Barnet cancer charity steps in with donation to ease treatment of chemotherapy patients

Chemotherapy patients receiving treatment at Chase Farm Hospital will benefit from two new cooling cap systems to be purchased with funds raised by Barnet and District CancerLink.

A cheque for £22,890 was handed over by members of the cancer care group at a ceremony organised by the Royal Free Charity.

Barnet CancerLink holds weekly counselling sessions and has been anxious to direct its fund-raising efforts towards providing extra support for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Sister Flore Dohmatob of the haematology and oncology unit told the CancerLink volunteers that she wept with joy when told earlier this year that they had raised so much to help ease the care of her patients.

“I cried when I heard the news because cooling caps give so much comfort to patients and especially help to prevent hair loss.”

Chase Farm’s existing cooling cap care system supports only two patients – the two new systems to be purchased with the donation will mean that six patients can now benefit at any one time.

Proceeds from Walk-the-Walk events were used to purchase the cooling system currently in use, but new and improved systems are now on the market.

Sue Hanton, welfare officer for Barnet CancerLink – who handed over the cheque – said she and her colleagues were so touched by Sister Flore’s kind words about the value of their contribution to the care of chemotherapy patients. (Left to right, Jenny Kobish; Caroline Thomas, secretary; Linda Coughlin, healer; Sue Hanton; and Georgie Sullivan, reflexologist. One important absentee was their treasurer, Mita Dattani)

Barnet CancerLink holds a drop-in counselling service every Wednesday afternoon in the hall of the Catholic Church in Union Street and offers sessions in healing and reflexology.

Donations cover the cost of hiring the church hall and also go towards fund-raising projects such as the appeal for help to finance the cooling cap systems which was boosted by legacies.