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Author: Danni Smith

First MRI scanner wrap in UK set to save patients’ lives and thousands of pounds in patient care

Posted on by Danni Smith

The very first wrap of an MRI Scanner in the UK will have a profound impact on both patients and staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire – saving patients’ lives as well as thousands of pounds per patient for the hospital trust.

A new state-of-the-art scanner in the MRIS department has been wrapped with vinyl using a nature-based forest design – aimed at ‘bringing the outside in.’ In addition to the scanner, the walls of the scanner room have also been wrapped in a forest design, showing images of sunlight bursting through a forest and completely transforming the room.

The work was undertaken by Grosvenor Interiors, whose head office is based in Surrey, but was funded by the generosity of donors and supporters of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, whose supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.

Work has completely transformed the scanner room as well as the GE 3.0 tesla MRI scanner, which is used as a showcase scanner for GE for other hospitals to come and visit, and was part of a bigger project to completely transform the MRIS department – with beautiful nature scenes adorning the walls and corridors of the waiting area as well as the changing rooms.

As well as the vinyl wraps, ACT supporters have also funded two £30,000 audio visual systems for two of the department’s three scanners, meaning that stressed patients arriving for a scan can now listen to music and watch videos whilst completing their scan.

Bruno Carmo, MRI Service Manager at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: “It has made a massive difference not just for the staff but for the patients too. Everybody who comes in to visit the department notices the environment immediately. It’s different, it’s beautiful and it’s friendly. It just fills my soul.”

The state-of-the-art GE scanner, which is equipped with cutting-edge AI technology, supports the department’s world-leading research. It is the department’s second scanner of its type, which improves diagnostic accuracy for conditions like cancer and musculoskeletal disorders.

Since the scanner went live at the end of July, the department has not seen any patients unable to go through with their scan – which Bruno said will ultimately help save patients’ lives with earlier diagnoses as well as thousands of pounds per patient in some cases.

“One of the big reasons for patients being unable to complete a scan is claustrophobia and anxiety and just the fact that we can see the impact of this nice calm environment already reduces the possibility of a patient having to be recalled for a second time.”

“Ensuring a patient completes their scan first time around can literally save hundreds of pounds, thousands in some cases. For instance, if you have a paediatric patient, someone who is between 2 and 12 years old, if they cannot go ahead with the scan they join a long waiting list to have the scan under general anaesthetic where it can cost thousands, because you need to book the bed space as well as the General Anaesthetic and Theatre teams.”

Bruno said it was too early to gauge the true impact of the scanner at present, but said in an earlier, three-month audit of patients, 90% of patients reported that being able to listen to music and watch videos helped them to complete their scan.

Paul White, Director of Communications and Impact at ACT, said: “Our amazing supporters at ACT have already helped transform numerous staff and patient waiting areas around Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie and continue to do so. Areas like the Oncology Department as well as the X-Ray waiting room where a lot of stressed patients and family members have to sit and wait.”

“It is really heartening to hear the huge impact this work is having on both patients and staff alike – not just in providing them with a nicer environment, but also how these relatively small changes can go as far as saving patients’ lives as well as all the costs associated with being able to successfully scan a patient first time around.”

Ilse Patterson, Lead R&D MRI Radiographer at Addenbrooke’s, said being able to see scan results on a first visit effectively allows diagnosis and treatment or surgery to happen sooner, therefore helping to save patients’ lives in some cases.

The artwork on the wrap and within the department has also transformed her own day to day working life. “I have worked in a few hospitals and I think there is nothing worse than walking into a hospital that looks like a hospital and smells like a hospital, it’s just not pleasant. I was on holiday when the waiting area was transformed and when I returned to work, I was amazed. It definitely changes the mood for the patients.”

“With the old scanner, it was narrow, it was a bit dark in that room, it was a narrow bore (tunnel), it was quite old and it wasn’t very pleasant. I really didn’t enjoy putting patients in there. But now it’s new, it’s light, it’s bigger, it’s got lovely pictures. Just to be able to make it that little bit easier for the patients, in any way we can, is a really positive thing for us.”

