivers: Norma Bobrof, Melanie Epstein, Adrian Binke, Carole Cohen, Jenni Colet, David Lawrence, Stacey Miller, Ros Preston

“Chai and its staff are absolutely phenomenal and I’m immensely proud to contribute to it”

- All of Chai’s 80 volunteers have been touched by cancer in some way: their own, that of a family member, or a close friend. Empathy and implicit understanding are vital so that whatever their situation, the client feels safe and supported.

- Volunteers receive thorough training and are CRB checked. Confidentiality and sensitivity are paramount, as are listening skills, so volunteers can offer support without giving inappropriate advice. Offloading one’s own experience is strictly off limits.

- We are conscious of our responsibility to our volunteers as well as our clients, so there needs to be at least two years after remission or bereavement before a person can volunteer.

We provide supervision, ongoing training and support.

- We ensure volunteers are kept informed with lectures on the latest cancer developments.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

THE CHAI ‘ALL TOGETHER’ DINNER On the third night of Chanukah, Morven and Michael Heller hosted Chai’s moving and inspiring annual dinner, at the Lancaster London Hotel. Nikki Millan z’l had been due to deliver the appeal speech, highlighting Chai’s support for three generations of her family.

Sadly, Nikki passed away just eight days before the dinner. As a testimony to the family’s feeling towards Chai and showing incredible courage, her husband Jason fulfilled Nikki’s commitment.

After lighting the menorah, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks captured Chai’s essence saying, “Chai may not always be able to add years to your life, but it can add life to your years.” For everyone, it was a truly memorable occasion.

Sir Michael & Lady Heller

Louise Hager, Dame Gail Ronson

Romie Tager QC

Brian & Simone Brick

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks & Lady Sacks

Jane Collins, Fiorella Massey

Miri Freud-Kandel, Alexis Coleman, Alexandra Maurice, Nicole Sampson

Jason Millan

David & Jo Fogel

Howard Glyn, Phillip Weinstein, Shumli Orenstein, Michael Weinstein

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Suzanne Goodman, Joy Lyons

Joan, Benita, Frances & Gerald Fogel

Robert & Sara Prevezer

Naomi & Andrew Fisch

Nick Leslau, Steven Collins

Steven & Gabrielle Sharpe

Louise & Jonathan Obadia, Laura Bier

Graham & Emma Spitz, David & Madeleine Cope-Thompsom, Simon & Michelle Cope-Thompson

Emma Samuels, Lisa Steele, Marc Samuels

Gillian Carter, Susie Segal, Irving Carter

Gary & Linda Laurence

Michael & Jacky Edelson

Susan Shipman

Sir Maurice & Lady Hatter, Sir Michael & Lady Heller

Chrissie & Alain Felder

Photography: Jeremy Coleman

TOGETHER 2013

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CHAI CANCER CARE

RISK FACTORS & TREATMENTS FOR SKIN CANCER Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and the figures are rising. Professor Martin Gore reviews the latest treatments aimed at tackling it

Professor Gore is Medical Director of the Royal Marsden Hospital and Professor of Cancer Medicine at the Institute of Cancer Research. He is Co-Patron of the Rarer Cancers Foundation.

He has published over 400 articles and eight textbooks. His research interests are the development of novel therapeutics in ovarian cancer, melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.

Diagnosis

T

he clinical diagnosis of melanoma is not easy.

One needs to be alert to any change in a mole and a helpful guideline is the ABCD system (asymmetry, border, colour and diameter).

‘Asymmetry’ means that the mole develops an asymmetric shape, ‘border’ means that the edge of the mole starts to become ragged, ‘colour’ stands for a darkening of the mole very often in a non-uniform way and finally ‘diameter’ stands for an increase in the size of the mole.

Doctors specialising in the diagnosis of melanoma will often take serial photographs and there are computer systems, which can help keep track of these images.

Incidence Melanoma is now the fifth commonest cancer in the UK accounting for nearly 13,000 cases a year. Females more often have melanomas of the limbs whereas males more often have melanomas of the trunk.

One of the most disturbing issues with melanoma is that the incidence is rising steadily. There is a doubling in the number of cases every decade.

Although this mainly affects the middle-aged and elderly, an increasing number of young people under the age of 40 develop the disease.

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Cause of melanoma The main cause of melanoma is exposure to sunlight and there is also a strong association with skin type, the number of moles a person has and if there are unusually shaped moles. The incidence of melanoma is very low in those of Afro-Caribbean, Chinese or Japanese origin. Those with pale skin and blonde or red hair, who burn very easily and are typically of Celtic origin, are at particular risk.

One of the main risks for the development of melanoma relates to the nature of sun exposure; particularly worrying is short sharp bursts of sunlight associated with burning, especially blistering, particularly in childhood/adolescence.

