This week we saw a brief flickering of Spring and I hope we see more of it!
Easter is a time of the year which brings hope and renewal. The two were brought together brilliantly last weekend with the Samaritans unveiling their new “talking benches” in Horsham Park. They are set amid thousands of daffodils planted last year by the Samaritans with the support of the Friends of Horsham Park and HDC. This wonderful splash of colour marks 50 years of the Samaritans in Horsham and reminds us of the lives tragically lost every year to suicide. In doing so it also reminds us of lives saved and all those successfully supported by the work of these wonderful volunteers.
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month which as sadly too many people are aware can be a difficult cancer to detect. With one in two people being predicted to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, it is of great importance that those affected by cancer whether directly or indirectly are able to receive the support they require at what is often a very difficult time.
It was very uplifting last week to visit Olive Tree Cancer Support in Lavinia House, Horsham. They are a fantastic charity with extremely kind, caring and dedicated volunteers providing support locally to people affected by cancer.
They offer a broad range of support including therapy sessions with a wide range of therapies with fully qualified therapists. While these are not an alternative to conventional treatments, they aim to help people relax, reduce stress levels and alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments. They also provide emotional support through counselling services in 1-2-1 sessions with qualified practitioners and monthly support groups. I enjoyed sitting in on a fascinating sleep support group meeting where attendees were able to share advice in a mutually supportive atmosphere.
I really do hope that anyone affected by cancer who would like support considers reaching out to them – they are a great charity and would be only too happy to try and provide assistance. More information is available on the Olive Tree Cancer Support website (olivetreecancersupport.org.uk).