Cath Mills, President of the British Association of MR Radiographers (BAMRR), said: “It’s great to see the amazing work at Addenbrooke’s that is helping to make their patients’ experience as positive as possible. The unique ‘one of a kind’ MRI scanner wrap is the first in the UK that we have seen at the British Association of MR Radiographers and we think it’s great!”

“The MR environment can be very daunting to patients, especially paediatrics and those who suffer with severe claustrophobia so it is so important that we do everything we can to help our patients to feel relaxed. MR departments provide as much information as possible prior to appointments to help their patients to prepare, and the clinical staff on scan day offer support to the patient to help them to feel relaxed during their scan. In the past few years manufacturers have made changes to scanner design which has resulted in modern scanners looking a lot less scary than they used to. It is great to see the work at Addenbrookes that has addressed another dimension in scanner design by the addition of the wrap.”

Colin Horn, Managing Director of Grosvenor Interiors (pictured), talks about his own personal reasons for working to transform hospital spaces and equipment, after losing his son Adam to Leukaemia. Read his story.

2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival – ‘the biggest yet!’

Posted on by Danni Smith

The 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival looks set to be the biggest race yet – with over 40 teams and 600 competitors taking part to raise funds for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

This year’s 18th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the River Cam at Fen Ditton on Saturday 7th September with teams of 10-15 paddling 30ft boats up the river with a drummer at the front beating time and a helm at the tail.

Races start at 10am, with a prize ceremony at the end of the day. Festival sponsor Illumina will be taking part on the day and with bankside entertainment, food vans and an on-site bar the event is guaranteed to be a fun-packed, family day out.

Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “We’re on track for this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival – which is being held in the Chinese Year of the Dragon – to be the biggest one yet with record team entries! We have 41 team entries and over half the firms competing this year have taken part in previous years.”

“It is amazing to see this event growing year on year and incredibly rewarding to see how the fundraising efforts from all teams makes a difference to such a worthy cause. Each year, the event brings a fantastic atmosphere to the city and the energy on the day is amazing.”

“The races are really exhilarating and extremely rewarding to be a part of. For the teams that are competing it is a chance for them to be part of the incredible atmosphere. For spectators, it is a fantastic family day out.”

Friendly rivalry is a big part of what the event is about, but Lucy said it is the unpredictable element that makes the day fun for both competitors and spectators.

“Some of the strongest crews can be knocked out in the heats if they aren’t working together to paddle down the course so it’s very common for novice crews to take home the winner’s trophy on the day as long as they have the determination and team spirit to carry them through!”

All funds raised will help boost ACT’s £14 million public appeal to help build the new specialist cancer hospital, whose pioneering research is expected to have a far-reaching impact not just regionally, but nationally and globally too. The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) will be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029 and bring together clinical and research expertise in a new, world-class hospital, designed in partnership with staff and patients. The new hospital will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely, and save more lives.

Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, said: “We are so excited to be running this event again this year with our longstanding partners NewWave Events and this year’s sponsors, Illumina. Everyone who is there on the day – whether it be competitors or spectators – has a lot of fun and for us to be able to raise money for what is such a good cause makes everyone at ACT incredibly proud.”

Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse for CCRH (pictured left), who is taking part herself as a member of the CCRH Project Team, said: “We are delighted this year’s Dragon Boat Festival is dedicating funds to the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project. This hospital will bring together the very best clinical care and research expertise in a specialist building that has considered the wellbeing of patients and staff. Thank you for supporting us, you are helping to change the story of cancer.”

Mark Robinson, VP and GM, UK and Ireland, Illumina says, “Illumina is proud to support this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival to aid ACT. This unique event is just one of the ways that our team here in Cambridge is giving back to communities in which we live and work, while at the same time having a lot of fun!”

Each team completes three heats, with the 12 fastest teams going through to the semis. Three semi-final winners and the fastest runner-up go through to the final. Each boat seats up to 10 paddlers and 1 drummer. The racecourse is a 200m straight course with each race lasting anywhere between 55 and 90 seconds, with times affected by water flow and weather conditions.

Trophies are awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place as well as to the highest placed mixed crew (minimum of five female paddlers), best dressed crew and top charity fundraiser. Medals also go to the top three crews and the highest placed mixed crew.
The winner receives a bottle of bubbly, with the top charity fundraiser winning a punting experience courtesy of Let’s Go Punting.

