2021/22 issue 16
AND THE WINNER IS… CHAI Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Mastermind success
13,984 HEROES
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
How YOU reached out to support our BIG Campaign
Remarkable testimonies from clients and therapists
LESSON PLAN Why Chai is on the timetable in schools Effective ways to deal with treatment side-effects
Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
CONTE NT S
A Welcome Message Since the world paused what we considered to be ‘normal life’, every one of us has experienced time in a different way, depending on our circumstances. For cancer patients and their concerned families waiting for postponed surgery and treatment to begin or continue, time seemed endless as the country focused on Covid-19. Our Chief Executive Lisa Steele writes about the ramifications of those delays that she and her client service managers are now seeing unfold. It’s why, as the voice of supportive cancer care for the community, Chai took the decision to write an open letter to our community, to raise the importance of putting the ‘forgotten C’ back on the agenda. Many of us depended on structure to get us through this unnerving period and clients have told us how their regular, virtual appointments were as much essential as they were a highlight. Despite Chai’s centres being closed for a year, throughout the magazine you’ll see how our clients continued to connect online for group activities and support; received individual counselling, therapies and advice; and how children accessed our Chai in Schools service. Across the organisaton, every member of our team – including our invaluable Trustees, Medical Advisory Panel and Advisory Board – went above and beyond in their dedication. When we cautiously started to re-introduce face-toface appointments, there was palpable excitement and joy felt by all, most especially our clients.
Cover star, actor Tracy-Ann Oberman’s four minutes on Celebrity Mastermind certainly made an instant impact: broadcasting our name on national television and donating half her winnings to Chai. If you’re eager for a challenge of your own, Alex Maurice, founder of Chai Challenges You will definitely inspire. There’s also frontline cancer expertise in articles from esteemed members of our Medical Advisory Panel and advice from the heart by TV GP, Dr Philippa Kaye who tells us about her own cancer experience. Last November we discovered that 36 hours goes by in a flash, when our Big Campaign fundraising event took off at lightning speed. None of us at Chai quite believed our eyes, as donations poured in from across the globe, to ensure our services were secure for the year and for the thousands of clients we support. In a year of such uncertainty, we feel blessed and humbled by your astonishing generosity, which confirms the special place that Chai has in the heart of so many people. Looking forward we are ever more conscious of the role and responsibility we have, in return. I hope you find much to lift the spirits in this issue, as we are constantly lifted by your continued support.
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A mandate to lead Covid is still present but CEO Lisa Steele says the need to focus on cancer awareness is more urgent than ever L essons from a GP with cancer Used to diagnosing patients, TV doctor Philippa Kaye’s cancer journey gave her a new perspective Chai there! How the virtual world is connecting our clients
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S ide-effects and how to manage them Dr Jane Neerkin’s practical advice for common reactions to cancer treatment are is always on C our curriculum The vital service helping pupils, parents and teachers manage the impact of a cancer diagnosis
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Louise Hager Chairman
In the news Sharing on social: the latest research and discoveries Service spotlight: Nutrition Q&A on the foods to support you throughout treatment
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ecoding ovarian cancer D The genetic, surgical and drug advances improving outcomes. By Professor Gordon Jayson T he Pied Piper of Chai Nothing will stop fundraising dynamo Alex Maurice from reaching her £1m target T he BIG Campaign Re-live the thrills of Chai’s most successful fundraising event – EVER! P.E.P talk Clients and their therapists open up about Chai’s physical, emotional and practical support
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The need-to-know on liver cancer Dr Daniel Krell explains why numbers are rising and how you can protect yourself T his’ll melt your heart A passion for chocolate and Chai – recipes and chat with Michael Leventhal S ervice spotlight: Reiki and healing The lowdown on these beneficial therapies You’ve put us on a Chai! Every event, small or large, played a crucial fundraising role this year ays to give W Ready to donate? Here’s how...
2021/22 issue 16
CHAI CANCER CARE Requests the pleasure of your company online for President The Rt. Hon. Lord Young of Graffham CH DL Founder Presidents Susan Shipman Frances Winegarten z’l Chairman Louise Hager Chief Executive Lisa Steele
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Trustees Louise Hager Jonathan Hodes Lady Kalms MBE Richard Segal Susan Shipman Dr Adrian Tookman Philip Weinstein Lord Young CH DL Honorary Patrons Maureen Lipman CBE Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Medical Patrons Prof Michael Baum Prof Michael Brada Dr Rachel Craig Dr Niki Davies Prof Michael Douek Prof Andrew Eder Prof Rosalind Eeles Dr Ian Ellis Mr Daren Francis Miss Joanna Franks Prof Anthony Goldstone CBE Prof Daniel Hochhauser
Prof Gordon Jayson Mr Amir Kaisary Dr Daniel Krell Dr Jonathan Krell Dr David Landau Prof Jonathan Ledermann Dr Jane Neerkin Prof Gordon Rustin Prof Karol Sikora Prof Albert Singer Dr Jonathan Sive Dr Adrian Tookman Dr Laura Tookman
Advisory Board Brian Brick Jo Coleman Alan Fell Jonathan Freedman Michael Glass Diane Kenwood Alexandra Maurice Robert Prevezer Marc Samuels Dr Adrian Tookman
The 2021 Natalie Shipman Memorial Lecture
INDIVIDUALISED CANCER TREATMENT – HYPE OR REALITY? Keynote Speaker: Professor Daniel Hochhauser Kathleen Ferrier Professor of Medical Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute and Consultant Medical Oncologist, UCLH Trust
Date: Monday 11 October 2021 Lecture begins: 8pm There will be a Q&A session after the lecture
Please email jamieherz@chaicancercare.org to register your interest. The lecture is free
AND THE WINNER IS… CHAI Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Mastermind success
13,984 HEROES
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
How YOU reached out to support our BIG Campaign
Remarkable testimonies from clients and therapists
LESSON PLAN Why Chai is on the timetable in schools Effective ways to deal with treatment side-effects
emmes
F O U N D AT I O N
Cover photograph courtesy of Hindsight/Hat Trick Productions. This edition of together is generously sponsored by The Emmes Foundation Editor: Deborah Wald Design: Creative & Commercial © Chai Cancer Care 2021
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Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
‘Since the pandemic started, there have been 17,000 appointments for adult counselling and specialised children’s support’ Dilemmas everywhere NHS took extraordinary steps to try and adapt cancer Thetreatment around the unprecedented circumstances forced
upon it by the pandemic: establishing cancer hubs, switching patients to tablet-form treatment instead of hospital-based infusions, prioritising surgeries. Still, the impact on those affected has been immense, whether in regards to diagnosis or treatment. Fears surrounding going to hospital, combined with limited access to GPs and no face-to-face appointments have had inevitable consequences. Macmillan estimates that across the UK there are currently around 50,000 ‘missing diagnoses’, compared with pre-pandemic times.
Covid-19 has dominated the world for the past 18 months to the exclusion of almost all else. Chai’s CEO Lisa Steele explains why, as the voice of cancer support in the community, the organisation had to speak up
The evidence is clear at Chai as we see clients coming to us with later diagnoses, which require more radical treatment, and mean potentially complex outcomes for the patient and sadly, too, for their loved ones. Covid-19 has added a layer of trauma to those affected by cancer; they are navigating a different system of care. Through the period of the pandemic, we’ve seen the pressure on certain of our services grow significantly. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 17,000 appointments for adult counselling and specialised children’s support – a rise of 30% – as other face-to-face and touch therapies have been off limits. For every patient, there may be five or six family members who also need our services. One person, diagnosed in his 30s, has brought four generations to us. So we know all too well, cancer didn’t disappear last year; it just became less visible.
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In response to the pandemic, Chai followed the guidance and transformed the way it delivered its services, literally overnight, proving its flexibility to cope in a crisis situation. Initial consultations with new clients have always taken place within 24 to 48 hours. By using phone and Zoom, our Client Service Managers (CSMs) could act even more swiftly to begin support. Group activities went online too, and for the first time drew together clients from across the land (and abroad), connecting
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and supporting people, and helping to dispel the isolation many were experiencing. Our team provided yoga, mindfulness and Pilates, exercise and support group sessions as well as individual art, play and music therapy, physiotherapy and counselling. At the crucial end-of-life stage, and with medical approval, we were able to provide counselling sessions and certain home support services when it was appropriate. That it was such a seamless transition is down to the professionalism and dedication of everyone involved. You can read throughout the magazine how our services helped to sustain the physical and emotional wellbeing of our clients – to know we were still here, when so much had disappeared.
Though some of our usual, comforting touches, such as tea, biscuits and relaxing lounges, have been temporarily curtailed, we hope normal service will be resumed soon. As I write, our faceto-face groups are still on hold. Yet we’ve seen how necessity has inspired innovation at Chai: we’ve optimised how we operate; we now Zoom with our expert panels and trustees; have expanded how we provide services; seen opportunities for webinars that educate the wider public, and witnessed friendship bonds grow
‘On World Cancer Day, Chai spoke out with an urgent Letter to the Community’
• If you notice any physical changes or have any concerns contact your GP as soon as possible • Make sure you continue to attend scheduled screening appointments and tests • Be self-aware and don’t ignore any symptoms
An appeal to all
was against this backdrop that on World Cancer Day on ItFebruary 4 of this year, Chai spoke out with an urgent and direct ollowing the guidance’ is a phrase we’ve all become used to this past year and a half. We all understood the importance of halting the spread of Covid-19, though few of us could have imagined quite how extreme – and long-lasting – the restrictions would be.
CSMs who hear and deal with the confusion, pain and anxiety of people every day. For them, especially, being back together in the same space was hugely emotional. I can’t overstate the importance of the support we give each other. In lockdown, our weekly catch-ups became daily and this is set to continue.
Letter to the Community. The aim was to put cancer back on the radar and raise awareness: to not ignore symptoms nor skip regular screenings. We urgently wanted to reassure people that hospitals were now set up to deal with cancer. Written by Dr Adrian Tookman, chair of our Medical Advisory Panel, and with the endorsement of his fellow panel members, the letter went to the Jewish press and was publicised on social media. The message was welcomed by GPs who are eager for patients to come forward and has been echoed across the medical world to the general public.
On April 19, Chai finally opened its doors to welcome clients back in person. We felt the power of this moment: it threw into relief how much we all missed ‘in real life’ contact. Being geographically more distant made relationships more intense, especially for our
between clients who have connected on group Zoom sessions. The outpouring of support from across the community during our 36-hour Big C campaign was astonishing and raised £3.1m, more than doubling its target. Our committees have organised events when restrictions allowed. Fundraisers continued theirs, too, both solo and bubbled – often sports- and food-related. We’re eager for our volunteers to fully re-start their activities, too, as we know how much they have missed being able to contribute. We always say we wish there was no need for Chai. But our co-founders Frances Winegarten z’l and Susan Shipman felt compelled to speak to, and advocate on behalf of people affected by cancer, to encourage them to come forward to take advantage of Chai’s unrivalled services. Today, in these extraordinary times, this message could not be more relevant. 5
Chai Cancer Care
Lessons from a GP with cancer As a doctor, journalist and TV presenter Philippa Kaye never expected to be writing about her own cancer diagnosis two years ago at 39. Did being a medic help?
Together Magazine 2021/22
Being a GP helped… up to a point
There was little time to be me any more
No one expects to write an article entitled ‘lessons I learned about having cancer’. As a GP, I think about illness far more than the average person. Every time a patient walks through my door I’m watching for signs and symptoms, which could indicate the need for an urgent referral. And when a diagnosis is made, GPs are perhaps the best placed people on your medical team to see how you’re doing: we know you and your family, what you do and so much more about your life.
Everyone has a different response to their diagnosis, which is all encompassing. It comes not only for your body but for all the roles you play in your life: for me, this was mother, wife, doctor, journalist, author, daughter, sister, friend and more. It inveigles its way into every conversation. Yet often there is no time to process the diagnosis before treatment starts. I had major surgery within a week, and once on the rollercoaster of treatment, the carriages move very quickly! Yet it took months for me to understand that just as my body required treatment, so too did my mind.
‘As I saw my own cancer on the screen I felt myself I had to find my way to support descend into doctor mode, A few weeks after I returned home from hospital after my first major surgery, I returned to the focusing on a treatment Chai website. I was determined to do everything my power to recover and to lessen my risk of plan and what came next inrecurrence in the future. This meant asking for learning about exercise for recovery and instead of processing what help, how to reduce fatigue during chemotherapy. And was happening to me’ ‘Every choice Chai gave And yet… I still didn’t truly understand the impact of a cancer diagnosis until I received one me was empowering, myself. I was 39, working as a doctor and in the giving me back a feeling media, with a husband, three young children and a busy, happy life. Being diagnosed with stage-2 of control over my body’ bowel cancer took my medical team and me by surprise. I didn’t have classic symptoms. As I saw my own cancer on the screen I felt myself descend into doctor mode, focusing on a treatment plan and what came next instead of processing what was happening to me.
I denied what was happening
Some aspects of being a doctor were a protection: I understand medical terminology, that my medical team speaks my language comforts me. But I couldn’t turn my doctor’s head off. We’re taught to think ahead, to confront worst-case scenarios, discuss risks and benefits. All this battled with my needs as a cancer patient, which was to focus on the present. It was giving up control – and my surgeons told me off for answering questions about my observations in hospital when they were asking the nurses and not me!
The day I was diagnosed, so many people told me to contact Chai. The next day I opened my laptop, went to the website, started reading – then slammed the lid tight shut and went and did something else. I did not want to be a cancer patient, I did not want to identify as that person, I was not ready. It’s still something I struggle with.
Doctors like to do something that helps: a prescription, a sick note, a chat. As a patient I often understood that not everything could be made better and that what I needed was support. Now, to be able to sit with my patients in their pain, to say I see how hard it is for them, has made me a different, and I hope better, doctor.
it meant therapy to help treat the psychological trauma that is cancer. Slowly I came to understand that although I may not have wanted to be there as a cancer patient, I would benefit from it. Every choice Chai gave me was empowering, giving me back a feeling of control over my body.
