Sometimes we get donations that are made ‘in memory of loved ones. Quite often these come via the Funeral Directors as the donations are made in lieu of flowers at funerals. We are truly touched and grateful to receive these donations at what must be a very difficult time for all concerned.
We also receive donations from those thinking of the loved ones they lost on a certain date and you can be assured that we are very grateful as all our donations are put toward helping those with throat cancers.
Whether the donation will be made directly from the family and individuals or via the Funeral Director, you can specify a message that we will happily add to our “Absent Friends” page on the website. We can also add a picture of your loved one if you would like us to.
When sending in your donation please include a short letter explaining who the donation is in memory of etc…
If you also include your name and address, we can send you an acknowledgment letter to confirm that we have received the donation and that it has been put into the fund you required.
As with most charities, “20-20 Voice” Cancer relies on the kindness of all those who donate time, money & energy, but leaving a legacy; ie donating to a charity in a will is not something that many people really think about these days.
However, these days it is a simple matter to create your own will, or, if a complicated set of instructions be the case, then there are plenty of solicitors at hand who specialize in such matters and advise quite comprehensively indeed.
We ‘lays’ are still able to tell the tale-thanks to modern technology, ie, electrolarynx, etc. We are a species apart for we have that ability, despite losing our voices, to carry on and rebuild our lives. Indeed, many ‘lay’ return to work some months after their major operation-and all credit to them for that!
We know that medical equipment is expensive but we also now know the power of the “Flexi-Video-RhinoLaryngoscope” (VFR) and the exciting prospects it offers in saving the trauma of losing the voice box, but we also know the horrendous costs involved to purchase. At £15,000 apiece they are not cheap.
“20-20 Voice” Cancer, having now purchased the much-needed FVR at almost £14,000, know only too well that we need every penny we can get in order to buy more of this vital sort of equipment and pay for the support that new plays need, for you can be sure of one thing, and that is that after we have left this earthly world there will be plenty more head, neck & throat cancer sufferers following in our footsteps. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that we have left a little something to help those who may have to go through some (or all) of what we have been through and that ‘little something has made their particular journey a whole heap easier?
Who knows, we might, with modern technology updating every week, have made that vital contribution that has saved cancer victims from losing their ability to speak!
That’s how far medical aid is progressing and that is what you can help to achieve with your generosity in your last will & testament. We are a species apart in the world of cancer for we have been, we have seen and some of us are still able to tell the tale.
1… A share of your estate. After you have provided for your loved ones, you can leave a share of what remains to charity. This is known as a ‘residuary gift’.
2… A cash gift. This is when you leave an exact sum of money to us. It’s known as a ‘pecuniary gift.
3… A specific item or item gift. Over the years charities have received everything from a stream to antique jewelry. The point is that whatever the item is, that item can be transposed into a cash gift for the charity.
4… A gift in trust. You can leave a gift for someone to use over a period of time. When the time has ended, the gift can be passed on to other recipients, such as a charity.
Important: Make sure that YOU give your assets to the people and cause you to love them most, don’t think “oh I’ll let them sort it out when I’m gone” or family frictions may set in. Worse still, without a Will detailing your wishes, your whole estate could end up belonging to the Crown or government.
Write a Will to keep control after you have gone, you know it makes sense!
Alternatively, people are now being asked to send the favored charity a cheque instead of spending money on flowers for the deceased’s funeral. This is an excellent way of ensuring that your loved one’s wishes are carried out with the minimum of fuss and if it is decided that we are to benefit from a loved one’s passing then simply make any cheques out to:
“20-20 Voice” Cancer (and post to) 37, Windley Road, Leicester. LE2 6QX
Please don’t forget that we are here to help, no matter what the problem may be and we can always be contacted on 07757-382970 or by text (same number). Remember that whoever answers your call may have a speech impediment or it may be a ‘bad line’, so please try to be patient. Alternatively, you can use our secure email service and we will answer you as soon as humanly possible.
“Who’s he then?” I hear many of you ask. Well, folks, Ray is one lucky gentleman for he feared the worst back in 2008, went to see his GP, and, luckily, was referred straight away for tests, etc. They found what Ray had feared – Cancer. The journey starts here:
Cancer of the tonsil/s is somewhat rare but with fast, expert treatment it can be eradicated and the voice saved-which is a far better outcome than many of us could ever hope for! Not only has fast, but the expert treatment also saved Ray’s voice, it has left him with the ability to carry on his love of music and singing!
I have met with Ray, who lives in Aylesbury, and welcomed him to “20-20 Voice” Cancer, and in return, Ray has not only become our Aylesbury/Bucks representative but also our ‘anthem‘ as we promote his heartfelt song “The Voice Within” to raise not only our profile but funds as well. Ray is currently completing an album which will go on release sometime soon. He has his own facebook page for you to visit.
Please check out the links provided and read all about this courageous man who has retained the ability to entertain us all through song. Ray has a theatre (singing, not medical ) appointment looming and also school play performances as well as growing media attention.