Prognosis The majority of patients with primary melanoma are cured. The death rate is 15% of all patients diagnosed, which translates to 2000 people a year.

Primary melanoma is a disease confined to a mole. It is classified according to the thickness of the lesion as measured under the microscope. Ulceration and the number of dividing cells seen under the microscope also help to define prognosis. Patients with melanomas less than 1mm thick have a 10-year survival rate of 93%. Very thick melanomas (4mm or more) have a poorer prognosis with 5-year survival rates of 45-65%.

When melanomas spread, the most common site of secondaries are lymph glands e.g. a melanoma on the arm spreads to the armpit, melanomas in the leg spread to the groin.

The survival for patients with metastatic disease has, until recently, been very poor with 5-year survival rates being in the region of 10-25% depending on the organ involved with the secondary growths.

However, this situation is rapidly changing with the new therapies that are becoming available.

TOGETHER 2013

Treatment: surgery The mainstay of treatment for melanoma is surgical.

Initial treatment usually involves an excision biopsy of the melanoma under local anaesthetic. If the diagnosis is confirmed, a wider excision of the tumour is performed with surrounding skin (1-2cm). Skin grafting is only rarely needed.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be performed for melanomas above 1mm thick at the time of wide local excision of the primary lesion. The ‘sentinel’ lymph node is the first draining lymph node of the arm or leg affected. It is located by injecting dye and radioactive material and is then removed surgically under general anaesthetic.

This gives information only on survival (prognosis).

Those people who have sentinel nodes containing melanoma cells have a higher chance of relapse.

“The majority of patients with primary melanoma are cured.”

Treatment: adjuvant therapy There have been a number of attempts to improve prognosis by treating patients immediately after surgery. This is called ‘adjuvant therapy’; the theory is that undetectable, microscopic disease that has escaped into the body is treated.

In the 1990s and 2000s there were several trials of vaccine therapy, none of which were associated with a survival advantage.

There have been a number of trials looking at the use of interferon, which is a naturally occurring protein in the body that modulates the immune system. An overall analysis has demonstrated an improvement of 2-3% on overall survival. Interferon is associated with a number of side effects, has to be given for a prolonged period of time and therefore its use is not universally recommended.

Treatment: metastatic disease Chemotherapy is not particularly effective in melanoma with only about 5-10% of patients having any response in terms of tumour shrinkage.

However, the treatment of metastatic disease has changed dramatically in the last 12 months; as a result the outlook for patients is becoming much more optimistic. i) Immunotherapy Immunotherapy harnesses the patient’s own immune system to destroy the disease and has been an area of research for many years. Interferon and interleukin 2 have previously been the main immunotherapeutic approaches. Interleukin 2 has a small beneficial effect on patients with metastatic disease.

Treatment with interleukin 2 is toxic and only the fittest patients were suitable for such treatments. Overall, 5-10% of patients had a complete remission with this approach.

A new approach to immunotherapy involving the monoclonal antibody ipilimumab has shown a benefit in two trials. Ipilimumab has a specific action that switches on the immune system to ‘recognise’ the melanoma cells as foreign. This leads to an anti-melanoma immune response. Ipilimumab increases survival by 10-15% compared to standard treatment and some patients are in remission for considerable periods of time. The drug is available as second-line treatment on the NHS. Side effects are uncommon and can be well controlled. However, patients need careful monitoring during these treatments. ii) Targeted agents A different approach is the use of ‘targeted agents’.

Biochemical signals within cells can lead to growth of cancer cells. Drugs that are not traditional chemotherapy nor immunotherapy agents can block these signals. They can be identified by testing samples of a patient’s tumour (molecular profiling).

This forms the basis of personalised medicine.

“The treatment of metastatic disease has changed dramatically in the last 12 months; as a result the outlook for patients is becoming much more optimistic.”

A number of genetic mutations exist in melanoma and new drugs can target some of these. The best developed, and now licensed and available, is called vemurafenib. This drug targets abnormal signals that result from mutations in the BRAF gene, which occurs in 50% of melanomas. This drug causes significant tumour shrinkage in half the patients treated and beneficial responses in many others.

Vemurafenib is generally well tolerated. It can cause sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and the development of small skin tumours that need to be removed.

Conclusions Melanoma is associated with bursts of sunlight and sunburn particularly in those with fair skin who burn easily. It is essential that we develop ways of protecting children and adolescents from such episodes as it is exposure to sunlight at a young age that appears to be an important factor in the development of melanoma in the later life. The incidence of melanoma is increasing at a frightening rate and is starting to be seen increasingly in young people.

