Page 10 - link magazine

10 swindonlink.com • March 2009
Charlie’s memory still strong as help for others continues

In her short life Charlie Jarvis touched many lives. As her family marked what would have been her 11th birthday, they spoke of life after
Charlie and how money raised in her name has helped others.
Charlie was diagnosed with an and a trip to Euro pass donated by the back in my arms. I’ve been blessed
aggressive cancer in 2001 and hit Disney paid for by owners, who dedi- by both my daughters. Robyn is so
the headlines when a campaign First City Nursing cated a bench to her brave and strong.”
was launched to collect money Agency.” memory after her Shortly after Charlie was di-
towards finding a cure. Swindon One of her favou- death. agnosed, Sam joined CALM, the
people raised over £100,000 and pio- rite days out was Sam and Charlie’s charity that supports children
neering treatment at the Bruzinski a trip to Butterfly older sister, Robyn, with cancer and their families. She
Institute in Houston, Texas bought World at Studley make an annual visit now spends time with families
Charlie a precious extra 18 months Grange where she to Charlie’s bench, going through the ups and downs
of life. She died in June 2005 aged was enchanted by followed by a trip of treatment. “It’s devastating to
7 years, 6 months. the gently flutter- to McDonald’s for know your child has cancer and
“Charlie had a fantastic 18 ing creatures. Char- her favourite banana one of the things you don’t realise
months,” said mum, Sam Jarvis. lie, right, was able milkshake. Speak- is how expensive it is; going to
“She made a trip to Lapland, thanks to visit regularly ing of her loss, Sam specialist centres means staying
to the Christine Lewis Foundation, thanks to a family said that Charlie overnight, and sometimes for weeks
is always in her thoughts. “Not a on end.”
day goes by when I don’t want her After paying for treatment, a
Podiatrists (Chiropodists) small amount of money
was left in what Sam calls
Alison Deacon & Associates ‘Charlie’s Fund.’ She has
B.Sc. (Hons) Degree, MChS, HPC made donations to several
children’s charities, includ-
Experienced & Qualified to FULL NHS standards ing CALM, and has helped
• All Foot Problems pay for a horse and carriage
• Biomechanical Assessments & Diabetic Care for a little girl’s funeral and
• Professional Clinic & Home Visits to repatriate a boy’s body
• Nursing/Residential Establishments to Africa. The fund has also
helped buy specialist cancer
• Early morning, late evening & weekend clinics medicine, a talking com-
Swindon 525 524 puter and an adapted push
Optimum Health Services Ltd chair, and donations have
been made to the Callum
29 Groundwell Rd, Swindon SN1 2LY Kaye fund and Chernobyl
www.OptimumHealthServices.net Samantha and Robyn Jarvis on Charlie’s bench Children’s Lifeline.
at Studley Grange Butterfly Centre with man- • 24 Squadron boost for
ager Phil Noon CALM - see page 20.

Curry to help beat men’s cancers

Over 37,000 men will be diagnosed with a male-specific cancer in
2009; from sons to grandfathers, men face the risk of prostate, penile
or testicular cancer.
Orchid Cancer plays a leading role in the fight against male cancer
through research and awareness and by supporting patients. Geraldine
Monk from Shaw is holding a curry night for the charity at the Bombay
Lounge, Peatmoor on 17 March to raise money. To support the cause,
call the restaurant on 887799 to book a table.

Another Swindon Link seeks
people's views on health services
The Local Involvement Network (LINk) makes sure that people who
use health and social care services can make their views heard and
have a chance to suggest improvements.
Swindon LINk's role is to ask view and Scrutiny Committee.
people what they think and listen People can comment on matters
to their suggestions. It will also that concern them about health
look into issues of concern to the and social care services by calling
community. The organisation is or writing to LINk, or they can
part of a nationwide government become more involved by joining
initiative and is independent of local the committee. Community groups
government and the NHS. can also join. The organisation aims
LINks are more than a sounding to connect groups together so that
board; they can achieve results us- their ideas will have more influence
ing powers allowing them to visit on the delivery of services.
and work with health and social care A representative from LINk will
services. They can expect answers visit any organisation interested in
to any queries from service provid- joining the network to explain what
ers within certain time scales and it does and the benefits of becoming
can carry out spot checks to see if more closely involved. For details
services are working well. LINk can call 497777.
also refer issues to the local Over- www.swindonspider.co.uk

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