Hello!
Welcome to Mind Over Cancer’s brand-new Newsletter!
Every few months we’re going to be bringing you the latest and greatest from within MOC HQ, providing updates on all we’ve been up to, all we’ve got planned and everything in-between.
But first, let’s start with some introductions…
Hi! My name’s Ben Kinsella.
I’m a teenage cancer survivor and a Mind Over Cancer beneficiary.
I was diagnosed with leukaemia when I was fourteen-years-old, and finished treatment when I was eighteen. I’m now thirty-three. And guess what? I’m still feeling the effects.
Last year, I stumbled across MOC’s website, reached out to see if I could do anything to help, and ended up having ten sessions of one-to-one online counselling.
Those sessions gave me the opportunity to talk about things I’d never talked to anyone about before, and they helped me deal with some cancer-related issues I otherwise wouldn’t have had the courage to face. And so, to repay the favour, and to ensure others can get the help they need, I offered to write this newsletter.
Fortunately, I like writing. In fact, I like it so much I’ve spent the last nine years writing a memoir about what it’s like to have cancer as a teenager and what it’s like to survive such an ordeal — what the late effects are, and how it effects parents and siblings too. I’m just about to finish it. But then I thought I’d finished it five years ago, so…
Anyway, that’s me. Now for the boss…
Hi, I’m Susie Shaw, founder of Mind Over Cancer.
I’ve spent over 30 years working across the NHS and charity sector with children, young people and families affected by cancer. During that time, I became increasingly frustrated by the lack of mental health and wellbeing support available — particularly once treatment had finished.
We rightly talk about surviving cancer, but what happens afterwards? The emotional impact, the late effects, the anxiety, the changes to identity and relationships, and the feeling of “what now?” can be huge. And it doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed; families and support networks can be carrying their own experiences too.
As a qualified counsellor, I’ve seen how powerful therapy can be when we get it right. That means taking the time to explain what counselling is (and what it isn’t), listening to what the individual needs, finding the right counsellor, and working together to make a plan that feels achievable and right for them.
So, during the pandemic, Mind Over Cancer was born.
Five years on, it certainly hasn’t been the easiest journey! Running a small charity can be a rollercoaster — there have been challenges, plenty of hard work and a few moments of “what on earth are we doing?!” But there have also been some incredibly special moments.
Most importantly, we’ve met some amazing young people, families, professionals, supporters and volunteers who believe, just as we do, that mental health support should be part of cancer recovery.
So, we’ll keep listening, keep learning, keep growing – and most importantly, keep fighting for the thousands of people living with the impact of a childhood or young adult cancer diagnosis.
Thanks for being part of our journey.
Susie x
OK. That’s us. Now back to explaining how a newsletter works…
In each newsletter we’ll be providing updates in these three key areas:
What we’ve been up to
On June 3rd we held an event at Woodbury House in the big city of London. Named ‘Five Years and Beyond’, the event was both a celebration of all that the charity has achieved in the last five years and a cry for help to ensure we can continue our mission to provide support to anybody who needs it over the course of the next five years (and beyond).
At the event, Susie talked about why she set up the charity and what services we provide and why they’re important. One of our trustees, Sue Morgan MBE, talked about the effect cancer and treatment has on young people on their families. I (Ben) talked about my experience of surviving cancer, the mental health effects and how the charity helped me. And Charlotte Rutherford (a fellow young adult cancer survivor and MOC supporter) talked about the brand-new advisory group we’ve created to improve the services we offer and get our voices heard (more on that next newsletter).
At the event, we auctioned off five amazing pieces of art that had been kindly donated to us by artists Remi Rough, Nick Frost, Nicky Hirst, Gary Stranger and Erin Lawlor. And because of them and the generous people who bought the art, we managed to raise over £5,750!
It was a glorious evening full of amazing people, and as well as raising some much needed funds, we formed lots of exciting connections that will hopefully help us to grow and spread the message and reach even more people who need our help. Yay all round!
Why it’s important
A cancer diagnosis during childhood or young adulthood changes everything. But the impact doesn’t necessarily end when treatment finishes — in many ways, that can be when the emotional and psychological effects begin to surface.
The trauma of diagnosis and treatment can stay with someone for years, while late effects of cancer and its treatment can be debilitating and can have a significant impact on confidence, relationships, education, work and everyday life.
And it’s not just the young person living with the diagnosis. Parents, siblings, partners, family members and other people within their support network can also carry the impact of childhood and young adult cancer. Sometimes people aren’t ready to talk straight away. And that’s OK. We believe support should be there when they are ready.
This is why Mind Over Cancer was created: to fill a gap in the support available to the thousands of people living with the psychological impact of a childhood or young adult cancer diagnosis. Because there is no set timeline for recovery, and there is no ‘right time’ to need support.
At Mind Over Cancer, we’re here for the long term — whenever that time comes.
What you can do to help
We are a small charity — at present, it’s just Susie on the payroll. And as much as we want to spread to other areas of the country and help all those in need, we need to grow a bit first. And the thing that would most help the charity to do that is… YOU!
Whether it’s community fundraising, sharing this newsletter, sharing our social media posts, or simply spreading the news that we’re here — we need your help!
If you work for a cancer or mental health charity, why not get in touch? Let’s talk!
If you’re a grant giving trust or foundation, would you consider supporting our work?
If you’re an individual, would you consider setting up a regular donation?
And just in case you’re feeling generous and fancy making a direct impact right now… you can!
Simply click on this link to donate: https://mindovercancer.org.uk/donate/
OK. That’s enough of that. Back to how a newsletter works…
Other News
In this little section at the bottom we’ll be sprinkling in things like….
Dates for your diary
- September = Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
- September 19th = Youth Mental Health Day
- October 10th = World Mental Health Day.
Check out this film
Sunny Dancer by George Jaques — it’s about 17-year-old Ivy (Bella Ramsey) who, after beating breast cancer, reluctantly gets sent by her parents to a summer camp for young cancer survivors, where she meets a group of misfits and learns how to truly live life.
And finally…
Thank You
Macy & Cerys – who ran the London Marathon for both Mind Over Cancer and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and who raised a phenomenal £5,926.20! Well done, ladies! You’re stars!
And that’s it for this newsletter. We hope you like it!
Until next time,
Ben (& Susie) x