New methods of treatment both are showing significant improvements in outcomes. The therapeutic landscape for melanoma has changed quite dramatically in the last year or two and there is now considerable optimism that there can be a major change of outlook for patients with metastatic disease.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

THE QUIET PHILANTHROPISTS For nearly two decades, Sir Michael and Lady Heller have been inspired to support the passion, vision and commitment of Chai. They tell us why

P

“

eople’s affinity to a charity is often driven by the personal relationship they have with it,” says Sir Michael Heller. He and his wife Morven support a wide range of causes within the medical, creative and educational fields. From cuttingedge cancer research to software sciences, student bursaries to the arts, in Israel and here in the UK, the foundation that they established in 1998 appears quite broad-based in its focus. So what is it in particular that draws them to Chai?

In conversation at their home in Hampstead, Michael (as he prefers to be called) and his wife Morven, explain. “Nearly 18 years ago, our friend, Madeleine Cope-Thompson, who was one of the early volunteers at Chai, invited us to see the work they were doing – back when it was a few rooms at Harmony Way in Hendon,” Michael recalls. “By the end of that first visit we knew we were dealing with very special people full of passion and drive, and we wanted to help them in their work.”

Palliative Care Clinic, opened last year and developed in association with the Royal Free Hospital and Marie Curie Cancer Care. As more people live through cancer treatment, there’s a growing need for what is termed ‘survivorship support’: pain management, support for the physical and emotional side effects of treatment, and advance care planning.

The service is a UK first and a unique collaboration between parties and practitioners. It was Michael and Morven’s grasp of the evolving needs of the charity and their willingness to make the funding available that got the project off the ground and completed so fast.

“There’s a right way to look after people, and Chai’s professionalism, consistency and quality of service exemplifies that. It’s a model for the care of people with cancer,” says Morven. She was a volunteer for

Rather pragmatically, Michael, who heads up a considerable business portfolio, compares the decision of which charity to support to that of interviewing someone for a senior appointment - “that is, you know very quickly what you are going to do.”

The couple’s early contributions funded the charity’s telephone helpline and most recently they were the catalyst for Chai’s Medical Outpatient Rehabilitation and 26

Chai’s medical clinic

23 years at Hampstead’s Eden Hall Marie Curie hospice, and understands first hand the value of palliative care.

“There’s a right way to look after people, and Chai’s professionalism, consistency and quality of service exemplifies that.

It’s a model for the care of people with cancer.”

Theirs seems to be a holistic, balanced approach: funding cancer research on the one hand, and supporting Chai’s community-based care for those affected by it; complementing medical students’ studies with artsrelated bursaries, and supporting theatres and galleries too.

TOGETHER 2013

Sir Michael and Lady Heller after the ceremony

“The impulse to be involved in the needs of the community is strong – Jewish people have an ethos of compassion and giving,” explains Michael. “My grandparents came from Eastern Europe and spoke Yiddish at home.” Growing up, Michael recalls the family’s wartime evacuation to Harrogate, “when if you were new to the community, the synagogue was how you got to know people.

There were lots of overseas soldiers stationed there and every Friday night, my parents would invite a number of them to our home.

“The impulse to be involved in the needs of the community is strong.”

I think that sense of community is something quite unique to families from outside of London.”

Post-war, the family remained in Harrogate and after graduating from Cambridge and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Michael joined his father in his business and moved to live in Sheffield. Morven grew up in Manchester. Her mother Pearl, studied law and father Julius was a GP. Her grandfather, S S Levy, was President of the Manchester Board of Shechita and her sister Frances Raday is a leading human rights lawyer in Israel.

The couple met at a party in Sheffield in 1964 and their two sons, John and Andrew, were born in the north.

The Heller family at Buckingham Palace

They moved to London in 1974 so Nicola, their daughter, is a “cockney”.

“Michael cites the ‘ever evolving conversation’ between themselves and Chai as enormously rewarding and inspiring.”

seems to fit the Hellers rather well, as they partner Chai in its goal to give clients the inner strength to face the challenges of living with cancer.

Chai’s Medical Outpatient Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Clinic is a collaboration in association with:

Morven and Michael are manifestly a couple in tune with each other. As they talk, finishing one another’s sentences, confirming the other’s point of view, it’s also evident they are hugely conscious of their charitable responsibilities.

“We are quite private about our work, and prefer to support from behind the scenes,” says Morven.

Of her husband’s recent knighthood for services to charity, she adds disarmingly, “When the letter arrived inviting him to accept this honour, it was very much unexpected.”

Michael cites the ‘ever evolving conversation’ between themselves and Chai as enormously rewarding and inspiring. “We’re very fortunate to be in a position to do what we do,” he says.