Watch out for some powerful emotions The feelings associated with cancer are BIG, raising questions you may have never considered before, about your mortality and the choices you have – from reminding my husband to book the dentist to writing letters to my family just in case I didn’t come back home. I learned feelings are often contradictory. I could be terrified and determined, angry and sad and everything in between. There were the feelings of others to consider. I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who love me and who would do anything to help. But often I was unable to identify what I needed and I felt the weight of their helplessness, too. They hurt when you hurt, and while it’s supportive, it can also lead to feelings of guilt that you have brought cancer into their lives.
Dealing with uncertainty Cancer patients, in fact all patients, say uncertainty is one of the worst aspects of being unwell, constantly waiting for the next scan, the next strategy, to see if something has worked. During and after treatment, I felt I was standing under the sword of Damocles. It’s an intense psychological burden and every procedure can trigger the feelings of that first encounter with the word cancer. ‘Scanxiety’ is very real and in the weeks before a scan or blood test I become more anxious, not sleeping well, still dealing with uncertainty and being afraid to hope.
What medicine cannot provide, Chai often can Chai knows answers to questions I didn’t know I’d need to ask. Where to go to buy a hairpiece (my hair didn’t all fall out but it thinned) or have my eyebrows tattooed? When I had side effects from treatment, Chai provided tips learned from other patients, such as which shoes were supportive yet soft when I developed foot symptoms from chemotherapy. Massage helped get me out of my head and into my body, bringing invaluable peace. Chai looked at me as an entire person, in all my roles and suggested help for every single one of them. True holistic care is for the mind and the body, for the whole person in all that they are. That is what Chai gave, and still gives me: helping me rebuild my body in the gym after surgery and perhaps the most important treatment of all, psychotherapy. To be able to talk, to rant, rage and cry in a safe non-judgemental environment has been utterly invaluable and I am incredibly grateful.
Learning to be cancer-free In February 2021 I had my first set of scans, scopes and blood tests, which came back negative, cancer free. Now I have to learn to no longer wait from scan to scan, but to look forward and plan ahead. Many patients describe the first few years of cancer treatment like falling off a cliff, that you go from seeing your medical team often multiple times per week to every few months which feels lonely and frightening. Chai is still here, still helping me recover and heal, physically and emotionally. I only wish that all the patients I see had the same opportunities.
Doctors Get Cancer Too: A Doctor’s Diary of Life and Recovery From Cancer by Dr Philippa Kaye is published by Vie, £8.99 6
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Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
Chai there!
An unexpected positive outcome of lockdowns and restrictions is how clients have connected regularly through our online groups, gaining strength, getting fit and sharing laughter Phil, Carers Support ‘My Chai carers’ support group has been a game changer. Looking after a partner with cancer is challenging in ways I never imagined. Being able to talk to others going through the same experiences has helped beyond measure. Brilliantly moderated with a light, deft, professional but warm touch by the counsellor, the sessions are exceptional, like all the Chai support we have benefitted from.’
Tania*, BRCA Support ‘Being diagnosed with the BRCA gene mutation throws up plenty of questions and issues. While it’s possible to get medical information from clinicians, sometimes it’s good to talk to people going through similar issues. I’ve received support, and other times I hope I’ve been able to provide it. We compare notes about different clinical issues and also discuss psychological matters, the impact of the condition on our families, and how it affects our children. The group facilitator plays an important role, joining the dots and checking we are all coping as we deal with difficult issues.’
Gillian*, Older bereavement ‘I joined the Chai Bereavement group with some trepidation, as most people in the group already knew each other. I needn’t have been concerned; everyone was very welcoming and we had similar experiences, having lost our life partners. The group has supported each of us with our loss, enabling us to think about how we go forward in a way different to the one we envisaged. Our meetings have all been online but separate from Chai we decided to meet in the flesh when we could – and here we are! We’re so grateful to Chai for being there at the most difficult time in our lives.’
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Leila, The Wednesday Afternoon Social ‘Thank you for all the work you put in to produce these varied and interesting Wednesday Afternoon Socials online. The recent Back to the 60’s musical tribute was truly wonderful. Like many others that day, I finished up with tears in my eyes but they were tears of good memories and happy times.’
Sandra, Yoga class ‘I’d like to share my appreciation of the wonderful health-giving benefits of Chai’s yoga classes. The instructor Jan, embodies the peacefulness of yoga and with her guidance, the whole group has progressed from beginners to Yogis. The wonderful hour we spend with Jan takes us away from worry and anxiety, to peacefulness and strength.’
Paul, Older bereavement ‘When I lost my dear wife, Vivianne, just before the first lockdown, I knew Chai was there to support me individually, but I had no idea a bereavement support group existed. I don’t know what my expectations were – especially on Zoom – but what I gained was a very supportive group of friends, whom I trust. We share our problems, we talk openly about our feelings and about the future without the partners we loved so much. There’s another side to the coin: a shiny side that brings us companionship, happiness and laughter.’
Robert, Men’s Open Gym ‘I always used Chai’s gym, having one-to-ones with the trainer, Johnny. When my health improved I enrolled in small group sessions. COVID sent us onto Zoom and at first I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I received a very comprehensive exercise routine, which was always demonstrated by trainer Natasha. Online it was just as fulfilling as in person. In every context, Chai’s gym experience is super. It caters for every level so all clients have the opportunity to exercise, which is so important for one’s health. Before a session, I can feel a bit down but afterwards I’m always invigorated and refreshed.’
Chezy, Adina and Shmuli Scherer, Chai-ly Active kids’ fitness ‘What incredible sessions, we have had a fantastic time doing things like boxing, star jumps, squats and press-ups! We appreciate how you gave us each individual attention. It was great to have this during lockdown and to continue it once school opened up, too. A huge thank-you from us all!’
Ilana, Music Group ‘Music is like a pair of lungs, it helps you breathe. The music group clears my mind, enriches me and makes me feel elated. With Phil’s knowledgeable support, we create and write lyrics, sing and compose music and reminisce musically. It is both therapeutic, creative and educational.’
Aviva, Mindfulness ‘Being diagnosed with cancer in the middle of a pandemic has had its own challenges and having the support of Chai has been a lifeline. Insomnia is one of the worst side effects of chemotherapy and I have found the mindfulness really relaxing, not only during the class but, more importantly, I have learned breathing exercises I can do in the middle of the long, wakeful nights which are a much better option than sleeping tablets!’
Linda*, Pilates Staying fit during chemotherapy is really important for recovery and being able to do Pilates during lockdown has been so helpful. The classes are excellent, work all the muscle groups, can be adapted to all levels and are fun. After working for 35 years with hardly a day off sick, I thought ‘it’ would never happen to me. It was hard to accept but I am so grateful to Chai – it has made coping so much easier.’
Chaviva Scherer, Zoom art workshop ‘I was missing my usual art class at the Manchester centre so much. Joining the virtual art group has been a huge help and a great alternative.’
Groups are currently online and when in-person meetings are possible, we plan to offer both options where feasible. *Names have been changed.
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Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
Side-effects and how to manage them Whatever your cancer diagnosis and treatment, some reactions are inevitable. Palliative specialist Dr Jane Neerkin suggests ways to deal with the most common symptoms
Nausea and Vomiting
Altered Bowel Habit
Dry Mouth and Sticky Saliva
Many people find the nausea caused by treatment is much harder to cope with than the pain of the cancer itself. Chemotherapy affects the lining of your gut, sending signals to the vomiting centre in the brain. Drugs, too, can directly affect the vomiting centre. While all patients are given anti-sickness drugs when they undergo chemotherapy, some may need additional medication so do discuss this with your oncologist.
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy can all affect your normal bowel habit either causing diarrhoea or constipation. Both of these symptoms if not properly managed can cause serious problems as well as being distressing.
Medication and radiotherapy can cause severe dry mouth and sticky saliva, which can make eating very difficult.
What you can do
See the palliative care team associated with your treatment centre. Chai’s own Cancer Support Clinic specialises in managing symptoms such as sickness and can recommend both conventional and complementary therapies to help (see right). Avoid certain smells to fend off the triggers of your nausea. Try masking them with an alternative scent such as lavender. Good nutrition during treatment is really important and you may find plainer food and adjusting portion size and timing of meals are simple steps to take. (Chai’s nutritionist provides more solutions on page 15).
When you are diagnosed with cancer, your days are taken up with appointments, scans, follow-ups, surgery, schedules for treatment… However, there’s often little time to think about how the treatment will make you feel. Side-effects differ in their levels of severity but there are steps you can take to relieve them. This not only helps you tolerate your treatment better, but also improve outcomes
What you can do
For diarrhoea, ensure you’re drinking plenty of fluids, around 2-3 litres a day. Taking Immodium (loperamide) will slow down the bowels and stop the diarrhoea. If you are going to the toilet more than six times a day, speak to your hospital to rule out infection or other possible causes. For constipation, increasing fibre in your diet is usually not enough to manage this drug-induced side effect and it can be worse if you are on strong painkillers as well as chemotherapy. Medication is usually required and works by either making the stool softer or by helping it to move through your gut more quickly. Depending on your needs, you will be prescribed the type of laxative that works best for you.
Acupuncture can be helpful, but do check with your specialist as it’s not always recommended whilst you are actively having chemotherapy. Finger pressure and acupressure from sea bands (soft wristlets with a small disc that applies a gentle, constant pressure) are another option and are fine at any stage.
What you can do
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, as do inhalations over steaming water. You can get artificial saliva products such as sprays, toothpastes and mouthwashes including Biotene, Oralieve and Glandosane. Drink more at meal times. You may need to take in additional fluids to help moisten food. If your mouth is dry you can become susceptible to oral thrush. This condition is harmless and easily treated but can be uncomfortable. If you notice a white coating in your mouth, contact your GP.
Services at Chai Many of Chai’s services can help reduce the intensity of side-effects: from gym sessions to mindfulness, reflexology to massage, and nutrition to healing. The Cancer Support Clinic specialises specifically in dealing with uncontrolled symptoms arising from cancer and its treatment, unmanageable pain and adapting to physical changes.
Ginger is known to help nausea and vomiting and there have been some trials specifically in chemotherapy-induced nausea that show ginger extract (in tea or capsule form) can significantly reduce the feeling of sickness.
Fatigue This is by far the most common symptom yet the least well addressed by health care professionals, largely because there is no sure-fire panacea that will sort it out. Be aware that you’ll feel fatigued not just during treatment but for a period afterwards. A rule of thumb is that it will last as long as your treatment: so nine months of treatment means nine months of fatigue and in some cases it is more. Many drugs have been tested but currently there have been few positive results.
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What you can do
Hypnotherapy in medical trials has proven helpful in alleviating fatigue and aiding better sleep. The therapy, which uses verbal instructions and visualisations, is one of several at Chai that can help – find the right one for you.
Exercise is the single most beneficial thing to do. In particular aerobic exercise (brisk walking, swimming, cycling or running) has been shown to have a greater effect of lessening fatigue than a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises.
Ginseng in capsule form (available from health food shops) can help patients undergoing chemotherapy although unfortunately, it has less impact in patients with advanced cancer.
Conserve energy throughout your day so you have enough for things that you want or need to do. Understanding the benefits of exercise, diet, relaxation and good sleep routines is your first step.
Dr Jane Neerkin is a consultant physician in Palliative Medicine at University College London Hospitals. A member of Chai’s Medical Advisory Panel, her specialism is early palliative care for young patients with cancer and she won a National Cancer Care Initiative of the Year award in 2019. She is also Training Programme Director for specialty registrars in palliative medicine in London.
Dr Jane Neerkin
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Care is always on our curriculum
Chai Cancer Care
School may have been out for much of the past year and a half, but Chai remained as constant as ever, supporting children affected by a cancer diagnosis Of all the groups touched by the pandemic, the long-term consequences of lockdown, social distancing and isolation on children, are the least predictable. So said Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield in a recent report. The charity YoungMinds, which has been charting the effect of lockdowns and school closures, also stated that the situation was more difficult for children dealing with illness [such as cancer in the family], and bereavement.
Covid-ready support However, one thing schoolchildren could rely on throughout the months of upheaval was the support provided by the Chai in Schools programme. When they were open, therapists saw their young clients in school for weekly art, play, music and counselling sessions. But like much of teaching, Chai in Schools also went online. Chief Executive, Lisa Steele explains: ‘It was a priority to make the transition as rapid and seamless as possible and to maintain regular weekly appointments that gave children a structure and focal point to rely on. In the middle of so much chaos, something familiar and safe in their lives was crucial.’ Parent Rachel, describes its importance: ‘It was such a relief and so reassuring for us to know Chai was there. My young son Sam was reluctant to go onto Zoom for school lessons but when it was his weekly Chai session he would bounce into the room, eager and excited to see his therapist. It’s been amazing.’ For older schoolchildren, it was equally vital, as 15-year-old client Anna* explains: ‘I can’t imagine how I would have coped as a teenager dealing with grief and the illness of three family members plus lockdown worries, without my incredible Chai counsellor. In my weekly sessions, through these difficult times, she has helped me hold my life together and I cannot thank her enough.’ 12
Nurturing resilience Set up initially for children impacted by a cancer diagnosis in the family, Chai in Schools is also there for the small number who are themselves, the patients. The programme, which is available to children aged 3 to 17, developed out of the Children, Teenage & Family service with the realisation that school is an ideal setting for giving them this kind of support. A therapist helps the child explore and understand all the feelings they are experiencing. Charlotte*, mum to six-year-old Amelie,* saw the huge impact her own cancer treatment had on her daughter. ‘She became extremely anxious about going to school and leaving me. Weekly play therapy helped her express her feelings, which was invaluable. The therapy continued after my treatment finished, ensuring my daughter didn’t slip backwards.’ Discussions about cancer at home are often whispered in the shadows because of a misconception that children will be upset if they know too
‘In my weekly sessions, through these difficult times, my counsellor has helped me hold my life together’ Anna*, 15
Committed to Chai: pupils from Sinai take part in an awareness campaign
Together Magazine 2021/22
home, school and Chai is a real partnership. They always mobilise quickly with flexible, bespoke support.’ Sinai gives back to Chai with numerous fundraising events, including participating in Mad Hair Day, when children donate money to come to school with funky hairstyles – Chai’s way of helping break the taboo of hair loss associated with cancer treatment. This year children also made personal commitments to raise awareness of Chai’s work for World Cancer Day’s I am, I will, social media campaign.
much. But that approach can end up triggering confusion and anxiety. ‘Every family dynamic is unique and not every child (or family) wants therapy,’ says Lisa, ‘but a skilled counsellor can pick up on and address conscious and unconscious troubling emotions.’