Bankside entertainment and refreshments include traditional lion dance performances. There are also funfair style rides on the day, with sponsors Illumina hosting several fun activities including strawberry DNA extraction, dress like a scientist with a walk through Cambridge DNA history, a cake stand, face painting and flag making. Cambridge 105 is supporting the event, with live coverage and interviews, on the day.

Come along and support our teams on the day – and help boost our £14 million appeal to see the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital built in the City by 2029.

For a taste of what to expect on the day, click on the video below.

Launch of ‘My Thank You’ campaign gives Addenbrooke’s patients chance to thank NHS staff directly

Posted on by Danni Smith

A new campaign allowing Addenbrooke’s patients to send messages of thanks direct to NHS staff who care for them has been launched as part of an eight-week trial.

The ‘My Thank You’ campaign is the first of its kind in the East of England and, for the first time ever, allows grateful patients, as well as family and friends to send messages of thanks directly to a member of staff who has made a real difference to their stay in the hospital by providing them with exceptional care and support. This could be anyone from a member of the security team to porters, administrators and clinical teams including nursing staff and surgeons.  

Messages of thanks can be left for a particular member, or members of staff, who have helped deliver exceptional care and support for patients by simply scanning a QR code displayed on My Thank You posters which have been distributed across the Addenbrooke’s and Rosie sites, both part of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

Alternatively, patients can text the words THANKS ACT to 84901. 

Patients complete an online form where they can enter their message of thanks together with the area or speciality it relates to, along with the member of staff’s name, if they can recall it.  

Once the form is complete, patients are then asked if they would be happy to spread the word on their social media accounts to encourage friends and family to send their own messages of thanks. They will also be given the option of connecting to the hospital charity if they choose. 

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) launched the My Thank You campaign in early August. As the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, its supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.  

ACT’s Chief Executive Shelly Thake welcomed the campaign and said: “We hope My Thank You will see lots of lovely messages of thanks that we can use to brighten the day of all the wonderful staff in the hospital.” 

“We know that everything our supporters do to help make our hospitals even better, is a way for them to be able to give back and say a special thank you to staff by providing funding for ground-breaking research and high-tech equipment which they know will have a huge impact on their lives. To be able to add words to their thanks now too makes it even more special.” 

“Being able to give back financially is one thing but My Thank You takes this concept of patients wanting to give back one step further and allows them to send a very real, heartfelt message of thanks direct to the member, or members of staff, who cared for them during their stay.” 

“Knowing that staff often go through some very personal, often traumatic situations with patients on a daily basis we believe this campaign will generate a huge response from patients and we very much look forward to seeing, and sharing, all the messages that are sent through.” 

Staff welcome ‘My Thank You’ campaign

The My Thank You campaign was welcomed by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Clinical Education Team. 

Clinical Education Facilitator Waliu Jawula Salisu, said: “The campaign is a brilliant opportunity for patients and service users to express their gratitude to our hardworking staff. They invest so much emotion and energy into looking after our patients and I think this would be a brilliant opportunity to say thank you to them, which they will appreciate so much.”  

Colleague Emma Le Brun added: “It’s also a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to say thank you to each other. We all work in such a busy and stressful environment, a simple thank you could make someone’s day and make them feel a lot more appreciated in a clinical environment.” 

Former patients and her family welcome ‘My Thank You’ campaign

Retired carer Joyce Cripps, 77, started fundraising for Addenbrooke’s transplant services, through ACT, six years ago after her daughter Julie Halls underwent an emergency, lifesaving liver transplant after her organs failed after she contracted sepsis and pneumonia.  

Julie was given just two weeks to survive without a transplant and Joyce said that after the transplant team at Addenbrooke’s saved her daughter’s life, she will never give up fundraising for Addenbrooke’s. 

“As a family we are truly grateful, we always will be, to the wonderful surgical team and all the staff that really gave Julie a chance of life and for us to save her.” 

For Julie, getting to meet the surgeon who saved her life was a very emotional moment – “Having the chance to say thank you to Andrew Butler in person was just amazing.” (seen here, in picture)

Both mum and daughter, from Bishop’s Stortford, say the campaign, where patients and families will have the chance to thank every member of the hospital staff team that care for them, is a fantastic idea. Both women remember different members of staff who supported them through Julie’s lifesaving operation. 