He references the 12th century philosopher and physician Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity as a touchstone for the manner in which a person gives. One of those levels mentions entering into a partnership by “strengthening the hand of the needy so they are no longer dependent upon others”. It’s a concept that 27

CHAI CANCER CARE

WHEN TEACHERS DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS Children experiencing the impact of a cancer diagnosis in their family can present teachers with complex challenges. Chai is supporting schools through a much needed initiative, “Chai in Schools”

E

very child wants to fit in and feel normal. When cancer affects a family, that normality can change. Home life is disrupted; regular activities are put on hold; children may witness the visible effects of treatment. However positive adults try to be, a child is likely to have a conscious or unconscious understanding that something is not the same.

In this unpredictable situation, school is one routine that doesn’t change. When their lives can seem out of control, the firm boundaries, familiarity and camaraderie school offers, can help children retain a sense of safety and normality.

Nevertheless, because of what is going on at home, they may not always be able to verbalise their fears and upset, and might display disruptive behaviour, become withdrawn or act out in some other way at school.

“Chai in Schools” is an initiative designed to give teaching staff the strategies to support children going through this difficult time. With the specialist knowledge we have within our Children and Teenage Service, we understand the issues that children are experiencing and have worked with primary and secondary schools across the UK.

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Teachers may well have an impulse to be more lenient with a child when their world is turned upside down. While they need to be compassionate and understanding, maintaining familiar boundaries is, in many ways, very important.

“Chai will act as a central point of contact, liaising between the school and the family to co-ordinate all the support needs of the child.”

Steven Isaacs, Headteacher of Hertsmere Jewish Primary School, acknowledges the unique challenges of supporting children in this kind of crisis. “I have worked in education for 17 years, yet having to manage a situation with a critically ill parent and be a support for the parent body, staff and children was the hardest situation I have ever had to deal with. Having Chai at the end of the line was a great relief quite simply as a sounding board for questions or even just thoughts about basic process and crisis management.”

Chai tailors its support to the type of request received. It may come from the school or from the family, which could be at any point in the family’s cancer experience. Chai will act as a central point of contact, liaising between the school

and the family to co-ordinate all the support needs of the child.

We have been into schools to answer teachers’ questions and concerns, to further their understanding of what the child may be going through, and to explore ways of providing a secure and compassionate environment for the child.

A Chai counsellor can explore with teachers the tools and techniques to help them talk to children around the topic of cancer and death.

Sometimes that means working with the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). At Yesoday Hatorah School in Manchester, Ruth Weisel, the SENCO explains: “I am very impressed with your organisation. The name Chai, which is the Hebrew word for ‘life’ says exactly what you’re about and is evident in everything you do. Your approach gives our teachers the confidence to support vulnerable children in a caring and effective way.”

At a school the teacher’s responsibility is not just for the specific child, but for all the other children as well.

For example, in a reading circle, there may be a dilemma over what book to choose because it might trigger childrens’ fears and questions that need to be answered sensitively. Chai’s work with teachers helps them show children how to respond and show compassion to their friend – a very important skill which will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

TOGETHER 2013

Chai supports teachers supporting children

Feedback from teachers shows the value of the initiative. “It was the first time I had to support children coping with such a family illness.

Chai answered any questions I had and made me feel confident to do so,” said one teacher after the training; “The Chai counsellors were informative and I definitely felt that I had a better understanding of how to talk to children around the topic of death,” said another.

“Having to manage a situation with a critically ill parent and be a support for the parent body, staff and children was the hardest situation I have ever had to deal with.”

Chai also offers teachers access to a counsellor – it’s a difficult time for them emotionally, too.

“It was so useful to have an open discussion about the things that have been on our minds, prepare for the challenging scenarios, and share ideas on how to respond,” says one, reflecting this need.

Steven Isaacs at Herstmere Jewish Primary School states, “Headship is often described as a lonely profession but my staff and I were by no means alone dealing with the sad loss of a parent of one of our pupils.

My greatest thanks go to the team at Chai – truly inspirational individuals.”

“It was so useful to have an open discussion about the things that have been on our minds, prepare for the challenging scenarios, and share ideas on how to respond,” The service complements Chai’s 360 degree support for individuals and families affected by cancer. Though “Chai in Schools” is not yet widely known about, the need for it is set to grow. Martin Taubman, Pastoral Care Coordinator for Hasmonean High School concurs. “Unfortunately, I have been in all too frequent contact with Chai. The results of their care for our students speak for themselves. As long as this type of counselling is needed, it is good to know Chai is there.”

Some of the schools Chai is working with:

Hasmonean High School

Yesoday Hatorah School Manchester

Hertsmere Jewish Primary School

If you would like to find out more about “Chai in Schools”, please call Lisa Steele on 0208 457 3392 or lisas@chaicancercare.org

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CHAI CANCER CARE

A HOLE LOTTA GOLF PLAYED… … and a record amount raised on the 2013 Golf Fore Chai day

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or golf lovers and Chai supporters, there is no better reason to get on the course than the Golf Fore Chai biennial event, which took place at the Hartsbourne Country Club in April. The committee’s reputation for looking after guests superbly alongside an excellent day’s play meant the event was a sell-out in just two weeks. Heavens, they even sorted out the weather that day, as the sun shone!

