Would like to do some voluntary work re pancreatic cancer

[Louise123]

Hi,

I've been thinking about doing some voluntary work for charity for sometime now. My sister had shocking being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. This is devastating news - she means everything to me particularly as our parents passed away some years ago and being 14 yrs older than me, she has been like my mother and sister rolled into one. I don't have anyone else who I am that close to and can turn to.....

I guess this has given me the push I needed and helped me to make my mind up that I would like to do something useful to help pancreatic cancer patients or contribute in what ever way I can. I would like to think that out of this awful event that some good should come and that i can go a small way to helping someone else.

I word Mon - Fri full time so am limited to week nights and weekend but does anyone have any ideas of ways I can help out in the Leeds area? Having lost both my parents and grandparents I am not afraid of hospice visiting or something along those lines and as a HR manager I have experiance of sensitive and confidential issues and dealing with people who are upset or worried. Any ideas of ways I can help?

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Hi Louise,

I am sorry to hear that your sister has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, I know that it this must be a very difficult time for you. Pancreatic Cancer UK has a support service that you can contact for information and support, and we have a trained nurse with experience of pancreatic cancer who works as part of the support team. You can contact the service at support@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

It is very kind that you are thinking of how you can do something to help other pancreatic cancer patients. I do not have any specific suggestions about ways you can help out in the Leeds area but there are ways that you can get involved in supporting the work of Pancreatic Cancer UK. Later in the coming year we are looking at setting up some ways for people with experience of pancreatic cancer to get involved in providing peer support to others, if you might be interested in this type of activity you can contact the Support and Information Team at support@pancreaticcancer.org.uk . The Charity also needs support for some of its fundraising activities, for example we are currently looking for people to us out at the Reading Half Marathon to support our running team as Marshalls this is on Sunday 20th March 2011 if you are interested you can email fundraiser@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Anna

[Trevor F]

A noble intention. However my own experience indicates that if you actually volunteer to do something the charity in question then seems to find all sorts of excuses as to why you can't volunteer. I am not being cynical. You can never have enough volunteers even though some charities appear to take that view. If there are any cancer charities out there that genuinely require volunteers do let me know.

I am some 20-21 months past my Whipples resection or the 'Italian Job' as I had an Italian surgeon.

[volmod]

Hi Trevor – I’m really sorry to hear you had a negative experience when offering your services.

We are very grateful for volunteer help, and would indeed struggle without it. Most of our volunteers are active in fundraising. However others are involved in moderating the discussion board, helping the support network and maintaining the website etc.

Kind regards, Vee (volunteer moderator)

Ps: I’m passing your comments on to the office. But do please contact me on moderator@pancreaticcancer.org.uk if you’d like to discuss further.

[Trevor F]

My reply did not refer specifically to PCUK........... it referred obliquely to a couple of other cancer charities........ sorry if some readers thought it referred to PCUK.