Positive Action on Cancer

In 1993, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently had a mastectomy. As a direct result of my cancer experience and the lack of psychological support for cancer patients in my area, I founded Positive Action on Cancer.

PAC was initially a telephone help-line for women with breast cancer, which, in 1994, became a registered charity. Positive Action on Cancer became a free professional counselling service, developed by Tricia Greenwood in 1999 and expanded by Mary Taylor, who is the new director. The free service now offers counselling to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis, this includes, family, friends and carers of cancer patients. The charity is now a leading provision for cancer patients in the West Country. I stepped down as Chief Executive in April 2008, having run the charity for 14 years.

Founding Positive Action on Cancer was a journey I wouldn't have missed.

In 1998, with Gwyn harwood, I co-founded Little Gift Theatre Company, co-writing 'Time Bomb', a play about the realities of living with breast cancer. The director of the play is Marina Sossi. With Marina's expertise and her encouragement of both Gwyn and I, the result is a unique, groundbreaking performance. 'Time Bomb'  has played to health professionals in various settings throughout the UK as well as schools and colleges. The theatre company has also toured Australia and Germany.

After founding Positive Action on Cancer, and seeing it established after 14 years as a much valued and well-used resource in the community, I decided it was time to move on.

Back in 1994, I was lucky enough to launch the charity with five paintings by the late Susan Macfarlane, who died tragically in 2002 at the height of her career. So it was a fitting tribute to Susan, following my departure from Positive Action on Cancer, to initiate 'A Picture of Health' art exhibition, - a series of Susan's drawings and oil paintings of Breast Cancer Care.

Planning this event, 14 years later, and finally arranging to bring the whole of the exhibition to Frome has brought my work at the charity full circle. Alongside the exhibition, four fundraising events were organised to raise funds for PAC and Little Gift Theatre Company. I am grateful to Marina Sossi who was the key organiser of this event and to the many volunteers who gave their time willingly.

The charity is in good hands and will continue to support cancer patients and all people affected by a cancer diagnosis. Founding and working at PAC was an incredible journey and learning curve for me, one, which I will be eternally indebted to.

I now want to resume writing.