Welcome to Marion’s Blog
We are delighted that our favourite exercise guru has offered to share her blog with us.
Those of you who use our Get Active programme to help you return to exercise safely will already know Marion very well.
But for those of you who haven’t taken the plunge yet we though this might be a good way to be introduced. Marion has many talents, as we will no doubt understand better, as we share her blogs.
So please read and enjoy (scroll down to see the blog articles) and don’t hesitate to get in touch with Marion via the ‘Contact Marion’ link below.
What Marion says about herself
Hi, I am a passionate writer, so thank you for reading this – it’s good to write knowing that my words will be read.
I am also an exercise professional and a nurse. I spend my day working with clients in our gyms, running exercise classes in care homes and helping people on their cancer journey to remain as active as possible.
I fall into the ‘older person’ category and am very interested in society’s perception of ageing and set out to challenge this whenever I can.
My husband has stage 4 Multiple Metastatic Melanoma (MMM), so we know what ‘living with cancer’ means. I also have lots of first-hand experience of what it means to live someone with a life limiting illness.
I also sit on the Patient Advisory Board (PAB) for our area’s Cancer Alliance. (The Cancer Alliances are designed to implement improvements to patient pathways for those with a cancer diagnosis. They cover from early discovery right through to living with and beyond). I try to put forward the patients’ perspective and their thoughts on what really matters to them, to you, to us. I hear many, many stories, but I am always keen to chat and hear more about what matters to you. If you have a story to tell – maybe something went really well – please let me know; phone, text, email, when you next see me! But if something niggles – please tell me that too – you know the ‘I really wish they would / wouldn’t xxxxxx.’ And if you really need to sound off – let me know – together we can bring about change as well as recognising great care.
My blogs are a mix of information from research, advice and tips on keeping fit and healthy and personal experience. If you enjoy them – let me know – if you have something to say – tell me!
Remember – we really only have today – so have courage and be kind
Marion 07860 128032 marion@alltogetherbetter.co.uk
Contact Marion
The views expressed in this blog are Marion’s own and not HCCN’s.
Being Happy
March blog I have been thinking about ‘being happy’ and what that means. So I was wondering what helps me to be happy. I thought at first that it might be money, but as anyone touched in some way by an illness such as cancer knows, money isn’t a lot of good – it... read moreSome Weeks Are Hard
We have exercise circuits twice a week for people on their cancer journey, (contact us for more details). We have lots of fun and its as hard or as easy as we want it to be. We have one rule that is specific to the exercise group – it’s a tough one – but we have... read moreChristmas can be tough
Nearly Christmas – how are you feeling? That usual mix of excitement bordering on panic? Or maybe you feel a bit flat, like its all too much and who cares anyway? Do you oscillate between being glad to be alive and petrified that you might not be here next Christmas?... read moreHow does cancer affect your belief?
Its not at all unusual to utter a prayer at times of great stress. Who amongst us has not offered up a quick one when push comes to shove? Facing a life limiting illness is often a time when we pause and reflect on what really matters in life, on what helps and on... read moreBeing Special
Being special Having cancer puts you in a separate category. Not one you want to be in – but one none the less. I’ve just read ‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop, it’s about a leper colony and initially the horror of the isolation and the separateness of living with... read moreCould you just get a grip?
Now, this might seem a little harsh. Bear with me and I will explain. Throughout life, things happen. Sometimes good things happen and sometimes shit happens. We learn how to deal with the good and the bad as we go through life. First of all our parents show us... read more
Cancer and being cross
And I get cross with him; I get cross when he puts his gym bag on the work surface – again. (‘Don’t you know how many germs there are on the bottom of that bag and I am going to cook food there soon’ I shout) . I get cross when I drag myself out of bed at some obscene hour and he mumbles ‘do you want any help’ and promptly goes back to sleep. And I get cross when he gets up from the table and leaves me to clear up…
read more
Are you happy?
What makes you happy? I went to a talk recently all about happiness. It was about the research that is being done about why some countries are happier places than others. The speaker’s research looks at groups of people over a long period of time. And using lots of... read more
10,000 steps and that 10 minute challenge !
Its great to be recommending 10,000 steps a day and suggesting that at least 10 minutes of these should be done at a brisk pace – good ideas and they will undoubtedly make a difference. But what if you really can’t do that much – if the very thought just reduces you... read moreLatest From Facebook
1 week 11 hours ago
Are you one of our ten? We had a tremendous response but still have 10 GP surgeries left to cover. Can you help? Pls see below ...
1 week 1 day ago
Thank you so much for offering your support to keep our local doctors’ surgeries up to date with information. Sallie and I are busy filling envelopes with posters and leaflets which will come to you in a plain brown envelope within the next fortnight. We would also appreciate any feedback you can give us once people start reading what we have created because we want our information to be easily accessible for everyone. Thank you again.
1 week 3 days ago
Can you help us to get HCCN leaflets into your local doctors surgery?
We will supply the poster and leaflets. You would take them in and keep them topped up.
Between us we can make sure that people know about the support that we can give them if they find themselves struggling with cancer.
Please message the page telling us which surgery you could adopt. Thank you
Hey everyone, thank you so much we really appreciate your help. We will be in touch shortly with an invitation to join your very own group. This will mean we can chat with each other, and we can keep you all updated with the details about when you'll received the materials and you can ask any questions. I will collate all the information below and be in touch via the group. Once again, thank you, we are bowled over with your amazing response. All the best from HCCN.
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1 week 6 days ago
Hunts Community Cancer Network was live.
2 weeks 1 day ago
A great challenge being undertaken to fundraise for us to be able to continue our good work!
2 weeks 3 days ago
We have the opportunity to have some charity places at this event - would anyone be interested in running this to raise funds for us? Please share & message the page if anyone is interested.
2 weeks 5 days ago
Happy New Year everyone! We hope you had a lovely Christmas and we wish you a happy and peaceful New Year!
As everyone packs always their decorations and sorts out gifts, please remember if you have any unwanted gifts, we would love to have them as we need prizes for raffles & tombolas throughout the year! Message the page if you have anything!
1 month 1 week ago
Thank you to the Lord Mayor of Huntingdon for choosing Hunts Community Cancer Network as one of your charities for 2019/20. Looking forward to a splendid evening.
1 month 1 week ago
The latest view on cancer research which is an interesting read: www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/cancer-research-offers-more-hope-than-people-think
Cancer research offers more hope than people think - The Institute of Cancer Research, London
The strong public focus on a ‘cure for cancer’ is masking dramatic progress in extending the lives of patients with advanced cancer and turning it into a manageable disease long term, a YouGov poll of members of the public and cancer patients has found.
1 month 2 weeks ago
It was Ellington’s Christmas lunch today. What wonderful food everyone provided. It also provided an opportunity for us to say thank you to one of our retiring volunteers Chris for all the wonderful work she did with Annie helping people with their colours and day time make up. Thanks Chris we’ll miss you. You made a real difference to people.
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