Teacher training There is a further purpose to Chai in Schools, which is to give teachers strategies, training and insights in how to nurture the child directly affected by the cancer diagnosis, as well as classmates and the wider school community. Recognising behavioural signs such as being withdrawn, angry or tearful is fundamental. In 2016 Juliette Lipshaw, headteacher at Sinai Primary School, contacted Lisa Steele when the parent of a pupil was diagnosed. ‘I wanted my leadership team to learn how to comfort children in this scenario. How do we speak to them? How do we also look after our younger teachers, some of whom may be bewildered and unsure how to handle this.’
‘This triangular approach between home, school and Chai is a real partnership’ Debbie Joseph, Sinai’s head of operations Juliette visited the flagship centre in North West London, which gave her a strong understanding of Chai’s all-round services and Lisa, who is also a counsellor, then visited Sinai to meet with staff. ‘Chai gave us a strong grounding for the part we can play,’ says Juliette, ‘explaining to children when a pupil in their class has had a bereavement and what they’re dealing with; how they need their friends, about consistency, love and care; how school is the place where they’re allowed to carry on as normal. It’s the constant: the building, the teachers, the lessons, the lunches are all the same. And it’s also a safe environment for them to explore their feelings in their therapy session.’ The set-up of in-school therapy means parents don’t have to worry about taking their child anywhere new – a huge relief and practical benefit. Debbie Joseph, Sinai’s Head of Operations adds, ‘This triangular approach between
‘Chai provided a session for the pupil’s class to talk about the bereavement, to share their feelings and fears’ Alice Aharon, headteacher, Fair Field School, Radlett Chai in Schools is active in 23 Jewish and non-Jewish primary and secondary schools including Fair Field Junior School in Radlett. Headteacher Alice Aharon says, ‘I was worried that as a non-Jewish school we wouldn’t be able to access support but thankfully I was inaccurate with that assumption. Chai has been, and continues to be, an irreplaceable support during a very difficult time for one of our Jewish pupils. It provided a session for the pupil’s class to talk about the bereavement. This gave them the opportunity to share their feelings and fears. It was so special. As a headteacher, I have felt so supported by Chai. I was also put in touch with another headteacher who’d had the same experience, which was invaluable.’
For now and the future The rate of cancer in 25- to 49-year-olds has risen by 21% over the past three decades** and Chai now sees many more parents and their school-age children. Covid’s impact on treatment and surgeries and the reluctance of people to attend for regular scans has led to later and more complex diagnoses, which are now surfacing. ‘I expect a growing need for our Chai in Schools service,’ says Lisa Steele. ‘Thankfully it’s understood more than ever before, how important it is to help children through this unsettling time, and to nurture their resilience so they can be emotionally strong for the future.’ *Names have been changed **Cancer Research UK 13
Chai Cancer Care
Nutrition
In the news Beating the Jolie ‘gene’ A drug trial based on research by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has cut women’s risk of breast cancer returning by 42%. The breakthrough for patients carrying BRCA gene mutations showed that three years after being given olaparib following chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, 86% of those treated with the drug were free of invasive breast cancer, compared with 77% given placebo pills.
April 2021
How AI could lead to new cancer treatments
A Cambridge University study using an artificial intelligence tool has enabled scientists to decipher the DNA of each cancer. By identifying patterns of genetic damage, doctors will be able to discern which patients will respond to powerful checkpoint inhibitor drugs that help their immune system attack their cancer.
April 2021
Breast cancer jab cuts treatment time for patients
The NHS is rolling out a treatment across England which cuts treatment time for HER2-positive breast cancer patients from two and a half hours to five minutes. Phesgo combines the drugs pertuzumab with trastuzumab in a single jab – both of which would have previously been given as separate intravenous infusions.
June 2021
Blood test detects 50 types of earlystage cancer
A diagnostic tool being piloted this autumn by NHS England will confirm that a simple blood test can detect more than 50 types of cancer before clinical signs or symptoms of the disease show. The test, which looks for changes in fragments of genetic coding, is aimed at people at higher risk of the disease including patients aged 50 or older.
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March 2021
Tiny swallowable cameras will check for cancer on a fantastic journey
There
are so many conflicting stories about what to eat or what to avoid when you have cancer. Help!
An end to uncomfortable colonoscopies may be in sight. Patients at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London can now be given a camera-in-a-capsule to swallow, which captures two pictures a second of its journey through the bowel over a period of several hours. The Israeli invention addresses the 4th most common cancer in the UK, speeding up diagnosis.
instagram facebook @chaicancercare
Our social media pages help raise awareness 4 February
World cancer day 22 March
Lynch syndrome awareness day
1-30 April
Bowel cancer awareness month 14-21 June
Cervical screening awareness week
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
Your appetite has disappeared and you’re exhausted from treatment. Chai’s nutritionist Lana Pinshaw has advice for what to put on the menu
Keep up to speed with the latest research and discoveries here and on our Instagram and Facebook pages June 2021
Together Magazine 2021/22
1-31 March
Ovarian cancer awareness month
Lisa Steele talks to Vanessa Feltz
28 May
World blood cancer day
Dr Philippa Kaye talks to Holly Willoughby
I don’t recommend restricting any food groups unless it’s medically advised. There’s enough stress attached to dealing with cancer without adding food deprivation and anxiety about new diets to the mix. It’s hard to predict the nutritional deficiencies that will occur during treatment but appetite loss is a possibility. Build your body’s strength to help it cope with surgery and/ or treatments by trying to maintain a balanced diet of protein, healthy carbs and fats; think in terms of colourful ‘rainbow’ foods – tomatoes, blueberries, oranges, spinach, tofu – rich in vitamins and high in antioxidants to protect against cell damage.
Chemo is playing havoc with my taste buds. How can I enjoy eating again? People on chemotherapy often experience a metallic taste when they eat, which makes many foods, and even water, difficult to stomach. To help recover your appetite, experiment with flavours that hit the right ‘notes’ on your tongue. Sweet, sour, salty and spicy additions such as maple syrup, citrus, sea salt, chilli, olive oil and mustard can make flavours and textures palatable again. Eating food either at room temperature or cold also helps while sipping a little wine or soda water to prime the taste buds before eating, and chewing gum or sucking a sugar-free sweet after a meal can work, too.
Seeing Chai’s nutritionist: what to expect
The steroids I’m on give me terrible food cravings, which send my blood sugar rocketing. How can I get control of them? hemo, immunotherapy and radiotherapy can C spike blood sugar levels, and steroids are notorious for triggering cravings for sugary foods. Choose low glycaemic index (low GI) foods to help absorb excess sugars in the body and even out the glucose surges. Good examples include porridge, barley, granary bread, sweet and new potatoes (harvested before the sugars can develop), broccoli, pears and cucumber. Combining these with protein – chicken, fish, cheese or legumes – can be even more effective. Try out snacks that mimic a craving: Ryvita with sugar-free peanut butter and a little maple syrup for a sweet kick; crackers and cheese to replace the salty crunch of crisps.
y treatment makes me so tired. M What can I eat to boost my energy? What you eat is just as important as when you eat. Small, regular meals and snacks may keep your energy levels more constant than your previous three meals a day. Take note of when the fatigue hits. If you’re too exhausted to face food in the evening, eat your bigger meal at lunchtime. A smoothie requires no chewing and is a great way to pack in some iron-rich, energyboosting nutrients. Include kale and spinach and toss in vitamin C-packed strawberries or pumpkin seeds to aid absorption. Yogurt in a fruit smoothie will give a creamy finish. For a quick fix, grab a small handful of mixed nuts and dried fruits. And don’t forget your fluids. Aim for about 2 litres, ideally caffeine-free.
Lana Pinshaw is a consultant dietician specialising in oncology, diabetes, obesity and functional bowel disorders. Clients receive tailored nutritional advice and menu plans in alignment with their treatment, taking into account medical history, medication, height and weight, lifestyle and support network (i.e. whether others are preparing meals for you or you are cooking for yourself). Consultations are available face-to-face or via telephone/Skype.
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Together Magazine 2021/22
Decoding ovarian cancer Around one in 70 women in the UK develop ovarian cancer and the chances are significantly greater for the Ashkenazi female population. Professor Gordon Jayson of The Christie in Manchester explains where the research is heading Every year in the UK, 7,400 women receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which sadly accounts for more than 4,000 lives lost. There are several types of ovarian cancer, of which the most common is high-grade serous ovarian cancer, most usually seen around the age of 60. Typically, ovarian cancer develops in the ovaries and then spreads to the patient’s pelvis and abdomen (tummy). Because the illness spreads along the inside lining of the abdomen, symptoms habitually occur when the disease affects the patient’s bowels causing daily abdominal pain, swelling, discomfort or bloating. It’s worth knowing the difference between ovarian cancer symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In IBS, symptoms come and go whereas in ovarian cancer the symptoms come on in your 50s or 60s and worsen over several weeks. IBS doesn’t start in your 50s, so if you develop symptoms like this, you should visit your GP. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests you should have a blood test to measure your CA125 protein level, which can increase in ovarian cancer. However, CA125 is not diagnostic of ovarian cancer as other non-cancerous conditions including endometriosis and gastroenteritis can also cause an increase in the protein. So, further investigations such as an ultrasound are needed.
Beating the genetic legacy The ovaries contain a woman’s eggs and are connected to the womb by ligaments and by the fallopian tubes. It is still largely unknown why women develop ovarian cancer although pregnancy, the oral contraceptive pill and tubal ligation (having your tubes tied) reduce the chances of it occurring. What we do know is that 1 in 5 women with ovarian cancer develop it because they have an abnormality in one of their BRCA genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2). The incidence of BRCA gene mutations is about 1 in 400 in the general population but rises to 1 in 40 in the Ashkenazi population, and men can carry and pass on the gene mutation, too.
Generally speaking, if one parent has a BRCA gene abnormality, the chances of a child inheriting one of them is approximately 1 in 2. A child inheriting a faulty BRCA gene has a 50% chance of developing a cancer. It’s therefore important to detect the gene and monitor women who are affected. While cancers of the breast or ovary can largely be prevented by surgically removing these tissues, such operations prevent the woman from bearing children. So we encourage them to complete their families by the age of 35 in order that screening or surgery can then follow at around the age of 40. Recent research has shown that some of the most common types of ovarian cancer, including those caused by BRCA gene abnormalities, often arise in the part of the fallopian tube near the ovaries. New trials to prevent ovarian cancer are testing the value of removing the fallopian tubes rather than both ovaries so that fertility can be preserved. It is also possible to prevent passing BRCA gene abnormalities to children by using prenatal genetic diagnosis.
In this technique, eggs and sperm are collected for an IVF procedure, combining them in a test tube. The embryos have their BRCA genes sequenced and those without abnormalities can be implanted and allowed to develop into babies. The drug equation Cancer occurs when several genes in our DNA develop errors. Our cells have many ways to repair and maintain the correct sequence of DNA, which is arranged in a ladder formation. Some of these repair systems work on both sides of the ladder while others just work on one. BRCA is an example of a protein that repairs both arms of the ladder. Into this picture comes PARP, an enzyme that repairs only one side of the ladder. BRCA and PARP are dependent on each other, so if a patient has a BRCA gene abnormality, a tablet that inhibits the PARP enzyme can keep her ovarian cancer under control for much longer. In the last year, these drugs, known as PARP inhibitors, have
PARP inhibitors are making a real difference, keeping ovarian cancer under control for longer been introduced into the first line treatment of ovarian cancer so that after a woman has completed her surgery and chemotherapy, she may benefit from receiving them. In some cases it will be combined with the drug bevacizumab (Avastin). Such maintenance treatments are making a real difference. Progress at The Christie We’ve known for many years that antiblood vessel (called ‘anti-vascular’) drugs can keep ovarian cancer under control when the tumour is sensitive or resistant to chemotherapy. Over the last year, results published suggest that we can use drugs such as bevacizumab
(Avastin) more than once. It’s a significant discovery because reusing PARP inhibitors is less effective. Our next task is to identify which patients will benefit from those drugs. To address this we have discovered a protein in the bloodstream called Tie2. In three different cancers, using two different anti-vascular drugs and measuring Tie2 every three weeks can tell us which patients benefit from antivascular drugs. Tie2 also tells us when the drug has stopped controlling the illness, giving us warning that we need to change treatment. In a trial funded by Cancer Research UK and led by The Christie, we are gathering data to prove that Tie2 should be used in the NHS. We should then be able to use bevacizumab and drugs like it for our patients as often as necessary. This potentially moves ovarian cancer from being a life-ending, to becoming a long-term illness, allowing doctors and patients to keep it under control. And that would be truly transformational.
Professor Gordon Jayson qualified in Medicine from Oxford, completing his general medical and oncology training in Manchester. As Professor of Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester, he specialises in ovarian cancer and antiangiogenic drug development. He has led numerous ovarian cancer trials and served on Cancer Research UK’s New Agents Committee, the Medical Research Council’s Drug and Device Development Committee and the National Clinical Trials Committee.