Joyce said: “I can honestly say the staff in the hospital were brilliant. The day of Julie’s operation when we arrived to be told that the organ would be arriving later that day, the co-ordinator Michael Hope was absolutely amazing, the way he looked after me and Julie’s husband Paul. Julie was very distressed and very frightened at the thought of what was ahead of her so Michael put Julie’s mind at rest and asked Julie why she was frightened. She asked him if she was going to die and he said, ‘Julie, when my car breaks down, it goes into a garage that I trust and the car comes out at the end of the day all repaired and that is what we are going to do for you. That is not our goal today for you to die.” 

As for Julie, she remembers lots of people from her stay at Addenbrooke’s. “I can honestly say that my stay in Addenbrooke’s was one of the best times of my life because of the wonderful staff that were so kind and caring, even down to the lady who served my breakfast. Her name was Fran and I still remember her smiley face.” 

Say thank you to a member of hospital staff now.

Tattoo artist takes part in Charity Flash Day to raise awareness of testicular cancer

Posted on by Danni Smith

Tattoo artist Bobbie Lee is using a charity flash day at the Cambridge studios where he works to raise awareness of testicular cancer after being diagnosed with the disease at just 32 years old. 

Bobbie, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November last year, underwent surgery at Addenbrooke’s in December. 

He has since been given the all-clear but has regular check-ups every two months and has to return for regular blood tests and CT scans. 

Although testicular cancer is rare, it is the most common cancer in men aged between 15 and 49, with around 2,400 men diagnosed each year in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a lump or swelling. 

Testicular symptoms to look out for include: a lump or swelling in part of one testicle; a testicle that gets bigger; a heavy scrotum; discomfort or pain in your testicle or scrotum.

All Known Tattoo Collective, a multi-award-winning tattoo studio in Hills Road, Cambridge where Bobbie works, has organised a charity flash day on Saturday 17th August, with walk-in appointments.  

Seven of the team’s award-winning tattooists will be there on the day, with doors open from 10am to 6pm. Cambridge bar Vodka Revs is hosting a pop-up bar, with food, between 12 noon and 5pm, with merchandise on sale on the day. 

Proceeds will go to Addenbrooke’s Hospital via Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. As the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, our supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

Bobbie, whose cancer was diagnosed early, says he is keen to take away some of the stigma around talking about testicular cancer – and remind men to check their bodies.  

“It is a little embarrassing to talk about as it is testicular cancer but I would rather talk about it than not as it is more about raising awareness. I spoke to my dad about it and he said he wouldn’t have gone to the doctor as he would have been too embarrassed but that’s why it’s important to talk about it and to remind men to check their bodies.” 

Bobbie, who has one friend the same age currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and a second, in his 20s, who has been given the all-clear, said: “I didn’t have any of the more obvious signs like swelling or pain, I only had a little discomfort, so it’s really important to check out anything you might be worried about.” 

He has been working as a tattoo artist for 14 months, describing his style as ‘colour work, neo traditional, cartoon style, with lots of ducks’, and says he now talks to his customers about his cancer too.   

“I normally make jokes about it to be honest and have a bit of banter because if you are miserable about it, it’s not good. But if I am tattooing someone for a long time, it can get a little uncomfortable as you have to lean forward a bit when you tattoo so I can feel where my scar is, so I explain to customers why I need to get up and walk about.” 

Bobbie’s diagnosis came after he found what he thought was a lump in his left testicle but having then been told there was nothing there he asked to be referred as he was concerned something still wasn’t right. 

An ultrasound scan at Addenbrooke’s Hospital picked up something in his other testicle and on further investigations it was discovered that Bobbie did have testicular cancer. Shortly after diagnosis, Bobbie underwent surgery to remove his right testicle and he was given the all-clear.  

Early diagnosis prevented him having to undergo any other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy and now Bobbie is keen to give back to Addenbrooke’s, whose staff, he said, were amazing. 

“When I woke up in the recovery room after surgery, I was talking to one of the nurses and she had a few things going on in her life and she looked visibly upset and I just thought, she is still coming in to help people even though she still has her own stuff going on, so if I can raise awareness and raise some money for Addenbrooke’s at the same time that would be great.” 