Tee off was bright and early at 8.40am, when fierce, but friendly competition ensued. Although no one managed a hole in one, the women’s winner for both the longest drive, and the shot closest to the pin, was Tricia Arnold. For the men, the longest drive trophy went to Mark Gershinson and to Wayne Chodesh for nearest to the pin. The winning team, with a fantastic score of 90 points, was Michael Charles, Alan Simon, Jeremy Bohn and Martin Lerner.

Among many raffle prizes was a four-night break at the renowned Abama Hotel in Tenerife, a luxury break for two in Sicily, Top Shop vouchers and a Kindle Paperwhite.

In the auction, players had the chance to bid on a golf day with two PGA Championship Golfers.

Golf Fore Chai Committee: Caroline Shapiro, Meryl Rosenberg, Mel Rom, Jo Fogel, Amanda Jaffe, Sharon Braham, Carolyn Joels 30

Back in the clubhouse, 23-year old Alex Samuels, who recently graduated from Leeds University spoke of his diagnosis and treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma two years ago. His detailed, moving account told how Chai supported him through his cancer journey.

“Chai let me be myself,” Alex said.

“They picked me up when I was down, listened to my concerns and gave me the confidence to go out when I was bald and had no eyebrows. Chai made my cancer experience a positive one.”

More than £43,000 was raised from the day and committee chairman Jo Fogel said, “I’m thrilled by the amount. The entire Golf Fore Chai committee works tirelessly to ensure the day is a great success and as much money as possible is raised for Chai’s vital work. Thanks to all our players, donors and sponsors, especially EFR Travel, who donated the two luxury holidays as well as a once-in-a-lifetime golf day experience with two PGA Championship Golfers.”

CLUB 18 GOLF 2013

Club 18 Winners: David Lipsitz, Gary Plein, (Dyrham Captain) Stewart Coburn, Geoff Maze, Kelvin Schewitz

Michael Lubliner and Ronnie Gottleib

Over the past eight years Club 18 Golf Committee has had continued success in hosting their Annual Golf Day at Dyrham Park Country Club. Their never-ending enthusiasm has resulted in raising an incredible £150,000 for Chai.

Ronnie Gottlieb and Michael Lubliner (Co-Chairmen) explained, “We chose to support Chai largely because they do not receive any statutory funding. We wanted to raise money to expand the resources and services so that Chai can continue to help more people and raise awareness of the charity in the community.”

Club 18 Golf

2013

Alex Samuels

Chai thanks both golf committees fior their commitment and dedication, which makes these events so successful and enjoyable

TOGETHER 2013

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT

AT HOME WITH CHAI

When clients are unable to come to a Chai centre, Chai takes their expertise and care to them.

We look at why it’s such a valuable service

I

t’s ten years since Chai established its Home Support Service, recognising the importance of supporting clients during their cancer treatment and in the terminal stages. Since then, as the number of diagnoses has risen and as more patients are turning to Chai for longer periods of support, the demand for home visits has shown a dramatic increase.

Coming to a Chai centre has intrinsic benefits that go beyond the specific treatment. The environment is light and bright, the mood tranquil, caring and uplifting, and clients can connect with others, if they wish. But there are times when home visits may be the only option, for instance after surgery or during treatment when the endless rounds of hospital visits for chemotherapy or radiotherapy are so gruelling, and leave neither time or energy left.

Laura, a client in Glasgow says, ‘When I was having my treatment for cancer I was so exhausted. Aromatherapy helped me deal with the side-effects of the gruelling treatment and having it at home was a blessing. “ When a patient is at such a difficult and vulnerable stage in their illness, it is vital that whoever comes into their home is trustworthy, knowledgeable and sensitive.

Continuity of care is particularly crucial at this stage and, whenever possible, Chai ensures that the same therapist who has supported the client continues to facilitate the treatments they require as their needs change.

“All the services Chai offers in its centres, except for group sessions, are available at home.”

All the services Chai offers in its centres, except for group sessions, are available at home, with reflexology, massage, physiotherapy and counselling the most popular. Acupuncture, advice on benefits and accessing NHS and social services, aromatherapy, dietary advice, foot care, healing, manual lymphatic drainage and reiki are also available.

Home support has proved particularly crucial in delivering care to clients who live outside London and cannot come to Chai’s Hendon centre. The satellite centres are smaller operations, often sharing a communal building.

“When I was having my treatment for cancer I was so exhausted. Aromatherapy helped me deal with the side-effects of the gruelling treatment and having it at home was a blessing.”

