Page 2 - link magazine

2 swindonlink.com • December 2008
Collection to aid cancer charity at Aladdin opening night

Where will you be on Friday 5 December? The Link has joined the Wyvern Theatre to launch this year’s pantomime spectacular and Swindon
parent run charity CALM (Cancer & Leukaemia Movement) will benefi t from an after-show collection.
There are usually around twenty trips, a barbecue and a Christmas Richard and his
children going through treatment party to give the children something wife, Marianne, were
for cancer and leukaemia in the to look forward to in-between told about CALM by
area covered by Great Western treatments. their oncology nurse
Hospital. Chairman Richard Crowley, and felt encouraged
CALM offers parents telephone spreads the word about the work after talking with oth-
support from others who un- of CALM and the message hits er parents. “We spoke
derstand what they are going home as he speaks from personal to people who were
through. experience. His son, Andrew, was two years into treat-
As well as emotional and physical diagnosed with leukaemia three ment and that gave us
strain, families often face additional years ago when he was two and a a lot of reassurance,”
expenses and CALM provides half. Within days of noticing a lump said Richard.
grants to help with the costs such on Andrew’s neck, he faced life They started to
as car parking and eating out when threatening surgery and the whole attend social events
children have to visit regional family from Middleleaze found and received help Richard and Marianne with Daniel, left, and Andrew
hospitals. themselves getting to grips with the from the family support worker for Andrew, who attends Tregoze
The charity also organises events, reality of cancer treatments. funded by the charity. She was able Primary School. However, they
to help with household chores and have to be vigilant as chemotherapy
Book now for the Wyvern/Link looking after Andrew’s brother reduces immunity and they have
3-D genie panto extravaganza Daniel, now aged 9. worked closely with the school to
“When Andrew was quite poorly minimise the risk of picking up
and on very aggressive chemo he further infection.
Enjoy the Wyvern Theatre’s biggest, most innovative pantomime would spend almost the whole day Looking forward to the end of
ever with a magical genie emerging from the lamp and dancing on the sofa without the strength to Andrew’s treatment in January,
around the auditorium on Friday 5 December, 7pm. do anything,” said Richard. “To Richard said, “we’ve been quite
The Link has teamed up with the Wyvern Theatre to offer: have somebody who could take lucky with Andrew that everything
• £1 off each ticket; Daniel bowling, to the cinema or to has been quite text book and has
a park was really important.” gone according to plan. We can reas-
• the chance to meet Abanazar (Shaun Williamson) after the show; Between treatments, the family sure other parents that there can be
• Wyvern goody bags; was able to take time out and stay diffi cult times but there will be good
• an after-show collection in aid of Swindon CALM in a caravan owned by CALM. times in between chemo.”
After the initial treatment, Rich- www.calm.charity.org
Call the Wyvern box offi ce on 524481 to book, quoting Swindon Link ard and Marianne have managed • Abanazar is on the way to Swindon.
www.wyverntheatre.org.uk to keep life as normal as possible See page 29.

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