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Together Magazine 2021/22
The Pied Piper of Chai
‘It’s in harsh environments that Alex feels most "herself": on a challenge with a sense of purpose'
I
t’s hard saying ‘no’ to Alex Maurice, the force of nature behind the dynamic Chai Challenges You initiative. Here, she talks altitude, attitude and her mission to raise £1m
I
t was a sunny day in June 2012. The Chai Spa Day was in full flow in a magnificent home in Hampstead, northwest London. And as guests enjoyed wellbeing workshops and soothing treatments, Alex Maurice found herself talking on automatic pilot. ‘I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Chai, and take lots of people with me,’ she blurted to Louise Hager and Lisa Steele. ‘They said, “Great, that’s amazing. Go for it!”’ A month had passed since Alex’s sister-in-law Amanda had been diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer, and she had been ruminating. ‘I couldn’t sit by, feeling helpless. I had to do something.’ Making that statement, she says, was akin to ‘an out-of-body experience.’
A year later, Alex and 23 intrepid women began their advance on the nearly 6,000-meter summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Reflecting on that first, epic Chai Challenges You fundraising adventure, she says, ‘Every one of us was passionate about being there, but we each had our own reasons:
‘Taking a group of North West London ladies out of their comfort zone – who wouldn’t give money for that?’ some had received support from Chai or who knew people who had while some didn’t know about Chai but were attracted to a group challenge.’ Kili, as it became known, raised more than
Below: Keeping it in the family: Alex with her inspirational mother Cecilia, husband Andrew and their fundraising children: George, Pearl, Solomon and Sadie
Above: Alex Maurice (left) and her sister-in-law Amanda, who was the catalyst for the £1m fundraising target
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Alex Maurice, the founder of Chai Challenges You, in Tanzania, 2013
£330,000. ‘Taking a group of North West London ladies so far out of their comfort zone, I mean, who wouldn’t give big money for that?’ Alex laughs.
Camaraderie in tough times Alex acknowledges they were relatively underprepared for how emotionally draining the first challenge would be, but her instinct, developed during a career that’s included fundraising, sports PR, sponsorship and property management roles, was spot on. ‘There is absolute synergy between the physical and emotional test of our challenges and the cancer journey.’ Diary entries from fellow Kilimanjaro climbers attest to that. ‘The challenge has bared our souls, stripped us of our defences,’ wrote Debbie Hatchwell. Lisa Steele noted, ‘We were disorientated, vulnerable, alone.’ And from Alex herself: ‘Altitude plays havoc with your emotions and your sleep patterns – some of us haven’t slept for five days.’ Chai was already supporting Amanda when Alex headed off to Tanzania. ‘I was torn leaving her,’ she admits, ‘but Amanda said she drew strength from knowing people cared enough to do something. She was strong, spiritual and outgoing, although we knew the cancer wasn’t going away.’ Amanda, who was married to Alex’s eldest brother Andy, died in 2016 leaving two children aged 13 and ten. That first challenge and the events that surrounded it helped many people talk about cancer for the first time. Now, the hallmarks of Chai Challenges You
are the ‘campfire’ conversations and camaraderie, which bond and bolster the group. ‘Reading survivor testimonies as we acclimatised at high altitude or forming a human shield of warmth for someone who was painfully cold – these are profound moments, and only people who are there, understand. It’s the same for people who are affected by cancer.’ It’s in these harsh environments, Alex says, that she feels most ‘herself’: on a challenge, with a sense of purpose and a goal to drive her on.
Left: ‘Taking on a physical challenge is a sign of solidarity with cancer patients,’ says Alex. Here on the Iceland trek in 2015’
Right: Peak performance! at 5,681m, the first Chai Challenges You group poses at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
A legacy of commitment Those notions of action and community seem hard-wired into Alex’s family. Her father George was born in Tipton in the Midlands and grew up in a two-up, two-down in Dudley. George’s father, Alex (Abraham) Colman was the chazzan of Dudley Synagogue and a 1915 entry in the Jewish Chronicle mentions his fundraising efforts for Belgian Jewish refugees. It was a small, tight-knit enclave of Jews in which kinship counted for a lot. George played county cricket and encouraged Alex’s sporting ambitions, which included playing Junior tennis for Middlesex County. Alex’s mother Cecilia had a more unusual background. Her Belarusian great grandparents fled the pogroms of Tsarist Russia in the 1880s, part of an exodus to Argentina made possible by the German Jewish philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch who bought farmland in the provinces surrounding Buenos Aires. By 1912, 13,000 Jews had made their way there. They settled in Carlos Casares, 300 km west of the capital, and ran two general stores and owned apple orchards. Cecilia’s grandparents became farmers while her parents moved to Buenos Aires. Cecilia often visited her grandparents in the countryside. ‘In the summer, Mum would ride horses bareback across the pampas! She always impressed upon us [Alex and brothers, Andrew and Jonny] how fortunate we were growing up in comfortable Hampstead. Keeping Jewish traditions in rural Argentina was rather more difficult.’
Cecilia was working in London as a naval attaché at the Argentinian Embassy in 1961 when she met George. Since 1977 she has run the Cecilia Colman Gallery in St John’s Wood, a beacon of original and distinctive glass and ceramic design. Now in her mid-80s, she is still active in the business. ‘Mum is a born adventurer. She trekked the Annapurna mountains in Nepal in her mid-50s and always says, in her fulsome South American accent, “If you stop, you are finished!”
stands at £585k, taking in Kilimanjaro, the 60-mile Landmannalaugar trek in Iceland (2015); 24 peaks in 24 hours in the Lake District (2017) and the Snowdonia Triple Challenge (2019). Her top tips from all that experience are to cover your feet in blister plasters and wrap them in micropore tape, before even taking a step; and never to underestimate how important it is to be fit enough. ‘If the group gets divided, it’s terrible. You need to stay together and keep moving.’
Alex’s husband, also called Andrew, is fully supportive and proud of his wife’s extraordinary achievements with Chai Challenges You and of her role on the charity’s Advisory Board. Their children, George, Pearl, Sadie and Solomon, all named after beloved family members, and aged 19 down to 11, have fundraised for Chai, too, over the years.
With lockdown disappearing from view, Alex is dusting off her climbing boots once again. Next up, in September 2022, Chai Challenges You to trek the Moroccan Atlas Mountains with a pre-dawn ascent of its highest peak, Mount Toubkal. She’s targeting mothers and daughters and the timing is ideal: early September, just after the summer holidays and before universities return. How can you possibly resist?
At her first meeting with Chai, Alex set a target of raising £1 million. The tally
Ready for some Chai temperatures? For its next adventure (11-15 September 2022), Chai Challenges You is heading for Morocco. Flying into Marrakech, you’ll drive to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and trek through villages and across dramatic, beautiful terrain towards the base of Mount Toubkal before ascending North Africa’s highest peak at over 4,000 meters.
For details, contact Dani on 0208 457 3394 or email danielleb@chaicancercare.org. 19
Chai Cancer Care
BIG AMPAIGN
THE
C
It was 36 hours of pure rollercoaster, edge-ofthe-seat excitement. On 22–23 November 2020, Chai’s Big Campaign broke records, touched hearts and drew whoops of joy, relief and gratitude as donations hit £3.1m
How The BIG Campaign unfolded on social media 20
At its peak there were
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DONATIONS A MINUTE
Together Magazine 2021/22
C
hai’s most successful fundraising campaign in its history left Chairman Louise Hager searching for words to describe its unparalleled success. ‘It has truly felt like one BIG virtual hug and we are deeply humbled to witness everyone coming together, from all over the world, to recognise Chai’s impact across the community,’ she said at the time. A different fundraising concept Covid-19 meant no annual dinner, nor many of the events which are the major source of Chai’s income. It was a brave step and one that, last year, was still unfamiliar to many British charities and their supporters: a virtual, 36-hour campaign crowd-funded by donors and generously matched by some of Chai’s most loyal supporters. ‘It’s true partnership in action, which heightens the feel-good factor for everyone,’ said Louise. Matched funders equal the donations from other supporters, providing a massive incentive to all, to see their money go further. But who could have guessed the response would be so phenomenal? Days before, across social media, the countdown began. Chai shared films and posts of clients’ moving stories illustrating how it responds when there is a cancer diagnosis, supporting families, friends, schools and organisations across the spectrum of the community. There were also messages from Louise Hager, Lisa Steele, Trustees and the Medical
Advisory Panel, each highlighting a different aspect and impact of Chai’s essential work. Every element helped raise awareness and has prompted a noticeable increase in the number of people contacting Chai. Fundraising team captains – there were 359 of them – shared the content along with their own messages, many recounting their personal experiences of Chai’s support. They galvanised friends, family and contacts to donate – the smallest was just £2.50, from a child who gave his tzedakah money. Using Instagram, Facebook, email and the trusty telephone to rally support, few could have anticipated the thrills, tension and wideeyed delight of the next two days as money poured in at a lightning speed. Let’s raise the bar ever higher The campaign target was increased four times, from £1.5m to £2m, onwards to £2.5m, then £2.8m and finally £3m. It was Chai’s own Super Sunday and Monday and as the clock ticked towards 10pm on the final day, there was a concerted push to break the £3m barrier. At 9.57pm a donation of £5,000 took Chai past the magic number – and a further £27,000 came in before the final klaxon sounded. Broadcasting live on social media from Chai’s Hendon HQ, Louise and Lisa raised a heartfelt ‘L’chaim’ to the £3,127m donated and to everyone’s fantastic commitment.
82%
OVER £3M RAISED IN 36 HOURS
1,100
tuned-in for the last half-hour as Chai broke the £3m barrier
of donations were £100 or less The smallest donation was £2.50
4
Number of times the target was raised 21
BIG AMPAIGN
Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
C
hai’s most successful fundraising campaign in its history left Chairman Louise Hager searching for words to describe its unparalleled success. ‘It has truly felt like one BIG virtual hug and we are deeply humbled to witness everyone coming together, from all over the world, to recognise Chai’s impact across the community,’ she said at the time.
Advisory Panel, each highlighting a different How Chai stepped in during a crisisaspect
and impact of Chai’s essential work. Every element helped raise awareness prompted a noticeable Five-year-old Joshy Hirshler and has his mum Deborah, increase the number people contacting Chai. featured in ainpowerful film of about Joshy’s diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumour at the start of lockdown team captains – there were 359 ofhis them andFundraising the three months they spent isolated during – shared the content along with their own messages, treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Weeks of many recounting theiranaesthetic personal experiences of Chai’s daily radiotherapy under were followed support. They galvanised friends, family and contacts to A different fundraising concept by chemotherapy, while at home dad, Gilon was donate – the smallest was just £2.50, from aRebecca child who working full-time and nine-year-old daughter, Covid-19 meant no annual dinner, nor many of the gave his tzedakah money. Using Instagram, Facebook, could only see her mum every few days at the hospital events which are the major source of Chai’s income. email and the trusty telephone to rally support, few Lockdown support: when Joshy Hirshler (pictured with mum entrance, for five minutes. It was a brave step and one that, last year, was still could have anticipated the thrills, tension and wideDeborah) was diagnosed with cancer, the family turned to Chai unfamiliar to many British charities and their supporters: ‘Weeyed of the next said two Deborah, days as money weredelight really struggling,’ ‘whenpoured Chai in a virtual, 36-hour campaign crowd-funded by donors at a lightning speed. stepped in with counselling for my husband and me; and generously matched by some of Chai’s most Rebecca had both art therapy and counselling, and Let’s raise the ever higher loyal supporters. ‘It’s true partnership in action, which Joshy was able tobar have music therapy online. Chai has heightens the feel-good factor for everyone,’ said been an amazing, reassuring presence and we couldn’t Raised in first hour: The campaign target was increased four times, from Louise. Matched funders equal the donations from have got this far without them.’ Joshy is now steadily £1.5m to £2m, onwards to £2.5m, then £2.8m and finally other supporters, providing a massive incentive to all, improving – and the family is looking forward to better £3m. It was Chai’s own Super Sunday and Monday to see their money go further. But who could have Raised in 4 hours: times ahead. The Hirshlers raised a phenomenal and as the clock ticked towards 10pm on the final guessed the response would be so phenomenal? £40,000 in 36 hours. day, there was a concerted push to break the £3m barrier. At 9.57pm a donation of £5,000 took Chai past Days before, across social media, the countdown the magic number – and a further £27,000 came in began. Chai shared films Seven short films explained the and posts of clients’ moving many facetsillustrating of Chai’s support before the final klaxon sounded. Broadcasting live on stories how it responds when there is a Support social media from Chai’s Hendon HQ, Louise and Lisa cancer diagnosis, supporting families, friends, came in from raised a heartfelt ‘L’chaim’ to the £3,127m donated and to schools and organisations across the spectrum of the UK, USA, Israel,commitment. everyone’s fantastic the community. There were also messages from Canada, Europe, The Nevies/Finn team raised £79,271 from Louise Hager, Lisa Steele, Trustees and the Medical headed up an impressive 136 donors! South Africa, fundraising pages Australia and Long-time supporter Naomi Nevies said, ‘As a Hong Kong community we are so incredibly lucky to have a dedicated cancer support service. We formed a team of four couples (siblings and spouses) as well as all our kids, which meant we had a team of 38 of donations were family members committed to raising as much as £100 or less OVER £3M we could. We always knew about Chai’s high level The smallest donation of expertise and care in the abstract, but we recently RAISED IN was £2.50 understood how wonderful this organisation is on people visited 36 HOURS a more personal level. This inspired us to reach out Chai’s fundraising to everyone we knew in an effort to achieve our page in 36 hours target. We are incredibly grateful to all those who responded so enthusiastically.’
£310,000 £1.5m
359 team
captains
82%
50,000+
#TheBigCampaign
1,100
tuned-in for the last half-hour as Chai broke the Client, Louise, £3m barrier
Since March 2020 many events, challenges, celebrations have been cancelled, Chai’s income has dropped more than 40%
4
Number of timesChai Cs – The BIG spoke in a film about thethe target Campaign has given was raised new meaning to the support her children (pictured) received
22
from the Chai in Schools programme
phrase ‘the big C’
Covid-19 saw a severe drop in donations. Raising £3.1m sounds a lot… but it covers just one year’s running costs
THE
C
Louise and Lisa check the numbers!