In Glasgow, client services manager Mandy Strang explains its importance. “Being able to see clients in their own homes has been of tremendous value, not only because some may be too fragile or fatigued to travel, but because our community is fairly small and tight knit. At a time when they are feeling so vulnerable, we can be sensitive to clients’ need for privacy.”

Demand for home services is predicted to rise by 45% between 2013 and 2016. It is undoubtedly a considerable financial commitment, but one that is matched by Chai’s aim to continue to support the patient and their family whenever and wherever they need it.

Philippa, a client in Manchester says, “Chai gives me great support. The reflexology lifts me physically and mentally and the counselling lets me unburden myself, which I can’t really do with family and friends. I am only able to get this support because I can be visited at home.

As my health has deteriorated I lean on Chai more and more – it’s such an important part of my life now.”

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CHAI CANCER CARE

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS September 2012

January 2013 continued

November 2012

Carol Ellman’s Bridge Lunch Hosted by Carol Ellman and her friends Elaine Barnett, Jackie Cohen, Wendy Hoffman and Angela White at Chai, over 100 people attended and £4000 was raised.

Business Breakfast Over 90 guests attended Chai’s first Business Breakfast, organised

by Steven Collins and Simon Silver at London’s exclusive private members club Home House in Portman Square. A group of young professionals was so motivated that ‘Chai Flyers’ was formed that same day. £19000 was raised.

October 2012

Chai Five Chinese Dinner Chai Five’s Chinese Night Dinner at Chai was a sellout raising over £4000.

Bridge Lunch Frances Berman, Madeleine CopeThomson and Gloria Smith held their bi-annual Bridge Day. 70 people attended to play either Rubber or Chicago Bridge and raised £5000.

December 2012 Natalie Shipman Memorial Lecture On December 3rd 2012, Chai held its annual Natalie Shipman Memorial Lecture “Breast Cancer Surgery in the 21st Century and Beyond” which was presented

by Dr Michael Douek.

Tea with Maureen The Outlook Committee organised an afternoon of ‘Laugher and Tears’ with Maureen Lipman CBE at Chai. Maureen, one of Chai’s honorary patrons, captivated the 80 guests with her inimitable style and over £2000 was raised.

February 2013

Outlook Walk The 10th Annual Chai Committee Outlook Walk raised £21,300 which went towards providing equipment for the Music Therapy Room.

January 2013

Young Chai’s Valentine’s Night Young Chai Halloween Young Chai and Nana Events joined forces for the biggest Halloween party of 2012. Over 400 people came to support the launch of Young Chai and raised £7000.

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Beauty Brunch 30 North West London girls were treated to a beauty-themed brunch, organised by Talia Briski, Shel Goldwyn, Shara Hikmet and Emily Jacobs, raising £900.

180 people attended Young Chai’s event in London’s West End Gem Bar and raised over £1500.

Chai Five Friday Night Dinner The Beit Hamadras Restaurant in Hendon was filled to capacity and the event brought in £600.

TOGETHER 2013

February 2013 continued

March 2013

June 2013

A Night in the Museum Tom Conti ‘A Sprinkle of Stardust on a Wednesday Morning’ Chai treated our much valued volunteers to a breakfast with Tom Conti, in our garden room, where he entertained them with amusing anecdotes from his acting career.

Chai Society’s Gift Sale Chai Society’s fabulous gift sale, at our Hendon Centre, was a sellout with over 700 people pouring through the door.

Fragments of a Lost Childhood Sixty people attended a lecture at Chai by Lady Zahava Kohn and her daughter, Hephzibah Rudofsky, which gave an account of their family’s survival of the Holocaust.

An eclectic and tantalising range of stalls filled the building, selling everything from jewellery, clothing, and scented goods to gorgeous homeware. All the hard work from the wonderful committee paid off with £17,000 raised.

100 young professionals gathered at the Jewish Museum in Camden for an art themed event, exhibiting an exciting display of work by local artists. Specially concocted art themed cocktails were a hit, with the night raising £1700.

Cinema Night Alison Klarfeld and Nikki Epstein hosted a showing of The Great Gatsby at the Pheonix Cinema in Finchley. Selling over 220 seats, they raised over £5000.

April 2013

Chai Five Quiz Night The Outlook Bridge Lunch The energy of our Outlook Committee never stops! The well attended event raised £2000.

Cancer Survivorship in the 21st Century Lecture Dr Richard Berman, of Christie Hospital, captured the attention of a 100-strong audience at Bowden Synagogue in South Manchester. He outlined improvements in cancer care over the past 150 years, and living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

A big thank you to our wonderful Chai Society Committee: Debra Zender, Julia Abrahams, Deborah Shaw, Natalie Hoffnat, Paulette Sachon, Renee Green, Sandra Levine, Susannah Silver and Amanda Huberman for their dedication, enthusiasm and talents. Their months of meticulous planning and attention to detail ensured that the event was outstanding in every way.

