Working Together to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer

29 August 2019

Working Together to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and around 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat.

The Health and Wellbeing Centre is a hub of the community and is committed to promoting health awareness so that people in Ashfield have better health outcomes. As part of this, they are hosting a range of health-related activities during the year and Ashfield Voluntary Action and the Health & Wellbeing Partnership are working together with them to raise awareness of breast cancer during the week of 23rd September.   

Creation of a Memorial Garden at the Health & Wellbeing Centre

Ashfield Voluntary Action is based at the Health and Wellbeing Centre and in recognition of the support given by the Centre we have been helping them to look after some of the gardens and court yards within the grounds. These are important and much-appreciated spaces; providing a calm and reflective space for all of those using the Centre. Staff, visitors and service users can often be found enjoying the spaces which provide a little haven of calm, and a chance to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and watch the antics of the local squirrel population!

Ashfield Voluntary Action in partnership with the Health & Wellbeing Centre and Active Ashfield are hoping to create a commemorative garden to remember those we have lost to breast cancer and to celebrate their lives. Within this garden there is a wooden arch and the plan is to paint the arch in shades of pink and surround this (eventually) with a sea of fragrant pink roses. Each rose bush will have a plaque with the name of a loved one lost to, or living with, breast cancer so that family and friends can commemorate their loved ones. Not only will this be a place to remember loved ones who have lost their lives, or are living with breast cancer, it is one of the main entrances into the Health and Well Being Centre. Consequently, it will also provide a colourful and fragrant reminder of the importance of breast screening in the fight against cancer. This message will be supported with a leaflet dispenser within the garden providing information on breast cancer including information about the importance of self-checks and signs and symptoms to look out for.

How You Can Help

We need volunteers and helpers to work with us to create and maintain this special garden. There is an arch in the garden which will be painted in shades of pink and will be a focal point in the garden. People will have the opportunity to have a plaque with a commemorative message on the arch dedicated to their loved one, or a plaque and a pink rose in the garden. The cost of the plaque (or plaque and rose) will include a donation to a cancer charity and you will be able to choose from: Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer UK or Macmillan Cancer Support.    

Please Come and Join Us on the Day...

Can you join us on the 24th September from 10.00 am until 15.00 pm (or for part of the day) to help us with the garden and painting of the arch? You will be well looked after and we will provide all the equipment you need (please note that you will need to wear appropriate footwear and clothing). Refreshments will be available throughout the day, food can be purchased from the on-site Options Cafe and there will also be a raffle. We hope that this will be an enjoyable day where you can give something back to the local community and play an important part in helping to raise awareness around breast cancer. As parking is limited on the site, it would help us greatly if you could either walk to the Centre or park elsewhere on the day.

If you would to like to find out more, or register to attend, please ring us on 01623 555 551 or visit our website at www.ashfieldvoluntaryaction.org.uk. Please register to attend so that we know how much equipment we will need on the day.