Studio owners Kyle Warwick and Alex Hugianu were keen to support Bobbie’s fundraising efforts and opened their studio up for a charity flash day, producing a short film to talk about Bobbie’s story and promote the day. The video can be viewed below.

Kyle, who started out as a graffiti artist before becoming a tattoo artist, gained notoriety after his tribute to British physicist, Stephen Hawking, on a permission wall in Cambridge caught the attention of local media.

He usually gets booked up five to six months in advance and has customers coming to see him from across the UK, including firefighter, Ray, who was adding Kyle’s drawing of Kasabian’s Serg on his leg after an earlier design by Kyle showcasing football manager Jürgen Klopp. 

Alex, whose designs are described as ‘black and grey geometric’, started tattooing in Romania, aged 14. Welcoming the chance to give back to Addenbrooke’s she said: “We are all really excited about the charity flash day and just want to help however we can.” 

Donate to the All Known Tattoo Collective Just Giving page.

If you would like to make a difference and fundraise for ACT, click here for a selection of events you can sign up to. Alternatively, email: fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk   

One year on – and over 500 patients have benefitted from YOUR donations to a £1.5 million appeal to buy a new surgical robot for Addenbrooke’s

Posted on by Danni Smith

A year after our amazing ACT supporters raised a staggering £1.5 million to buy a new surgical robot for Addenbrooke’s we can reveal just how much impact the robot has had across a wide range of specialities. 

Addenbrooke’s three surgical robots have helped specialists carry out nearly 540 lifesaving or life-altering operations in the last 12 months. 

Importantly, the robots enabled patients to recover faster from surgery, and allowed them to go home in hours or days – rather than weeks. 

They have helped with a wide range of conditions, cut waiting lists and fuelled ambitions for a fourth robot, which would make Addenbrooke’s one of the leading surgical centres in the UK. 

The success was outlined today (5 July) – a year to the day after the Trust’s second robot was unveiled following a £1.5m fundraising campaign by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT).  

ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, said: “It is important that all those who worked so hard to raise so much money are aware of just how impactful the robots have been for patients over the last 12 months. Once again, we want to thank them for their incredible support, this would not have been possible without them.” 

The da Vinci Xi dual console surgical system has revolutionised patient care and surgical training across six specialties – urology, gynae-oncology, gynaecology, colorectal, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and HPB (Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary – diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary tree). 
 

Chair of CUH Robotic Surgery Steering Group (RUG), Mr Siong-Seng Liau, said: “It has been an incredible 12 months during which we have treated hundreds of patients for a multitude of different conditions using techniques that often allow them to go home more quickly, freeing up beds for other patients who urgently need them. 

“We are looking forward to the future with great confidence and, although it may be some way off, have ambitions to acquire a fourth robot and become the leading robotic surgical centre in the UK.” 

Consultant Colorectal and Robotic Surgeon, Dr Michael Powar, said: “The robotic platform that ACT supporters fundraised for offers enhanced precision, improved visualisation and greater dexterity when we perform surgery. We are seeing this translate to better patient outcomes with more patients having less invasive procedures, reduced pain and quicker recovery after surgery.” 

The unveiling at Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre was memorable as the robot cut its own ribbon in front of guests, coinciding with a host of other celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS. 

In addition to the £1.5 million raised by ACT supporters, we were able to use a legacy that had been left to the charity to purchase a dual console for the da Vinci Xi dual surgical system, allowing surgical trainees to gain hands-on experience of robotic-assisted surgery alongside an experienced surgeon. The legacy brought the total raised by ACT supporters overall to £2,022,270. We would like to thank those who generously supported the robot appeal over the last two years, in particular the Mark Benevolent Fund and the ALBORADA Trust. 

Our fund-raising campaign was so successful it enabled the hospital to lease a third CMR Surgical Versius robot, allowing surgical teams to add further upper gastrointestinal, benign gynaecological and colorectal specialities to the service. 

The two systems compliment Addenbrooke’s first robot, a Da Vinci Si, which was introduced over a decade ago to treat kidney, bladder, and prostate patients and was later upgraded to a Da Vinci Xi. 

