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Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2018, day 20: Penny Brohn
Cancer support charity Penny Brohn is named after its founder, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1979 and was determined that her treatment would consider her emotions, mind and spirit as well as her body.
In 1983 she and close friend Pat Pilkington opened the Bristol Cancer Help Centre and supported local people with a holistic approach that integrated medicine and complementary therapies.
Today, regular activities ranging from relaxation techniques to Nordic walking are run at their residential centre in Pill, while Living Well courses are offered around the country.
is needed now More than ever
The course helps cancer sufferers to manage the multitude of ways that the disease can affect their life, and focusses on things like eating well and managing stress that medical staff may not cover during hospital appointments and aggressive treatment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3kAD8XgmWI
The charity also works hard to bring cancer sufferers and their families together to meet others in a similar situation and glean support and wisdom from each other.
Their regular treatment support clinics are designed to help anyone who is preparing for, undergoing or recovering from chemotherapy or radio therapy, and include tips for dealing with side effects and fatigue as well as being a space to vent during what can be a very challenging time.
Penny Brohn died in 1999 but lived long enough to see the centre she and Pat developed flourish, with Prince Charles becoming the charity’s patron in 1997. She also saw her pioneering holistic approach succeed for individuals and become more widely accepted within the medical community.
Find out more about the services Penny Brohn offer to cancer sufferers by visiting www.pennybrohn.org.uk
Main image taken from the Penny Brohn Facebook page.
Read more: Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2018, day 19: Second Step
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