Mouth cancers are the most common cancers which affect the head and neck area. They can begin in any of the parts of the mouth mentioned above.
Around 1,400 people are diagnosed with cancer of the tongue each year in the UK and 1,500 are diagnosed with cancers affecting other parts of the mouth. Cancer of the lip is uncommon, with fewer than 300 people diagnosed with it every year.
Mouth cancer is more common in people over 50 and it usually affects more men than women. Most mouth cancers develop from cells that line the mouth or cover the tongue and are called squamous cell cancers.
The main causes of mouth cancers are life’s general pleasures of smoking and drinking heavily and the risk is greater if you do both, but always remember that 80% of all lung cancers occur in NONsmokers! Other causes include chewing tobacco or chewing betel or paan, which is a cultural tradition in some Asian communities.
There are other things that may increase the risk of getting mouth cancer, such as eating a poor diet and not cleaning your teeth, or seeing a dentist regularly enough. Having a weakened immune system or a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV) (63%) are also possible risk factors. Being exposed to sunlight over a long period of time is a risk factor for cancer of the lip.
Mouth cancer, like other cancers, isn’t infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.
The two most common symptoms of mouth cancer are:
a mouth ulcer that refuses to heal
discomfort or pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away.
Not everyone has pain or an ulcer. Other symptoms include:
a white (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplakia) patch in the mouth or throat that doesn’t go away
a lump or thickening on the lip, or in the mouth or throat
difficulty or pain with chewing, swallowing, or speaking
bleeding or numbness in the mouth
loose teeth for no obvious reason
a lump in the neck
a lot of weight loss over a short time
bad breath (halitosis).
These symptoms are common in conditions other than cancer. However, if you have any of these symptoms it is important to let your doctor or dentist know straight away. Mouth cancer can be treated more successfully when it’s diagnosed early.
There are two parts to your tongue, the oral tongue and the base of the tongue. Cancer can develop in either. The oral tongue is the part you see when you poke your tongue out at someone, the front two-thirds of your tongue. Cancers that develop in this part of the tongue come under a group of cancers called oral cancer.
The base of the tongue is the back third of the tongue (nb: Michael Douglas). This part is very near your throat (pharynx). Cancers that develop in this part are called oropharyngeal cancers (pronounced oar-o-farin-gee-al).
Types of tongue cancer
The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). Squamous cells are the flat, skin-like cells that cover the lining of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid, and throat. Squamous cell carcinoma is the name given to cancer that starts in these cells.
Symptoms of tongue cancer
The symptoms of tongue cancer may include
Red/white patch/es on the tongue, that will not go away
A never-ending sore throat that refuses to settle down
A consistent sore spot on the tongue
Pain or slight spasms when swallowing
Continuous numbness in the mouth
Unexplained bleeding from a noninjured tongue
Sometimes even a pain in the ear, though this is very rare indeed
Do bear in mind that these symptoms may be due to a less serious medical condition. But it is important to check symptoms with your GP just to make sure. However, there are many GPs who simply don’t have the knowledge so if the symptoms persist – you persist and get a second opinion! (Michael Douglas was found to have ‘back of tongue cancer’ by his 4th Dr – a specialist)
Risks and causes of tongue cancer
We don’t know the exact causes of most head and neck cancers, but several risk factors have been identified, the largest factor being HPV @ 63%. The rapid increase in these types of cancer has been put down to a relaxing society from the 60’s onwards-‘free love’, ‘flower power’ etc, and the main cause in the older generation has been oral sex. Needless to say, smoking/chewing tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, and pipes) has been named & shamed though it only accounts for 12% of cases whereas drinking a lot of alcohol comes in at 23% (unknowns = 2%) There is information about the risks and causes of mouth cancer in the mouth cancer section.
Please Note: This is worldwide information I found, copied, and pasted on a site named uptodate.com.
Worldwide, head and neck cancer account for more than 550,000 cases and 380,000 deaths annually.
In the United States, head and neck cancer accounts for 3 percent of malignancies, with approximately 63,000 Americans developing head and neck cancer annually and 13,000 dying from the disease.
In Europe, there were approximately 250,000 cases (estimated 4 percent of the cancer incidence) and 63,500 deaths in 2012.
Males are affected significantly more than females with a ratio ranging from 2:1 to 4:1. The incidence rate in males exceeds 20 per 100,000 in regions of France, Hong Kong, the Indian subcontinent, central and eastern Europe, Spain, Italy, Brazil, and among African Americans in the United States.
Mouth and tongue cancers are more common in the Indian subcontinent; nasopharyngeal cancer is more common in Hong Kong, and pharyngeal and/or laryngeal cancers are more common in other populations; these factors contribute disproportionately to the overall cancer burden in these Asian countries.
The incidence of laryngeal cancer, but not oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer, is approximately 50 percent higher in African American men. The mortality associated with both laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer is significantly higher in African American men, which may reflect the lower prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity.