The appeal ran over two years with support from the Cambridge Independent and many groups and individuals, including Addenbrooke’s surgeon, Atanu Pal, who took part in the virtual London Marathon in 2021, running a route that spelled out the word ROBOT. 
 
The Cambridgeshire Vintage Tractor Club also rallied more than 100 tractors to drive through South Cambridgeshire villages, and Frances Dewhurst challenged herself to walk up her stairs ten times a day for 100 days, in memory of her late sisters, Hilary and Charlotte.  

To find out more about fundraising for ACT, click here.

77-year-old with Parkinson’s all set to walk 120km stretch of Hadrian’s Wall to raise awareness around importance of exercise

Posted on by Danni Smith

A 77-year-old retiree, who has been living with Parkinson’s Disease for five years, has set himself the challenge of walking a 120-kilometre section of Hadrian’s Wall to raise funds for The Centre for Brain Repair at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and to raise awareness of the importance of exercise for people living with Parkinson’s – at the point of diagnosis. 

Trevor Elliott, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in September 2019 and it came at a point where he was already very low, having lost his wife, Maryse, five months earlier from Leukaemia. “Losing my wife after 48 years together was like losing my legs. It was a very dark time for me.” 

It took approximately two years for Trevor to get diagnosed because he initially put his tremor down to nerve damage on his spine. “I developed a tremor in my right hand, and it got so bad I was dropping things all the time. I couldn’t even carry a cup. My wife and I would try and make a joke of it. We’d say I had a good hand for shaking sugar over strawberries.” 

After receiving his diagnosis, Trevor decided to take back control and turned to the internet for answers. “I found some videos from a US symposium and one of them was about exercise and how it allows you to take back control – and that to me is the key message here.” 

Parkinson’s Disease is a life-changing neurological condition that affects both loss of mobility and cognitive dysfunction. It affects 153,000 people in the UK today and over 7 million worldwide. One in 37 people alive today in the UK will be diagnosed with the condition in their lifetime and currently there is no cure. Alongside pharmacological treatments, exercise is fundamental in the management of Parkinson’s disease. Evidence over the last 10 years has shown that being active can improve not only mobility, reduce falls risks and alleviates symptoms such as pain and stiffness but also reduce anxiety and depression. Regular physical activity improves mood and overall physical health, boosting confidence and independence in daily activities.  

Trevor was one of six Parkinson’s patients to work directly with a specialist Physiotherapist and PhD Fellow at the University of Cambridge to co-design a digital intervention, Knowledge Exercise Efficacy and Participation (KEEP), which aimed to promote the importance of exercise for people with Parkinson’s at the point of diagnosis.

The KEEP study was part of a 3-year PhD Fellowship funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaborations East of England and was supported by an ACT grant. The intervention was led by PhD fellow, Ledia Alushi Agley, whose studies address the issues of early promotion of exercise together with early involvement of allied healthcare professionals – such as physiotherapists and speech and language therapists – in the care of patients with Parkinson’s.  

The KEEP intervention consisted of six online modules and four online group discussions facilitated by a specialist physiotherapist. Modules looked at the importance of physical activity, how to exercise effectively with Parkinson’s as well as taking control following diagnosis. An integral component of the intervention was the inclusion of personal stories and messages from people living with Parkinson’s, including Trevor. These personal accounts offered valuable insights and motivation, demonstrating real-life examples of how to manage and thrive despite the condition.  

To raise awareness of the importance of exercise, Trevor set himself the challenge of walking a 120-kilometre stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, from Newcastle to Carlisle, after contracting sepsis last year. “The sepsis kicked off all my Parkinson’s symptoms and made them deteriorate. I needed some counselling at the time too, as anxiety and depression are part of the disease. It made me feel vulnerable for the first time. In the end, I decided the best way for me to get out of this spiral of depression was to think about other people and take on this challenge.” 

Trevor hopes to raise £1,200 for The Centre for Brain Repair through Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, whose supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

Accompanying him on the walk later this month will be his eleven-year-old dog, Sam, an English Pointer, “who is the same age as me in dog years, we’re both 77.”  

“It’s not hard to walk 12 miles a day. It’s all about getting up the next day to do it all again but for someone with Parkinson’s it’s also the constant fight with fatigue and apathy.” 