The 80s and 90s Quiz Night at Chai tested peoples’ recall of TV, sports, world news and music, evoking lots of memories from childhood days. £900 was raised.

Save the Date Next year’s Gift Sale is on Thursday 3 April 2014.

July 2013

Dance For Life Dance for Life have been loyal supporters of Chai for over ten years and this year’s danceathon raised £3000.

Developments in Cancer Care Lecture Consultant Clinical Oncologist Dr. David Landau, at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals and The London Oncology Centre, gave a highly informative lecture at Chai where he discussed the latest developments in cancer care.

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CHAI CANCER CARE

Our dedicated supporters have done us proud in the last 12 months with a host of sponsored activities We have been overwhelmed by the support Chai has received over the past year with the number of innovative and exciting sponsored activities that have taken place.

From the Virgin London Marathon and Outlook Walk, to the Community Fun Run, a Vintage Car Rally from Beijing to ‘ShangChai’, and our latest extreme challenge – climbing Kilimanjaro.

Supporters have cut their hair, cycled, lost weight for us and even taken part in a sponsored bumper car challenge!

These sponsored activities have brought in amounts ranging from £10 to a phenomenal £330,000, with every penny enabling Chai to continue to provide our specialised services throughout the UK. is our dedicated fundraising platform that lets supporters set up their own fundraising pages, load photos, messages and details about their activities. As we own this bespoke site, there are no additional fees and all the money raised goes directly towards providing our vital services.

Full of Heart for Chai

A Cut Above

When Mira Potter-Schwartz and her family went back to live in the USA, they did not forget Chai. Mira decided to nominate Chai as her sponsored charity in lieu of her Bat Mitzvah gifts.

The family had lived in London for a short period of time during which they used our specialised support services. Inspired, Mira organised a plethora of events, including holding a bake sale and playing the violin in retirement homes. Most ambitious of all, she organised a 70-mile bike ride from Temple Israel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Temple Israel in Boston Massachusetts. All of these events resulted in Mira raising more than £2000.

Ten-year old Zara Finestone, a pupil at Hertsmere Jewish Primary School, was so touched hearing about the support that Chai provides that she decided to cut 13 inches off her hair.

She contacted all her family and friends to sponsor her. The response was absolutely fantastic and over 180 people donated from the length and breadth of the UK and far flung places across the world, raising just over £3260.

Chai would like to acknowledge some of our wonderful supporters who challenged themselves with various activities this year, and set up a sponsorship page in order to raise money for Chai: David Amroon Joel Anderson Lynne Attias Sarah Berman David Busse Aaron Churney

Steven Collins Benjamin Conway Anthony Cowan Justine Deacon Zara Finestone Jayne Franklin Sarah Fraser Danny Fresco Danielle Friedman David Gaunt Adam Gillard Regan Gishen Natalie Gladstone Joel Goschalk Steven Henry SweetTree Homecare Services Andrew Lamb

Zara and her parents came to Hendon to see Chai ‘in action’.

“It’s an amazing charity and that’s why I chose to support it.”

Tammie Landau Johnny Lawton Bradley Lazarus Sivanne Lewis Osnat Maas Donna Millan Neil Morgenstern Aaron Morris Ben Myers Jamie Myers Roni Nahum Sam Ollman-Hirt Sue Palmers Mira Potter-Schwartz Rebecca Pullum Michele Robinson Rafi Saltman Faye Serlin

Donna Millan Kilimanjaro

Sam Ollman Tough Mudder

David Stern London to Paris Cycle Ride

SweetTree Cycle Ride

George Rosenfeld, Asher Levy, Noam Bernstein, Jamie Rubenstein - Four Sons CD

Anthony Cowan, Johnny Lawton, Rafi Saltman Virgin London Marathon 2013

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Ariel Shapiro Sandra Shmueli Graham Silas Mia and Kieren Sorkin David Stern Josh Tapper Eddie Vohs Mark Wolfson Deborah Woolfson Community Fun Runners Forest Friends Four Sons Knit 1 Knosh 1 Perfect Light Lodge 10K Outlook Walkers

Steven Collins Beijing to ShangChai Rally

TOGETHER 2013

DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT CHAI

LEAVE A LEGACY

An important way you can contribute to Chai is to include a Legacy in your Will.

Jewish Legacy Giving guides you through the simple process of ensuring your legacy is enshrined in your wishes.

T

he generosity of the community makes it possible for us to provide our specialised services and to continue to meet the relentless demand. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your deeply valued support.