An out-of-the-blue tribute
On day one of The Big Campaign Louise Hager took an unexpected call from Nicky Stewart, daughter of Corinne and Alan Slavin z’l. Nicky was keen to use this opportunity to remember her parents in a meaningful way and to recognise Chai’s important work. Together with her brother Phillip, they became matched funders, giving the campaign a significant boost.
Why we cannot rest
The majority of Chai’s services continued through the pandemic, delivered by telephone, Zoom and Skype. This included all counselling services – appointments went up by 30% – the Chai in Schools service, the Medical Clinic, group support, exercise classes and art workshops. ‘The enormity of coronavirus on cancer patients and their loved ones is undeniable,’ said Lisa Steele. ‘The success of our campaign means that for the thousands of clients who turn to us, they now have peace of mind knowing we will continue to be there for them. We don’t charge for our services so many clients were delighted that, for the first time, they were able to be so actively involved in our fundraising campaign. The amount raised is fantastic but Lisa points out, ‘This covers a bit less than one year’s running costs. There are still far fewer fundraising events and celebrations happening, which means ongoing financial pressure for Chai, at a time when services are in demand more than ever.’
It was 36 hours of pure rollercoaster, edge-ofthe-seat excitement. On 22–23 November 2020, Chai’s Big Campaign broke £3.127m records, touched Youngest donor: hearts and drew whoops of joy, relief and raised... 4 years old the most in a gratitude as donations hit £3.1m Oldest Secure for one year but CEO Lisa Steele says demand for Chai services is growing
Our billboard at the apex of the A1 and A406 – one of North West London’s busiest junctions – took our campaign on the road to reach as many people as possible single donations were made – the most ever on the Charity Extra fundraising platform
13,984
Over 7,900
Number of new donors who knew little or nothing about Chai How The BIG Campaign
unfolded on social media
community-matched funding campaign at the time
E THE DATE! SAV
donor:
105 One
BIG Community for Chai
One BIG Community for Chai is this year’s campaign and runs from 26-29 November. The weekend will see a programme of exciting community initiatives across the country, culminating in a matched-funding campaign on the 28-29 November towards Chai’s At its £3.5m annual running costs. peak there To find out more and get involved, were email carolinetunkel@chaicancercare.org DONATIONS 26th – 29th November 2021
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P.E.P TALK
PRACTICAL. EMOTIONAL. PHYSICAL. CHAI’S SERVICES GIVE SUPPORT FROM EVERY ANGLE, AS WE HEAR FROM CLIENTS AND THERAPISTS In 2019, Richard Freeman was treated for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Then last summer it developed into acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and he underwent a bone marrow transplant in November. Richard is married to Alissa and has a two-year-old son, Jacob.
I got back in touch with Chai (where I’d previously had physio until lockdown) that weekend. ‘I don’t really know what I want or what I need,’ I said. Counselling with Daniel star ted shor tly af ter. He helped me to star t dealing with what was happening, and the impact on my family and me. I could only worr y about the here and now, during the initial treatment, not the bigger picture and what might happen. That ’s generally my way. In counselling, I can say whatever I want without worr ying about it coming out wrong. As a patient you spend a lot of time reassuring others that you are OK . Talking that through let me understand I didn’t want to be perceived as a patient, as a person with cancer. I wanted normality, as much as was possible. One solution was to star t a blog so I didn’t have ever yone asking, ‘How are you? ’ all the time. It removed a layer of worr y. I asked people to send me jokes instead.
‘COUNSELLING HAS ALLOWED ME TO SEE MY RESILIENCE AND ABILITY TO COPE WITH PRETTY DRAMATIC STUFF’ I was on my own in hospital when they told me the news and it was brutal . It was late June and I’d been feverish for several days, having tested negative for Covid. A biopsy revealed I’d had what ’s called a ‘blast crisis’ and this new condition – acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – though treatable, ultimately meant I needed 24
a bone marrow transplant . I don’t remember much of what happened right af ter that . I rang my wife, Alissa, and my parents to tell them the news, and later that day was transferred from Barnet Hospital to UCLH to star t treatment . The medical team was ver y reassuring but I knew I needed ex tra suppor t .
It took a while for me to open up in counselling – not so unusual for men. I have a gallows sense of humour and Daniel gets that. I like that he’s been on the journey with me from the star t. When we talk about things, he links between then and now. Counselling has also allowed me to see my resilience and ability to cope with pretty dramatic stuf f. I’m getting through it. There are still anxious moments, waiting for results, which may go in a direction I don’t want. It ’s a lot to throw at a young family and it ’s still early days af ter the treatment. The counselling continues to be an essential suppor t for me.’
Daniel Glass, counsellor There are dif ferences between having counselling at Chai and in a broader set ting. At Chai, the person is there specifically because of cancer and it ’s one of many ser vices available to clients. In a wider contex t, the issues can be more dif fuse and it ’s usually when someone has hit a crisis point in their life. This means of ten, but not always, the client has greater and more specific focus: How am I going to cope? How will my par tner cope? How do I tell the children? How do I deal bet ter with what ’s going on? The contex t that frames all of the counselling at Chai is that we can’t change the physical situation. So sometimes what I’m doing is helping clients come to terms with new realities. For others, it ’s just having the space to talk about things that are hard to express in the other par ts of their lives. So I hear the anger, sadness, anxiety, fear, judgement, guilt. I see a lot of male clients, and though I wouldn’t generalise – each client is an individual – men tend to stick to the point, where it ’s safer, rather than go to more sensitive areas. Women find it easier to talk but of ten self-edit, so you get the ‘presentable’ version. Par t of the way I work is to reflect back things a client has said which add up to a theme, or show a contradiction. Checking back like this helps a person clarif y what ’s going on for them. Ver y of ten it ’s the first time they recognise and ar ticulate what they ’re feeling and that is ver y empowering. I also reflect back the braver y, the consideration and all the other positives they have shown.
Gina Maynard had a double lumpectomy for breast cancer diagnosed in 2013. She has manual lymphatic drainage at Chai.
Going to Chai has honestly changed my life. At times over the past seven years, it ’s been a hard slog. Surger y lef t me with swelling mainly in my lef t arm. Early on, it ached constantly and I didn’t know where to put it to get relief. It was dif ficult to sleep and the heaviness stopped me doing even simple household chores. I can tell immediately when I’ve overdone it . I was selfconscious about how it looked and now wear a compression sleeve.
My two surgeries resulted in the removal of some lymph nodes in my right armpit and all of them in the lef t . The consultant warned me about the likelihood of lymphoedema and recommended I star t manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) immediately af ter surger y.
Regular MLD gave me hope the lymphoedema could be managed and gradually I am doing more things. Af ter my for tnightly appointment, my arm feels lighter and I am more relaxed. Now, seven years on, I’m baking again! Jane’s weekly MLD exercise classes on Zoom were heaven. She is so aware of what each of us needs. I don’t like giving in to anything – MLD gives me independence and control.
Jane Hick son, manual lymphatic drainage practitioner
confidence and patients have to wear a compression sleeve to ease the pain.
The lymph nodes (in the neck, thorax and groin mainly) act like central cleansing stations, filtering waste from the blood system into the lymphatic system to leave the body through the liver, kidneys etc. If the nodes are removed in surger y, that process is compromised causing a fluid build-up, called a lymphoedema. It pushes on and stretches tissues, and ner ves and blood vessels become compressed making the limb swollen, heavy and painful. It causes patients dif ficulty with ever yday activities: dressing, cooking, sleeping and even swallowing. Women are more prone to the condition, which can emerge decades af ter surger y, and is of ten visible. This can have a profound impact on
‘WOMEN ARE MORE PRONE TO THE CONDITION. IT CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON CONFIDENCE’ MLD recreates the peristalsis cleansing action using gentle, repetitive movements with the fingers. Star ting at the neck, above the site of the lymphoedema, I draw the excess fluids to the nearest lymph nodes so they can do their work . Having MLD as soon as possible af ter surger y reduces the impact of a lymphoedema, sof tens the areas around scar tissue and assists the immune system’s function. If carefully under taken, exercise can lessen the swelling, too. A session lasts 30 to 45 minutes and as much as the physical work, I think empathy with my clients contributes to a successful treatment. 25
Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
was dying. Zippora reflected back to me how I was spinning between the practicalities of his chemo and doctors’ appointments on top of so many emotions. I felt guilt y, too, about being immersed in Dad’s life, to the detriment of my own family ’s.
Louise Robey is an organisational change manager at the BBC . She began bereavement counselling in 2018 when her father Harvey was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Dad made his money twice – and lost it twice. He had an incredible life (living it to the full!) but never remarried af ter his divorce 50 -odd years ago. He went to live in France, then Poland, so I hadn’t seen much of him af ter the age of 21. Almost four years ago, he was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer. Out in Poland, with lit tle medical suppor t, it fell to me to get him back . Overnight I became his carer, keeper and project manager – f inding him a home, get ting him into the medical system and suppor ting him fully. I felt all at sea, and I was working full time. A friend said, ‘Talk to Chai.’
Mum about it, my husband was taking care of his own mum and I didn’t want to burden my daughter. Having counselling before Dad died, was crucial for me. At first, the process intimidated me. There were silences, which I didn’t understand. But I became more comfor table with them and began to talk , about suddenly having a relationship with a man who lef t when I was three. I didn’t think I’d bring childhood issues back into the room; I thought I’d dealt with all that . I was surprised at how angr y I was with Dad… yet he
‘I’M A PLANNER AND I COULDN’T PLAN FOR THIS’ Par t of the problem was that Dad was in complete denial while being totally reliant on me. He’d always been a drinker and continued during his treatment . He’d call me and I’d go round and pick up the pieces… again and again. I couldn’t talk to
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AS A CHILD, LOUISE MODELLED FOR HER FATHER’S WORK IN RETAIL
I’m a planner and I couldn’t plan for this. Chai became my safet y net, where I could rage and cr y and be honest in a way I couldn’t be to my family. I could just be. Having counselling was phenomenal and without it I would have been lost . It saved me. There were other ser vices, too, including reflexolog y and working through the health and housing systems on Dad’s behalf that were invaluable. When you’re in crisis it ’s hard to think practically. Chai was there. The counselling lasted for three years, until af ter Dad died last September. The power ful, trusting relationship I have with Zippora prepared me for that day and helped me acknowledge all that I’ve been through. I will never underestimate how luck y I am to have had Chai’s suppor t . Zippora Gelpert, bereavement counsellor When people come to me, they’re of ten completely overwhelmed: in shock, numb, angr y, sad. I see clients for bereavement counselling from any point af ter a diagnosis – because it can star t from that ver y moment. Over the months, the grief becomes more contained, which is not to say it finishes. Someone said to me, ‘There is no expir y date on grief ’ and that ’s so true. There is no textbook . Grief can also manifest itself physically. The client guides what we talk about. What I of fer is compassion, suppor t and a confidential place for them to bring whatever is on their mind. Of ten
bereavement counselling brings out complex and historic family dynamics, with dif ficult emotions. I help a client make sense of what is going on, get more insight and eventually feel a shif t towards an inner peace. Someone facing and going through bereavement can only process so much; even coming to counselling is a big step. They may feel ner vous and I stress that I do not judge; that it ’s normal to be angr y, to feel relief – and not feel guilty – that the person has died, and that it ’s fine to laugh again.
Losses during COVID lef t many people feeling traumatised: unable to be with loved ones in hospital and with no proper funerals and shivas. It put grieving on hold and I’m now seeing people struggling because of that. It ’s so impor tant to validate this. It ’s helpful for clients to know bereavement counselling has an end point. They, too, may have a milestone in mind, the stone-setting for example. As the relationship between the client and me evolves, they become empowered and encouraged to realise the strengths they have within.
Since 2006 Esther Debourcieu has had eight surgeries for dif ferent cancers. Among other services, Chai helped her navigate council bureaucracy.
Af ter eight operations to remove tumours, and frequent scans, you could call me a regular at the Royal Free Hospital . Surger y on my bladder has reduced it considerably – it is ver y petite. Leaving the house for more than half an hour can be a nightmare and wherever I go, my first priorit y is to know where the loos are. In the past two years, I also had breast cancer and, af ter surger y, developed a deep vein thrombosis. I was rushed back in to hospital where they had to cut away par t of my thigh. It was horrendous, day-to-day living was so hard. My mobilit y suf fered, I had dif ficult y walking (I was using stick s) and breathing , and I felt a great deal more vulnerable. I lost so
much of my freedom, I can’t describe it . I was dependent on my husband Phillippe to take me ever y where. So you can imagine when Chai told me that I might fit the criteria for a Blue Badge, I couldn’t wait to apply. My hear t sank when I saw what was involved, but Louise was ver y patient and we completed the forms. Then… boom… lockdown! Unfor tunately that caused delays but Louise got on the case. In two week s, my badge arrived. She was my magic wand! I cannot tell you how impor tant it is for me because of my practical limitations. It ’s given me my freedom again. Life is for living and Chai helps me do that!
Louise Cr ystal, benef its adviser I help clients identif y what benefits they may be entitled to and take them through the application process for grants such as personal independence payments (PIP), at tendance allowance (the equivalent for over- 65s) or a Blue Badge. Having chemotherapy or recovering from surger y are intensely stressful so it ’s a huge challenge to fill in these forms on your own. The one for personal independence payment is 4 4 pages long! But knowing there’s a benefit that you can’t access causes a lot of anxiet y.
