Our speaker on Wednesday 25 September 2019 was Helen Lam from the charity CLIC Sargent.
Helen explained that Cancer is shocking, overwhelming, isolating… and completely unfair. Especially when you’re young. It takes over your life. Treatment is gruelling and all a person’s ambitions and dreams – education, relationships, career, travel – suddenly seem very far away.
CLIC Sargent gets that. That’s why CLIC Sargent fights tirelessly to stop cancer destroying young lives. They provide grants and free accommodation close to hospital to help with spiralling costs. Their care teams are on hand to help families with everything from getting benefits to treatment closer to home. And they lobby the government to make sure patients and families get the support they’re entitled to. They are here to make sure young cancer patients can focus on getting their lives back on track. Everyone is different, so they work hard to make sure our support is given how each child and young person needs it most.
In 2005, two charities joined forces to better help children and young people with cancer, and their families.
- Sargent Cancer Care for Children, founded in 1968 by Sylvia Darley OBE as a lasting memory to the late Sir Malcolm Sargent.
- CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood), founded in 1976 in the south west by Bob Woodward OBE following the diagnosis of his young son Robert with cancer. Sadly, Robert died in 1977 aged 11, and Bob went on to dedicate his life to charity work.
Together, they are CLIC Sargent – young lives against cancer. An inspiring talk with a first class presentation: the Club was pleased to present a cheque in recognition of their work.