Our sincere appreciation goes to our Benefactors, Patrons, Friends and supporters of our annual dinner, who show such loyal interest year after year.

To our Committees – Bridge Lunch, Club 18 Golf, Chai Five, Chai Flyers, Chai Society, Golf Fore Chai, Outlook, Spa Day and Young Chai – your dedication to ensuring the success of the wonderful events you create, means new faces soon become regular supporters, no mean feat in this difficult economic climate.

A special mention must go to the courageous troupe of women who climbed Kilimanjaro on behalf of Chai and took the challenge of raising funds literally to new heights!

Your personal commitment and the financial support it generated for Chai is truly awesome. We are also deeply grateful to the many marathon runners, cyclists, skydivers and golfers whose endeavours fund so much of our activity.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone.

The Fundraising Team

Should you choose to let us know about your intention, we would be honoured to recognise your generosity during your lifetime.

Contact Lisa Steele lisas@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8457 3392

CELEBRATE WITH A GIFT

Are you planning an anniversary or significant birthday celebration, or a family simcha?

Our Occasions Commemorative Giving campaign lets you and your guests make a donation to Chai in lieu of gifts, giving an extra dimension to your celebration.

Contact Sariet Pretz sariet@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8457 2071

Contact Jo Milehi jo@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8457 3394

COME TO DINNER

The major fundraising event of our year is our Annual Dinner, which is our largest source of income.

As one guest put it, “cancer is a serious subject but the Chai Dinner is always uplifting and inspiring”. Find out more about taking a table or buying tickets.

Contact Rachael Martin rachael@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8457 2077

CALL US

We can take donations over the phone.

Call Sariet Pretz on 020 8457 2071 or Janet Lloyd on 020 8457 2072 Editor: Deborah Wald Design: Creative & Commercial

JOIN A COMMITTEE; HOLD AN EVENT

Every year our enthusiastic supporters host a wide variety of fundraising and awareness-building events, designed for all ages and interests.

If you’re inspired to hold an event to raise funds for Chai, our experienced fundraising team can advise you on all aspects to ensure its success.

Contact Jo Milehi jo@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8457 3394

GO ONLINE

You can donate to Chai online, and support a specific project, and support us when you shop online, too!

- Donate through our main website: chaicancercare.org Larger donations can be paid by standing order - Shop using the Chai Give4Sure app.

Simply download it from our website. When you shop online, a donation is automatically made to Chai, at no extra cost to you

DO SOMETHING SLIGHTLY CRAZY!

We are so grateful to everyone who takes on a personal challenge to fundraise for Chai. Get in touch to find out how to take part in a sponsored activity.

There are 1800 partner retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, The White Company and Ocado.

Forchai.org is our dedicated fundraising site, where you can sponsor someone raising money for Chai and see all the latest fundraising news. Best of all, every penny donated through this page gets to us.

POST IT

Send cheques or charity vouchers to the address below. Gift Aid declaration and Standing Order forms can be downloaded from our website.

Chai Cancer Care 142- 146 Great North Way London NW4 1EH

FOLLOW US: @ChaiCancerCare facebook.com/ChaiCancerCare

Chai Cancer Care will not pass on any of your details to a third party (in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998) © Chai Cancer Care 2013 | Registered charity no. 1078956

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How does Chai care?

CHAI CANCER CARE

Advisory Services Advocacy, Advice and Information Financial and Legal Guidance Jewish Perspectives on Cancer Medical Connections Nutritional and Dietary Advice Resources and Information Counselling Counselling for Individuals, Couples and Families Counselling for Genetic Issues Relationship Counselling Telephone Counselling

Therapies Manual Lymphatic Drainage Physiotherapy

Thanks to the generosity of the community, Chai Cancer Care provides specialised support to thousands of people across the UK who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis.

To find out more please call our Freephone Helpline on 0808 808 4567 or visit www.chaicancercare.org

Children, Teenage and Family Service Art Therapy Child and Play Therapy Music Therapy Teenage Service

Medical Outpatient Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Service Complementary Therapies Acupuncture Aromatherapy Eastern Facial Massage Foot Care Healing Hot Stones Indian Head Massage Manicures Post Prostate Surgery Advice Reflexology Reiki Therapeutic Massage Home Support Service Group Activities Art Workshop Ceramic Studio Computer Lessons Gentle Movement Jewellery Workshop Laughter Therapy Meditation Music Workshop Open/Supervised Gym Sessions Pilates Reading for Pleasure Wednesday Afternoons Yoga Support Groups BRCA Group Bereavement Groups Breast Buddies Groups for Cancer Patients/Carers Volunteer Services

Services are available at: North West London South London Essex Hackney Southend Leeds Liverpool South Manchester North Manchester Glasgow Clients’ Homes Editor: Deborah Wald Design: Creative & Commercial