‘I SPEAK TO MORTGAGE, CREDIT CARD AND UTILITIES COMPANIES TO GET BILLS PUT ON HOLD’ One of the big gest fears surrounding a cancer diagnosis is how a person will cope financially if they can’t work . I speak to mor tgage, credit card and utilities companies to get bills put on hold for a few months and 99% of the time they are receptive and act quickly. Taking care of all that allows a client to concentrate on their health. The ser vice can dramatically improve a person’s qualit y of life. If a client stops using the shower because they ’re unsteady, the PIP benefit gives them £149 a week to spend on a seat or grab rails for the shower. Someone with neuropathy (ner ve damage) can buy special pans, plates and cutler y. They can pay for a taxi to hospital instead of taking public transpor t . Clients want to put on a brave face but I need to hear the ver y worst so I can make a strong case for them. It can be tough for them to discuss their fragilities so I always sug gest they plan something nice to do af ter wards. 27
Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
The need-to-know about liver cancer It’s set to become the third most common cancer in the next decade. Dr Daniel Krell explains who’s at risk, the lifestyle changes that can protect us and where treatments are headed One of the most significant global health challenges may surprise you: it’s liver cancer. We’re more used to other types of cancer featuring in the headlines. Though the numbers of people with Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are highest in Africa and East Asia, it’s increasingly common in the UK and Europe and since the early 2000s, is the fastest increasing cause of cancer-related death in the USA.
Where risk lies The likelihood of developing liver cancer is, to a degree, predictable: over 90% of HCC occurs where there is already chronic liver disease and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Those with the Hepatitis B and C viruses (caught from infected sexual partners and drug use involving shared needles) are most at risk.
‘A condition called “fatty liver” is often associated with obesity and diabetes’ The link between chronic alcohol consumption and liver disease, which can lead to HCC, is well known. There’s less awareness however of a condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or ‘fatty liver’, which affects approximately 5% of the UK population. It occurs when fat builds up, causing inflammation damage to the liver and is often associated
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with obesity and diabetes. Smoking is also a risk for HCC, seen in about 7% of cases. There are also a small number of inherited genetic conditions: haemochromatosis, which affects iron levels, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which causes lung and liver problems, and primary biliary cholangitis in which the bile ducts are damaged.
An elusive cancer Frustratingly, the early signs and symptoms of primary liver cancer are not obvious and it’s quite possible to be diagnosed with HCC with no symptoms. When they do appear, they may include unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite; upper abdominal pain and/or swelling; a jaundiced look to the eyes and skin; or a person may have symptoms associated with metastatic disease such as bone pain or breathlessness. Patients with known risk factors for HCC are screened regularly with a liver ultrasound and checked for tumour markers in the blood – both important for preventing the development of HCC. Diagnosis has traditionally been made using CT or MRI scans in conjunction with elevated blood-marker levels. Now there is a growing focus on gene characterisation of the tumour, to better understand the DNA of the cancer and so taking a biopsy of a suspicious lesion is becoming common practice.
Supporting liver health: lifestyle choices can go a long way to reducing the risk of developing liver cancer
With Cancer Research UK reporting that 49% of liver cancer cases are preventable, it is within our
‘49% of liver cancer cases are preventable. It’s within our grasp to reduce many of the risks’ grasp to reduce many of the risks through lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, not abusing alcohol, undertaking regular, moderate physical activity, and managing behavioural risks which lead to viral hepatitis. (There is a vaccine to protect healthy people from contracting hepatitis B but no vaccine against hepatitis C.) That said, there is increasing evidence that certain medications can control infection and reduce the inflammation and damage these viruses cause in the liver.
More treatment options The prospects for managing liver cancer have improved significantly over the past 10 years and through careful patient selection, outcomes and survival rates are rising. Treatment strategy depends upon the extent of disease, underlying liver function and the patient’s fitness. The mainstay of curative approaches is liver resection and transplantation while surgery
and systemic drugs provide other options. Ablative therapy, in which cancerous tissue is removed, can be performed in combination with radiofrequency waves (radiofrequency ablation (RFA)), where a high-frequency current targets and destroys small tumours. This is best suited to patients with early-stage HCC who are not candidates for surgery and also to bridge patients to potential transplantation in the future.
‘Small particles are injected into the blood vessels to block and starve the cancer of oxygen’ Every treatment aims to remove the cancer, causing as little damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and as few side effects as possible. A number of techniques now make this viable. In trans-arterial embolization,
small particles or beads are injected into the blood vessels going to the cancer, to block and starve it of the oxygen it needs to reproduce. Chemoembolization delivers chemotherapy drugs contained in tiny particles to a specific treatment site. Similar techniques can also target directly and selectively, liver tumours with radiotherapy. Drug therapies play an important role in the treatment of 50–60% of patients with HCC and are mainly used when the cancer is more advanced. The past five years have seen substantial progress in the use of immune check-point inhibitors, which stimulate the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells and monoclonal antibodies, which block the pathways that cancer cells need to grow and spread. The recently approved combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, has more than doubled life expectancy and immunotherapy drug treatments are proving effective in 15–20% of
patients. This generation of drugs is providing us with better first treatment options and studies of these therapies report a marked increase in overall survival and in quality of life for patients with more advanced HCC.
The healthy take-out Like many health issues in the west, lifestyle is a major culprit and the figures on rates of liver cancer are sobering. We may not eliminate 49% of preventable cases of HCC but empowering people through health awareness and advances in treatments, gives us more tools to meet the challenge.
October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month
Dr Daniel Krell is a Consultant Oncologist whose clinical work focuses on the management of patients with gastro-oesophageal, colorectal, pancreatic, liver and biliary tract cancers. He is a member of the multidisciplinary team for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancer at the Royal Free Trust and oncology clinical lead for patients with neuroendocrine cancers. Dr Krell’s doctorate investigated the role that genetic mutations play in the development of cancer. He continues to be involved in research and trials aimed at identifying new cancer therapies for gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and neuroendocrine malignancies.
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Chai Cancer Care
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Tahini Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt
MAKES: 600ml / 20fl oz ice cream PREP TIME: 25 minutes, plus chilling, churning and freezing COOK TIME: 1 hour 5 minutes – 1 hour 25 minutes
MAKES: PREP TIME: COOK TIME:
INGREDIENTS
To decorate: dark chocolate shavings, small fresh mint sprigs 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Wrap the beetroots individually in foil and place them on a baking sheet. Roast for 40–60 minutes or until they are fork-tender. 2. Remove from the oven. When cool enough to handle, peel the beetroots (the skin should peel off easily under cold running water). Quarter them, then place in a blender with 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth. To remove any remaining solids, pass the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with four layers of wet muslin (cheesecloth). Set aside. 3. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining milk, the cream and mint (if using) and heat over a low heat. Using the bottom of a clean jar or glass, muddle the mint into the milk-cream mixture to release its flavours. Cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, in a small, heatproof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until light in colour and just combined, then set aside. If using mint, remove the leaves from the milk-cream mixture with a slotted spoon. 5. Slowly pour a couple of tablespoons of the hot milk-cream mixture into the sugar-egg mixture, whisking continuously, then pour the sugar-egg mixture back into the pan of hot milk-cream mixture to make a custard. Increase the heat to medium-low and stir continuously until it thickens and turns a pale yellow, about 10 minutes. Do not let the custard boil. The custard is ready when it coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, pour into a medium, heatproof bowl and leave it to cool slightly. 6. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a separate heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water underneath. Remove from the heat and stir the melted chocolate into the custard, then stir in the beetroot liquid. 7. Place the chocolate-beetroot ice cream base into an airtight container or your ice-cream maker’s canister, cover with a lid or clingfilm and refrigerate until chilled, at least a couple of hours or overnight. 8. Once chilled, churn the ice cream base in your ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Store the finished ice cream in the freezer (it’s best eaten within a month of freezing); transfer it to the fridge 15–20 minutes before serving to soften it a bit. Taken from The Gefiltefest Manifesto, Liz Alpern & Jeffrey Yoskowitz
TIPS: If you don’t have an ice-cream maker, you can use the ‘freeze and stir’ method. Pour the chilled ice cream base into a shallow bowl, dish or container, cover and place it in the freezer. Every 30–45 minutes, remove the container from the freezer and stir vigorously for a minute or two, then re-cover and place back in the freezer. Repeat this process over a 4-hour period. Serve the ice-cream right away or cover and store in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy it.
about 16 cookies 25 minutes, plus 10 minutes chilling 15 minutes
TIPS: If you don’t have an electric stand mixer, make the cookies by hand with a wooden spoon. Store at room temperature for up to four days, and in the freezer for up to two months. Non-stick baking paper will prevent the cookies from sticking to each other.
– 250g / 9oz whole raw beetroots (about 3 medium), scrubbed – 120ml / 4fl oz plus 2 tbsp whole milk – 120ml / 4fl oz double cream – 4–5 fresh mint sprigs, leaves picked (optional) – 2 large egg yolks – 50g / 1¾oz caster or granulated sugar – 55g / 2oz dark chocolate, broken into pieces
INGREDIENTS
– 115g / 4oz unsalted butter, softened – 120ml / 4fl oz raw (organic) tahini – 1 tbsp white miso paste – 200g / 7oz granulated or light soft brown sugar – 2 large eggs – 1 tsp vanilla extract – 130g / 4½oz plain flour – ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda – ½ tsp baking powder – 1 x 100g / 3½oz chocolate bar, chopped into chunks (I use a combination of milk and dark chocolate) – 1 tsp sea salt flakes
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Line two baking sheets with non-stick baking paper. 2. In an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, tahini, miso and sugar. Beat on a high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each until incorporated, then add the vanilla. 3. Add the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder and mix on a low speed until combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks. Transfer the mixture to the fridge and chill for at least 10 minutes to firm it up a little (you can refrigerate for longer, but the cookies may take to cook). 4. Use a small ice-cream scoop or tablespoon to scoop the mixture into mounds on the prepared baking sheets, making sure you place them about 7.5cm/3in apart. Sprinkle the tops with a pinch of sea salt flakes. 5. Bake until the edges are browned and the centres are firm, about 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer cookies to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container. Recipe by Kim Kushner
Gefiltefest Manifesto LLC Photography Lauren Volo
Michael Leventhal’s delicious new chocolate cookery book is packed with irresistible recipes to try, and sweetest of all, it’s in aid of Chai
Dark Chocolate and Roasted Beetroot Ice Cream
Shutterstock
THIS’LL MELT YOUR HEART
Together Magazine 2021/22
truly global in flavour: Sicilian caponata, Mexican chocolate al agua, Australian chocolate and marmalade cake and Tunisian boulou, a hybrid cake/biscuit served after Yom Kippur. Michael’s favourite recipe is tahini chocolate bark. ‘That combination is a fantastic surprise.’ Delving into his little ‘brown’ book, he attracted a dream team of contributors including cookery writers Claudia Roden and Judi Rose, mother and daughter team Jessie and Lennie Ware, and chefs Amir Batito and Sarit Packer, one half of Honey & Co, who contributed a recipe for dark and white chocolate marble cake and did a cookery demonstration at the launch of this year’s Chai Rosh Hashanah Gift Sale.
Earning his brownie points What’s the connection between Churchill and chocolate? The intriguing answer is a far-fetched but true plot by the Germans to assassinate the wartime PM by smuggling booby-trapped bars of the sweet treat into the War Room. The plan was foiled, of course. This, along with many other cocoa-related facts, are to be enjoyed in publisher, author and Gefiltefest founder Michael Leventhal’s new book Babka, Boulou & Blintzes – Jewish Chocolate Recipes from Around the World, which is raising money for Chai. The book draws together the history of Jews and chocolate, taking in 17th-century cocoa broking in Curacao, the link between Einstein and Toblerone and the revelation that Franz Sacher, of sachertorte fame, was NOT Jewish! ‘The story has been repeated so often, it’s now believed, but it’s not true,’ says Michael. The chunkier element of the book is the eclectic recipes, which evoke tradition, explore trends and are
More than 100 testers ensured the recipes were foolproof, though social restrictions meant Michael didn’t get to eat many finished articles. ‘One weekend, a tester left a batch of brownies at my front door. That was lovely.’ He describes himself as a ‘scientific’ recipe follower. ‘I do everything right and the taste is… okay. My wife Rachel, who is of Egyptian heritage, will amble into the kitchen, throw something together, there will be food on the floor, on the ceiling, and the results will be delicious.’ This is the latest foodie fundraising idea from Michael. His mother Elizabeth has been supported by Chai over recent years since her cancer diagnosis and Michael has had counselling. ‘It was extraordinarily helpful. My mother’s diagnosis came soon after my youngest son was born. It was a very pressured time and my first time in counselling. It’s wonderful that Chai supports families in so many different ways, not just the patient.’
Babka, Boulou & Blintzes – Jewish Chocolate Recipes from Around the World, compiled by Michael Leventhal (Green Bean Books), £25 (plus P&P), available from Chai Cancer Care, Amazon and Jewish booksellers. All profits go to Chai. 31
Chai Cancer Care
Together Magazine 2021/22
Reiki and healing
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
You’ve put us on a Chai!
Over to our amazing fundraisers who, despite Covid cancellations and delays to many events, found amazingly creative ways to support us
These two therapies, which may be delivered with or without touch, can have profoundly beneficial results
Food and drink for the soul
Reiki: Chai therapist, Ghila Bali
Healing: Chai therapist, Anton Shaw
The ancient Japanese form of healing literally means rei (universal) ki (life energy). Practitioners channel energy through their hands to unblock areas of energy around the body. It’s a concept Ghila, who used to be an economist, found difficulty grasping – it defies rational explanation. Her own healing experience of Reiki led her to switch professions. She now practises it alongside other Western and Eastern healing disciplines.
Anton’s intuitive healing ability has been supporting clients at Chai for more than a decade. A member of The Healing Trust, Britain’s oldest governing body for the therapy, he is keen to stress healing is a supportive therapy, and not an alternative to medical treatment.
‘A person affected by a cancer diagnosis often carries a lot of anger and fear. Reiki aims to balance out that negative energy, leaving clients with feelings of calm, clarity, strength and trust in themselves. Where cancer treatments are done to you, Reiki gives you back a degree of ownership of your wellbeing.