Diagnosed with ‘right-side’ Parkinson’s, Trevor’s balance and co-ordination is affected, with tremors in his right foot and hand, along with low mood and fatigue associated with the disease.  

“One of the problems of Parkinson’s is fighting fatigue and apathy. If I keep going during the day I am fine but if I sit down I could fall asleep. It’s the battle of keeping active and doing stuff but I still go to the gym twice a week and walk 10km each day. 

 Ledia said that non-pharmacological interventions like KEEP, which promote the role of exercise around the time of diagnosis, are crucial as they can help patients manage their symptoms and continue to live well with Parkinson’s.  

“Introducing these interventions in the NHS Parkinson’s pathway at Cambridge University Hospitals and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust as part of a randomised control trial showcased the positive impact the intervention had in improving participants’ understanding of the role of exercise and their confidence in trying different exercises as soon as they were diagnosed, rather than waiting until mobility has deteriorated.”  

Trevor believes that participating in research studies like the KEEP intervention plays a vital role in highlighting the significance of physical activity in managing Parkinson’s disease. 

“When first diagnosed, I was told I had a window of between 6 and 14 years before I would be incapable of looking after myself which was a complete turnaround for someone who, although 72 years old at the time, was still active and walking 10 kilometres a day and had camping and hill walking down as my main hobbies. I was devastated. Nobody told me at the point of diagnosis about the importance of exercise. I just walked out of the hospital with this window of time I had left in my head.” 

Trevor hopes that by doing his walk it will give hope to others diagnosed with the Parkinson’s. “When Jeremy Paxman presented a Parkinson’s Petition to Downing Street delivering a list of recommendations, the headlines were ‘Having Parkinson’s makes you wish you hadn’t been born.’ I am really annoyed with Paxman for that. I think it’s absolutely awful. You can either be like Paxman or take some control. I have been given this window of between 6 and 14 years before my symptoms make it impossible to look after myself. I have good and bad days but I would like to push that window as far as I can.” 

To sponsor Trevor and donate to Parkinson’s Disease Research through ACT, click here  

Click here to to make a difference and fundraise for ACT. Alternatively, email: fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Fundraising brings company ‘happiness in spades’

Posted on by Danni Smith

Here, James Stevens, Founder and CEO of Cambridge Commodities, which provides nutritional ingredients across a variety of industries, talks about the positive impact that fundraising has had on his staff.   

James, who founded his company working out of his parents’ spare bedroom at just 21 years of age, has since grown the company to the size it is today – with a global workforce of 170 staff, with offices in Ely, Sacramento and the Netherlands. 

The company, however, didn’t start raising money for charity until its 20th year.

“I really wanted to raise £20,000 for charity in our 20th year so started looking for a charity. Somebody wrote down Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and it just stood out. It’s the perfect charity for a business of our location and size and it touches the hearts of every single member of staff. We all know someone who has either been admitted to the hospital or visited somebody there. All my children were born in the Rosie.” 

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, and money raised by our supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

One of the reasons for picking ACT as its charity was to be able to see the direct impact of all their fundraising efforts, James says – something that has happened on several occasions already with different members of staff, including Emily, the firm’s EU Account Manager, whose two-year-old Ayda was born in the Rosie just after Christmas. 

Emily had helped other members of staff to wrap Christmas presents which ACT funded to be distributed to patients on Christmas Day. Emily, who had been booked to have a C-Section on New Years’ Eve, went into labour early and was admitted to the Rosie on Christmas Eve. 

“I was in hospital on Christmas Day waiting to give birth so I received one of the Christmas presents that ACT had funded; some hand cream and body lotion, which was a really thoughtful present. Something like that just makes you feel supported and reassured that people are thinking of you and trying to make you feel better about being in hospital over Christmas, when you don’t want to be.” 

Another member of staff to see the direct impact of their fundraising efforts was Natalie Scott Paul, the firm’s Head of Payroll, who organises the Annual Christmas Ball with finance manager Carly Purell.  

“As one of our things we wanted to do, staff chose to pay the salary of a play therapist. That year my daughter was admitted to Addenbrooke’s, and the play therapist came to see her while she was waiting to be seen. I texted everyone at work and said, ‘we did that!’” 