‘WHY HEALING? FOR ME, IT WORKS. IT’S SO RELAXING AND I AM CONVINCED OF ITS BENEFITS. I ALWAYS FEEL STRONGER AND MORE POSITIVE AFTER A TREATMENT’
Michael Fineberg
‘I feel other people’s pain as if it’s my own. That’s not meant to sound glib but, as a person enters the room, I mirror what they are bringing in. It’s a kind of empathy, although not in a counselling sense.
‘GHILA HAS A WONDERFULLY CALM VOICE AND CARING MANNER. HER DISTANCE REIKI SESSIONS ARE A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK AND IF I CANNOT SLEEP, I RECALL HER WORDS TO HELP ME RELAX’ Nicole Craig
‘Core beliefs forged in childhood dictate much of how a person responds to trauma. Healing works on the cellular memory and mind/body connection, to help people release unhelpful beliefs, be true to their feelings, unburden themselves and develop coping mechanisms.
‘To begin, I attune to the healing energy around me and lay my hands on, or hold them just above, the body. I work from the top of the head, feeling for where there are areas of chaos; I don’t follow the chakras or any other set pattern. The client will feel heat coming from my hands as I dissipate the blockages. Once an area is calm, I move to the next. Simultaneously I describe a healing visualisation, which clients can learn and use on their own. Engaging the client like this helps shift negative thoughts, detoxify their energy and activate their own healing processes.
‘Where Reiki uses external energy, I transmit energy from within, moving my hands to areas of the body, which correspond to different emotions or functions, for example: the liver is associated with anger; the throat with communication; the solar plexus with emotions; the knees with movement; the sacroiliac joint with fear. I know it sounds strange, but sometimes I may even talk directly to the cancer. Healing can be difficult to understand but clients are so often surprised at the results.
‘Powerful responses after a treatment are not unusual. Some people cry, get a headache, feel tired… all positive signs that pent up emotions have been released.’
Amelie (left)
and Gabrie
lle
LEMON SQUEEZY! | Friends Olivia Graham and Mackenzie Noakes got the recipe just right for their fresh lemonade stall last October, held at Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School. Their elixir went down a treat, raising £86. A sip of success for Olivia and Mackenzie re Shtisel)! See mo It’s Shlissel (not haicancercare challahs @c
Challah Mummy, Allegra Benitah
‘A session lasts around 45 minutes and I close by bringing the client back to the present. Coming round, they may feel a little woozy, so before they leave, over a drink of water we discuss what happened during treatment. Hopefully they leave feeling lighter in spirit and accepting of their situation.’ Tali’s tzedakah cookalong for Chai
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DELICIOUS DELIVERIES | Amelie Pater and Gabrielle Goldberg raised £157 with their classy cupcake sale, delivering gooey, iced treats in smart baker’s boxes. ‘Chai is such an amazing organisation, I wanted to give back after all the help they have given me and my family,’ said Amelie.
THE KEY TO GOOD CHALLAH | The ‘Shlissel Challah’ event is a tradition at Chai’s flagship centre, when the aroma of freshly cooked challah fills the building, and clients take them home to enjoy. Lockdown sent the session virtual and more than 70 homes in the UK, Europe and Israel joined the workshop led by ‘Challah Mummy’, Allegra Benitah. Baked on the first Shabbat after Pesach, the challahs are braided in the shape of a key, shlissel in Yiddish, and are intended to unlock good fortune and blessings for your household. ‘It was a pleasure to support Chai,’ said Allegra. ‘Shlissel Challah is a very special time when we can really celebrate and elevate our traditional challah.’ THE BAKED MITZVAH GIRL | Tali Myerson hit the sweet spot with her Zoom cake cookalong and raised £5,394 for Chai. Her Tzedakah project honoured the memory of her Grandpa Richard who was supported by Chai. ‘It’s a wonderful charity, helping so many people,’ said Tali. Folk paid a fiver or more to join Tali, who thoroughly relished her presenting role.
LITTLE CHEFS | Nine eager bakers from Year 3 at Sacks Morasha school chose to support Chai because the organisation has touched all their families’ lives in some way. Mia Fhima, Annabelle Benjamin, Emilie Bloch, Lilia Rose, Emily Kanzen, Ellie Shababo, and Lily Flack (pictured l to r) and Sophia Navazesh and Yael Schryber Lining up the goodies – the Sack s Morasha bakers baked biscuits, cake pops, rocky roads and cupcakes. ‘We had such a wonderful time selling our goodies to our friends!’ they said, ‘and we raised £216!’ BONDING THROUGH BAKING | Sasha Cohen’s bake sale was in memory of her grandfather. ‘I wasn’t lucky enough to meet my paternal grandpa who died at the age of 52 from oesophageal cancer but Chai has supported members of my family so doing this means a lot to me.’ She raised £135.
Sasha Cohen’s tray
of bakes
DOUBLE DELIGHT | Hasmonean pupils Sara Rowe, Avigayil Rowe, Batsheva Schwab, Abi Marin and Rebecca Rowe set up their stall for Chai and raised £152, which was matched by Avigayil’s mum, making a total of £360. We love the Chai-coloured iced biscuits. ENERGETIC SUPPORT | When Amanda Forman was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40, she turned to Chai. ‘My husband and I were advised on how to explain what was happening to our young family and Chai continued to support us throughout our journey by providing my children with art therapy at school. It carries a very special place in my heart.’ Amanda created and sold high-energy protein balls, donating a power-packed £1,170 to Chai.
What a treat for the eyes the Hasmo girls
from
Protein-pa cked supp or t from Amanda Fo rman
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A little retail therapy
Gifts for the chocolate fan, shielded from the heat of the day
Bright sparks do it up north ▶
Al fresco first ▶
The Chai Society committee transformed their annual Rosh Hashanah gift sale into an outdoor artisan market in super-creative style, to ensure it went ahead. ‘Nothing was going to stop us!’ said co-chair Debra Zender. Held on 13 September, the day before new social distancing guidelines were introduced, both the weather and the atmosphere were sunny as more than 600 supporters queued and masked up to browse and buy from a range of beautiful home and giftware, clothes, Judaica, flowers and food gifts. Through the day, visitors were fortified by street food from Feast by Ed, Uncle Doovy’s ice cream, live music and tie dye T-shirt making, for the youngest visitors. Alongside, the ever-inventive committee presented a week-long virtual shopping experience, drawing a global audience to shop from 50 vendors, all of whom gave a percentage of sales to Chai. Debra added, ‘It was a dramatic rearrangement of our usual programme, but we came up with the perfect, Covid-safe solution.’ Debra paid tribute to co-chair Julia Abrams and the committee, to Roundtree Real Estate for sponsorship and to Tony Page for the gifting of 200 honey cakes, without which the gift sale would not be complete. More than £25,000 was raised and Louise Hager said, ‘We felt so proud seeing hundreds of people stream through our gates to support Chai. We salute the committee for their dedication and the enthusiasm of all who came.’
A young Chai supporter chills out at the Artisan Food Market Smart food deliveries from Feast by Ed
n a drop in the Aiming for more tha the Beis Yaakov girls 34
ocean
▶ ▶
in to Zoom for a quiz dedicated to Mark Saunders z’l. During the evening, Chai client Rachel Harris, spoke about the support she received through her cancer treatment. The event was hosted by Michal Balshine. Sherry Marks of ‘Doodles Art & Craft Club’ led a painting class for children who created eye-catching icecream-themed canvasses. Debra Kay hosted a virtual baking class for children with step-by-step guidance, resulting in delicious brownies and scones.
The Forever Chai committee (left) and fabulous baker girls (right)
One scoop just isn’t enough at the kids’ painting class
Too tempting: elegant homeware, and honeycakes by Tony Page
We Are Smart Bar’s compact coffee kiosk did a roaring trade Scenting success – the Juma Candles stall
No shortage of lollies as Chai raises lots of lolly!
All senses satisfied with live music and lovely flowers
Chai queue test – supporters happily observed social-distancing rules
Watertight idea | Girls in the Chessed Team at Beis Yaakov School in Manchester kept fellow pupils’ whistles nicely watered by selling bottled water to raise money for Chai.
The annual Week For Chai fundraising drive in the North West produced an array of events raising over £3,600. Tycoons-in-training showed their entrepreneurial and crafting skills at Forever Chai’s ‘Kids Artisan Market’. Held at Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School, more than 350 people were tempted by 20 stands selling handmade jewellery, personalised art, sweet cones and hair braiding. Whitefield Hebrew Congregation ‘Community Quiz Night’ raised awareness of Chai as 43 households tuned
A date with a deli | Mark Cohen of Mark’s Deli, Glasgow’s – and Scotland’s – only kosher deli and café, produced a Charity Cookery Calendar in memory of Mark’s Auntie Annie, who passed away last year. ‘Her glass wasn’t just half full; it was frothing over!’ says Mark. Annie owned Cohen’s Deli in the Gorbals and then Giffnock. Recipes included Rebbetsen Rubin’s challah, Annie Cooper’s pickled cucumbers and Hilary Rifkind’s chocolate meringue gateaux. Sales raised £1,200, divided between Westacres Care Home in Newton Mearns and Chai. ‘I had Hodgkins disease when I was six and my mum and
late grandfather both had cancer. Chai is a worthy recipient!’
Local hero Mark Cohen, and calendar, featuring locals’ favohis fundraising urite recipes
Time to play QUESTION TIME | Who knew that Zoom quizzes would be such a lockdown hit? Chai’s Big Quiz of Everything kicked off the year with 70 household teams squaring up to compete on Zoom. Surprise elements included a welcome from Judge Rob Rinder and video messages from Matt Lucas, Lesley Joseph, Don Black and Tom Chambers. All credit to organisers and Chai volunteers Andee and Barry Roback, Lynne Silver, host Craig Squires of The Events Factory and Douglas Martin Estate Agents for sponsoring. An impressive £4,000 was raised.
SEVERAL GOOD HANDS | Chai’s ever-popular bridge tournaments headed online this past year, with spectacular results. Bi-monthly events have so far raised in excess of £10,000.
Tom Chambers, Lesley Joseph and Matt Lucas greet the Big Quiz teams
THE SPIELER GIRLS | Isadora Noe, Sophia Paluch, Tal Selouk & Ellie Wolff, all pupils at Hasmonean Secondary School, made a Purim video and sent a link out to friends for sponsorship, raising smiles, laughter and £2,298.
The Masters of fundraising Golf was one of the first sports back after Covid restrictions lifted in June last year – perfect timing for the Club 18 Golf Day to take place. Clear skies, sunshine and 96 golfers pitched up at Dyrham Park Country Club to compete and raise more than £40,000 for Chai’s Home Support Service. The Club 18 Golf committee of Ronnie Gotlieb OBE, Michael Lubliner and Michael Lerner, declared: ‘Dyrham Park Country Club went above and beyond for us. The atmosphere was tremendous.’ The winning team, with 95 points were Trevor Abrahmsohn, Alex Beare, Hilton Lewis and Hylton Treisman while Dovi Krok won the raffle.
L to r: Michael Lubliner, Ronnie Gottlieb OBE, and Michael Lerner
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INFORMING THE CONVERSATION ‘New strategies for improving outcomes in ovarian cancer’ was the topic of the Natalie Shipman Memorial Lecture. Attracting 400 households, Professor Gordon Jayson, Professor of Medical Oncology at The Christie Foundation Trust discussed e may have to adjust this illo and take out the womanly bits. Maybe it‘We could say are trying to pick new cancer treatments, and in particular the BRCA gene. • Trials * Good results up BRCA genes in all our patients with ovarian cancer so we can make the family * Next steps Instead of the fallopian bit members aware in advance so that they are able to make informed choices to potentially remove the risk.’ Said one participant, ‘It was an excellent lecture • TRIALS and Q&A. Professor Jayson made a complicated • GOOD RESULTS subject understandable.’ • NEXT STEPS Read more on the topic on p.16
Unmasking the menopause | Chai’s Nutrition and Wellness Seminar for Women in April gathered over 120 households to hear nutritional therapists, Lauren Gale and Debbie MyersAnderson from @thenatural_plate in conversation with specialist menopause doctor, Dr Naomi Potter.
Sermons mount up | Zoom services were established by New North London Synagogue in response to the closure of synagogues during the pandemic. It grew to encompass scores of synagogues and communities across the UK and a dozen countries. Each week, different participants gave a Dvar Torah, and a book, ‘The Lockdown Sermons’ is the result. Sales have raised £2,151 for Chai, NHS Charities Together and NNLS Destitute Asylum Seekers Drop in. A brush with success | Painter and crafter Sherry Marks of Doodles Art & Craft Club in Manchester held a twonight virtual art class in March, attracting 35 participants and raising £320.
Adina and her illustrated poem, which you can read at https://tinyurl.com/ydzjtmd
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Noah (top right), gets the virtual tour under way
You thought of others… WOMEN WHO INSPIRE YOU| The theme for International Women’s Day on 8 March this year was Choose to Challenge. In tribute to the groundbreaking co-founders of Chai, Frances Winegarten z’l and Susan Shipman, we invited your nominations for the top three inspirational women in your life. They poured in from all quarters with bloggers and influencers, journalists, fashionistas and charities all sharing the page and raising awareness of Chai and its services.
Chai’s educational webinars included this excellent focus on women’s health
Dubbing the menopause ‘the master of disguise,’ Dr Potter explained the difficulty in identifying and dealing with symptoms and how nutrition and lifestyle changes can help. Lauren and Debbie also discussed blood sugar levels and hormones, plant proteins, gut health, sleep and exercise. Take-away tips? Eat a ‘rainbow’ diet and take your 5-a-day up to ten, and eat more plant proteins (that’s tofu, lentils and chickpeas to you and me).
Zooming round the world | Noah Rosenberg, a year 7 pupil at JFS, thought outside the box when he devised a 12-hour fundraising idea – to tour the seven wonders of the world… on screen. With friends, they headed off to Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal to discover the secrets and legends of these world-famous wonders. ‘Chai does amazing things and we really wanted to support all it does to help people,’ said Noah. Their at-home adventure raised £450.
A screen full of sunsets at Sherry Marks’ art class Spoken from the heart | Young client Adina Scherer, aged 10 from Manchester, whose mother Chaviva appeared in last year’s together magazine, wrote a beautiful poem about the Chai support that has meant so much to her and to raise awareness of Chai. In the process she raised £539.
A shout out for fabulous women
SHINE A LIGHT | Nothing beats seeing a child’s face light up with happiness. Hannah Sufrin of fashion store House Of Lancry in Hendon was so moved by Chai’s work, she launched an appeal to collect Chanukah gifts for our youngest, most vulnerable clients. RUNNING FOR THE MIND | Lacing up their collective trainers for Mental Health Week in February, Clore Shalom School pupils and teachers took on some serious running with a marathon challenge. They raised their own wellbeing and £1,144, split between JAMI and Chai. HYPER 19 | Undeterred by the restrictions placed on Purim festivities and their usual Tzedakah appeal, the 1,200 pupils at both Hasmonean High School for Boys and Girls set up individual fundraising pages under their Hasmonean Informal Programmes and Education scheme. Split between 19 charities, a fitting riposte to the negativity of the Covid-19 virus, more than £160k was raised, netting Chai a phenomenal £8,656. In a statement, the schools said, ‘Each organisation chosen resonates with our students and we know that Chai is dear to their hearts.’ MOORE AND MORE | On 30 April this year, on what would have been his 101st birthday, children at the Nancy Reuben Primary School took part in the Captain Sir Tom Moore 100 Challenge. Pupils let their creativity fly on the theme of 100: baking 100 biscuits, drawing 100 pictures, scoring 100 goals, reading 100 pages of a book. ‘Each class also collected 100 coins for tzedakah and the children loved marking off each one
Happiness quotes for Chai
as it was added,’ says teacher Liz Masters. The school raised a total of £152.36 for Chai.
and neighbours. The pair also struck a matched funding deal along the way, showing their eye for an opportunity.
Very enterprising | JFS pupils Isabelle Schofield and Brandon Franks took part in a Young Enterprise Challenge and raised over £200 for Chai, selling beautifully packaged sweets and chocolates to fellow pupils, staff
Hitting the sweet spot: Brandon and Isabelle
Photograph courtesy of Hindsight/ Hat Trick Productions
Enriching the mind
SHARING THE LOVE | Frontline workers, some of whom were caring for our clients, were our priority on Mitzvah Day in November. Chai volunteers delivered wellbeing packages to All in a Mitzvah Day’s work oncology departments at London’s UCLH, Marie Curie Hospice and the Royal Free in Hampstead. Packed with cosmetics and edible goodies donated by HOB salons, Barry M cosmetics, Louella Belle and Heathcote & Ivory, one recipient oncologist said, ‘We’re really touched by this gesture. Thanks to Chai for thinking of us.’
TRACY-ANN OBERMAN Actress & Writer Chai Cancer Care & British Heart Foundation The Women of Imperial Rome Leader of the pack: Tracy-Ann wins for Chai on Celebrity Mastermind
Tracy-Ann’s triumph Not only a supreme actor but now also a Celebrity Mastermind champion and £1,500 fundraiser for Chai! Taking her seat in the infamous black chair in May, opposite the glare of John Humphrys, Tracy-Ann Oberman, who was also raising money for the British Heart Foundation, squared up against Strictly star Debbie McGee, children’s TV presenter Ben Cajee and comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean. A first round answering questions on the women of Imperial Rome saw Tracy-Ann lying in joint third place. But she forged ahead in the general knowledge test with assured responses on the solar system, history and entertainment, landing her a winning 15 points. Tracy-Ann has form on tests of brain-power: she was the highest-scoring celebrity in the Test the Nation: The National IQ Test 2004.
Tracy-Ann’s memorable roles include Auntie Val in Channel 4’s Friday Night Dinner, as Dirty Den’s killer, Chrissie Watts in EastEnders, as a Royal Shakespeare Company regular and a clarion voice for the community against antisemitism. Tracy-Ann now has the status of being the first person to say ‘Chai Cancer Care’ on national TV. It’s yet another ‘Chai point’ for us, too, as it’s Tracy-Ann’s second appearance on the cover of together, the first being in 2010. After her win, Tracy-Ann said, ‘I’m delighted to support Chai Cancer Care. It’s the most loving and invaluable support system for cancer patients and their families. I have a sister who works there, so I see first-hand the tireless devotion to easing pain and suffering.’ Louise Hager congratulated Tracy-Ann, saying ‘It was a stellar performance and we’re honoured that she selected Chai as one of her chosen charities.’ 37
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Achieving challenges… and taking a tranquil seat Planting memories for Susan In August 2020, brothers George and Harry Owen, 19 and 15 respectively, fulfilled a fundraising challenge to honour their grandma Susan who passed away in May 2020. This is their dedication.
Susie Owen and the garden flourishing in her memory at Chai’s Hendon centre. George and Harry made the largest single challenge donation to Chai for 2020-21
Louise Hager adds: ‘In the depths of lockdown, it meant so much that Chai was in George and Harry’s thoughts.’
Nathan Easterman – £822 | Nathan’s Bar Mitzvah Couch to 5k in June was in memory of his grandmother, who passed away in 2017. Chai supported him with music therapy. ‘The sessions let me express how I felt through music and noise,’ he said. Jon Bezalel – £3,411 | A run-from-home half marathon garnered 30 participants, helping Jon give back to Chai for the support the family received through the loss of his brother Dan.
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David & Lottie Fishman – £1,096 | Here’s a novel way to crank up the steps and the donations: David and daughter Lottie invited household bubbles to join them on various 10k walks around central and North London. Solomon Maurice & Raffi Menashe – £200 | The boys did the 45-minute walk to school every day for Chesed week at Naima JPS, marking what would have been Solomon’s Auntie Amanda’s 53rd birthday. Read more on Amanda on p18.
The Virtual London Marathon
‘When we decided to raise money in memory of our amazing grandma, we agreed with Richie (our grandfather) that we’d donate all the funds to Chai. During chemotherapy, Susie would go to Chai and she’d tell us how incredibly supportive everyone was. ‘Thank you to family and friends who supported us so generously as we ran our half marathons. We raised £31,600 and with the funds, a beautiful garden has been created in Susie’s name. We miss her so much, but we know that she, too, would hope that visitors to Chai will benefit from this place of quiet reflection.’
Viviane White – £643 | 100km walked – an astonishing feat for anyone’s feet!
Natasha Freiberger, Naii Goldberg & Rebecca Meshulam – £14,133 | Marking a decade since Natasha lost her sister Justine, and Naii and Rebecca lost their brother Jono, the women set their coordinates for a 35k walk taking in 19 London bridges, ‘with a l’chaim every few miles,’ says Natasha. ‘Justine was the best sister and is so missed by everyone.’ Of Jono, Naii and Rebecca add, ‘He was caring, kind-hearted, and could light up a room with his smile. They’re both constantly in our thoughts, as is Chai.’ Eli Field – £1,237 | Eli’s 10k Bar Mitzvah challenge scored a hit rate of £123 per 100m!
Jonathan and Lauren Barr – £8,003 | As long-term Chai supporters, the couple didn’t let the fundraising side down despite the pandemic, jumping at the chance to run the Virtual London and Boston races. They ran a Mill Hill marathon Sorting their own routes and refreshments, they looped around Mill Hill East for 26.2 miles. ‘What kept us going was doing it for Chai,’ said Jonathan whose mum, Valerie was a volunteer. They were both supported by Chai as they went through cancer. Lucy Ross – £8,843 | ‘In 2018, my rock, my best friend, my mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer,’ says Lucy, who ran the virtual, and will do the real marathon in October. So, expect to see this amount grow. ‘Counselling at Chai – No crowds but lots and running – have been of cheers for Lucy my saviours,’ she says. Michael Firestone – £2,705 |Kudos to Michael who cycled 500 miles over 25 days in deepest winter. ‘The past year was very challenging for my family,’ he says. Michael lost his mother last year and the family has received more cancer diagnoses. ‘I couldn’t have done it without the generosity of friends and family, and the support of several wonderful Michael’s wheels charities, including Chai.’ were on fire for Chai
Charlie Harris – £3,195.50 | Participating in his Bnei Mitzvah Challenge took him up two mountains in the Lake District including one of the highest peaks in the UK – Helvellyn. ‘It was tough and very hot,’ says Charlie, ‘and I was really proud of myself and the whole group that we managed to do it!’ Charlie explained why he chose to fundraise for Chai. ‘It’s a special charity for me as it helped my auntie and her family when she had cancer. I’d encourage boys or girls of bar/bat mitzvah age to take part in this challenge and raise money for a charity that means a lot to them.’
Charlie Harris hails Helvellyn
The hair – and care – bunch Anthony Haber – £1,175 | His head shave raised a Samson-like amount! Claire Krushner – £7,896 | Claire lost both grandparents to cancer at a young age. ‘Seeing them suffer was extremely hard,’ she says. Claire’s mum has also had breast cancer. ‘Mum’s positive attitude is incredible though she wears the scars of battle’. Recently two more family members and a friend were diagnosed. ‘My friend will lose her hair during treatment. I can’t give her mine but it will go to a child with cancer through the Little Princess Trust and I’m thrilled Chai Scissors primed… is benefitting.’
WAYS TO GIVE Visit chaicancercare.org and follow our quick links to make donating easy MARK A SPECIAL OCCASION Nominate Chai to receive a donation in lieu of gifts. Contact Jacki Stanton: jackistanton@chaicancercare.org or call on 020 8457 3231 FUNDRAISE FOR US We can support and advise you on how to make an event or challenge a roaring success. Contact Danielle Blumenblatt: danielleb@chaicancercare.org or call on 020 8457 3394 DONATE ONLINE Swift, secure and easy, click on the Make a Donation tab on our website and follow the instructions.
Ora Kutner – £2,669 | After a four-year wait and to tie in with her Bat Mitzvah, Ora finally cut her hair for Chai. ‘I’ve wanted to do this mitzvah for a very long time,’ she said. And cut! Ora’s snip Ora’s mum, Rosie was diagnosed with cancer and the family was supported by Chai. ‘Before mum got sick, I took everything for granted. I know how fortunate I am and want to make a positive difference.’ Ora supported Zichron Menachem, the children’s cancer charity which makes wigs for children undergoing treatment. Lottie Blankstone – £459 | She has many fundraisers under her belt for Chai, and in June it was a haircut. ‘My mum works as a complimentary therapist for this
All smiles afterwards
LEAVE A LEGACY Visit Jewish Legacy Giving (jewishlegacy.org.uk) to find out more. We would also be honoured to recognise your generosity during your lifetime. Contact Lisa Steele: lisas@chaicancercare.org or call 020 8202 2211 BY PHONE Call Jacki Stanton on 020 8457 3231 or Dana Levene on 020 8457 3232 BY POST Send cheques or charity vouchers to: Chai Cancer Care 142 – 146 Great North Way London NW4 1EH GIFT AID YOUR DONATION If you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid increases your donations by 25%. Download a Gift Aid Declaration form from our website.
amazing charity and I wanted to raise awareness,’ said Lottie who had been growing her hair since 2018. Chloe Wyman – £620 | The impact of a cancer diagnosis is something Chloe understands. In 2010 her Grandma Carol, died and five years later, her ‘Papa Jeff’. ‘I miss them both very Gone for good much and take comfort learning about them through my dad’s memories. I want to thank Chai for its support by raising money for its ‘Chai in Schools’ service which helps children’. Yakira Pauwen – £1,872 | Eight-year old Yakira’s sponsored snip in July was an auspicious event, the first in Chai’s Hendon centre since Covid began. Her locks have gone to Yakira’s momentous Zichron Menachem. haircut DONATE AS YOU SHOP George Rosenfeld of the Kol Tov singing group is the face of Tap to Give, our contactless way to donate £3. Find him in kosher stores in London and Manchester.
Support Chai when you shop with Amazon. Visit smile.amazon.co.uk and select Chai-Lifeline Cancer Care as your chosen charity. Amazon donates 0.5% of the net purchase price (exc. VAT, returns and shipping fees). GIFT ONLINE Hosting a Shabbat dinner, lunch or party? Invite guests to skip the gift… and donate direct to Chai. Visit www.giveitapp.org
MAKING A BANK TRANSFER? CHAI-LIFELINE CANCER CARE | SORT CODE: 20-65-89 | ACC: 70181153 | REF: TOGETHER
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How does Chai care?
Advisory Services Advocacy & Information Advice Bureau
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Jewish Perspectives on Cancer
Semi-Permanent Makeup
Medical Connections Nutritional & Dietary Advice Resources & Information
Services are available in: North West London South London Essex Hackney Southend Birmingham Leeds Liverpool South Manchester North Manchester Glasgow Clients’ Homes
Group Activities Art Workshop Chai-ly Active Classes Computer Lessons
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Telephone, Skype & Zoom Counselling
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Meditation Music Workshop Open/Supervised Gym Sessions Pet Therapy Pilates Table Tennis
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Support Groups Bereavement Groups
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Breast Buddies
Complementary Therapies
Groups for Cancer Patients/Carers
Acupuncture
Lifestyle Group
Aromatherapy
Men’s Support Group
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Foot Care Service Healing Hot Stones Hypnotherapy Indian Head Massage Reflexology Reiki Therapeutic Massage
Chai Lifeline Cancer Care | Registered Charity No. 1078956
Manicures
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For more information on our extensive range of specialised services and care across the UK, please call our Freephone helpline on 0808 808 4567 or visit www.chaicancercare.org
Image Resource Services
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Music Therapy
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.
Home Support Service
BRCA Group
By Your Side Volunteer Service