Staff have taken part in, or organised, a range of activities or events – from wrapping Christmas presents for patients to competing in the Cambridge Half Marathon to handing out daffodils to hospital staff at Easter.  

“We were handing out daffodils to staff as they were leaving work for the day,” James said, “and to see the smiles on their exhausted faces, you cannot describe how good that feels. To see them all leaving and to be able to say thank you is amazing. I think we all had a little cry when we got home that day.” 

The firm has organised other events themselves – from cake bakes to a cyclathon (24 hours of cycling); a Walking Challenge where staff had to walk the equivalent in miles from their office in Ely to their office in Sacramento (over 5,000 miles which they managed to more than double) as well as their annual Christmas Ball, which after five years is soon expected to top half a million pounds raised. 

ACT’s Corporate Partnerships Manager Natasha Robertson said companies who would like to join forces with the charity can get involved in a number of different ways, from making one-off donations to choosing ACT as its Charity of the Year. 

“Most of the companies that we work with have a connection with the hospitals and find fundraising a really worthwhile, bonding experience. Employees can organise their own fundraising events or take part in some of the fun events that we organise throughout the year, including the Dragon Boat Race and the Cambridge Half Marathon.” 

“We have a diverse range of companies across sectors that are fundraising on our behalf and as we continue to grow.” 

As for James, he says fundraising gives his staff an enormous sense of pride as well as helps him get to know employees in areas of the business he wouldn’t normally interact with. It also helps with recruitment. 

“We have people saying they chose us as an employer because we had a relationship with a charity.” 

For any company thinking of becoming a corporate supporter for ACT, James has this to say, “You just need to find the time to do it but that time is paid back in spades through the happiness of your staff.” 

Find out more about our corporate partnerships here. If your company is able to support ACT and is looking to make a real difference, please email Natasha at: Natasha.Robertson@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.

Click here to find out more about fundraising for the hospital.

    

10-strong security team from Addenbrooke’s raise nearly £6,000 in charity skydive

Posted on by Danni Smith

Martyn Grass, who organised the skydive over Beccles Airfield with his colleague Mark, described the jump as “absolutely amazing,” adding: “It was so fast! We covered a mile and a half in ten seconds! The adrenaline when you land is like nothing you have felt before. We were literally all hugging at the end of it. Only one of the team was a bit off colour when they landed but all the security team were great.”

Martyn and his colleagues, who provide security across the whole of the Addenbrooke’s site, including the Accident and Emergency Department, completed the ACT challenge to raise money for young people suffering with mental health issues.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, and money raised by our supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.

Explaining why he wanted young people’s mental health to be the focus of their fundraising, Martyn said: “Working at the hospital is quite challenging for all the security officers dealing with paediatric mental health issues. Sometimes we have to deal with people trying to abscond, so it was important for us to try and raise money for young people with mental health issues to show our support.”

“When it comes to mental health, my saying is never look back. Always look forward. In mental health, each individual has a lot of stairs in front of them and it might be 5 to 10, or 10 to a 100, but every step will eventually get them to the top and they’ll be all right.”

Martyn was awarded a You Made a Difference Award by the hospital earlier this year praising him for the passion he puts into his work, saying: “Martyn is passionate about his role and giving the best service to patients, staff and visitors.”

The security officer, from Shepreth, was nominated for the award by a young woman who was admitted to A&E overnight in a distressed state.

“She was with a family member at the time who was very concerned about her. I sat down with her and chatted to her about her mental health and she wrote into the hospital thanking me for taking the time to speak to her. Apparently she is doing really well now.”

Apart from the skydive, Martyn’s JustGiving page – currently standing at £5,938 – is still being boosted by donations. He has organised a Prom Night Raffle for Year 11 pupils at a local secondary schools to win a ride to their prom in one of four prestige cars provided by Wallis and Son cars in Barton and A.G Motors in Papworth.

ACT’s Head of Fundraising, Donna Lee-Willis, said: “We are delighted that Martyn and his colleagues have been able to have fun while at the same time raising such an amazing amount of money for ACT that will benefit patients and staff across Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.”

Our charity has organised an exciting selection of fundraising challenges for anyone who would like to raise funds for the hospital. Find out more here. Alternatively, supporters can organise their own events.

Click here to donate to Martyn’s JustGiving page.