In 2016/2017, the “20-20 Voice” Cancer charity carried out an in-depth survey, worldwide regarding the start-to-finish process of self concerns, Dr visits, diagnosis & treatment: you may find the results very interesting in light of the above which has now become available!
Before you start reading this part of the information gathered here, please take a moment to read through the blog of a terminally ill cancer patient who sadly died last night (16th July 2015).
His name:Carlos Antunes
Location:Portugal
Carlos named his cancer “My Ninja” and as you will see, he fought the good fight with all his might ‘until the inevitable end, one might say! He was one brave man who knew what the outcome was to be, yet he never gave in until he had no more to give.
Loved & liked by many, I am told that even in his final days he was an absolute pleasure to be with and a kinder man who has seldom been met! May he rest in eternal peace and may a smidgeon of his bravery pass on to all of us when we need it!
Bone Cancers (Sarcoma’s) Note here that the father of inventive estimation, so as to curry favor with anti-smoking lobbyists, Konrad Jamrozik, died aged 54 of a sarcoma, proving nothing except the fact that cancer can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime! His utterly ridiculous ‘guesstimations’ were the only ‘smoking-related deaths figures’ upon which the SCOTH Committee based their reasoning for introducing a smoking ban in this country.
He invented a figure of 11,000 and by God, that figure is still used now by such as CRUK even though they know that it is a figure conjured from thin air! That ban has seen the death of 15,000 once viable businesses, and 200,000 jobs and has not proven to have saved one single life! Yet it has seen the creation of Chantix/Champix/Varenicline which has twisted people’s minds to such an extent that suicides have become commonplace! America has some 2,000 lawsuits stacked up against Pfizer-interesting that the first settlement came “Out of Court”.
Now, this is a bit of a weird one, though no less devastating for those who suffer from this form of cancer.
This type of cancer is rare in the West but is much more common in the Far East.
It can occur at any age but is more likely to be found in people aged 50-60. It affects more men than women.
There are different types of nasopharyngeal cancer. They are named after the specific type of cell within the nasopharynx that has become cancerous.
Most nasopharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. They develop in the cells that line the nasopharynx. The more common types, which are all treated in a similar way, are:
keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (type 1)
non-keratinizing carcinoma: differentiated (type 2) and undifferentiated (type 3)
basaloid squamous carcinoma.
There are other types of cancer that can develop in the nasopharynx, such as melanoma,lymphoma, and sarcoma. These are much rarer and are treated in different ways.
Click here to learn more about (naso) ‘Nose Cancers’
*****
Check this out out for detailed information regarding
Oesophageal Cancers
There are two main types of cancer of the esophagus: squamous carcinoma, which is more common at the upper end of the gullet, and adenocarcinoma, which is more common at the lower end, particularly around the junction between the gullet and the stomach.
Now we have some great news on the fight against cancer battlefront. You may not believe this but researchers have tried fighting germs/bad cells with different types of germs/bad cells. This video spells it all out for you-I think you will need to watch it twice to grasp the enormity of what is being achieved here!
*****
And on a sadder note, we need to point out that skin cancers can come in many forms, but few so embarrassing as facial skin cancers! Check out some of these sites so as to know what to look for-if, unfortunately, you have to:
Now we all know, or very quickly find out, that once the laryngectomy operation is over and recovery begins we have to eat soft foods for a while in order to start building our strength up again. But what of the taste of these foods? Where has it gone?
For many of us, the sad truth is that we think we can still taste the culinary delights presented but in actual fact we can’t – we only think we can. However, as time passes we do actually claw back a percentage of our ‘taste bud excellence‘. Here is a story to give us all hope as Andrew Hedley found that he was able to start tasting the wines he created. Read this article and be aware of the power we all have within!
Please remember that whatever fundraising activity you undertake to raise money for “20-20 Voice” Cancer, the charity cannot be held responsible for any accidents or injury caused through or by that activity. All we ask is that you take all sensible precautions and enjoy yourselves – and don’t forget that all those people that have lost their voice because of this horrific form of cancer will have the chance to be able to speak again! Ask yourself one simple question…..
…..just what would YOU do without YOUR voice?
A
Afternoon tea – Are you ready to debate how to pronounce the word scone? Then why not host an afternoon tea, whether you do it at work home or at a local venue we are a nation of tea drinkers and so we are sure your event will prove popular. Get the cake stand at the ready, the biscuits plated and the invites out there. Naturally, we have a simple poster for your use in advertising your “Afternoon Tea” sessions….. Download our Afternoon Teas pdf. Generic Poster.pdf
Aerobics-athon – Why not get fit by organising an aerobics-(athon)? Get your family and friends involved too – it’s great to fundraise together! Generic Poster.pdf
Auction / Auction of promises – If you have a rather well-stocked collection of books, ornaments, and records, in fact, no matter what it may be, and you are willing to let go for a good cause an auction could be the fundraising activity for you. A few well-positioned posters in your local town will soon bring interested parties along to your event! You will find many Working Men’s Clubs & Pubs clamouring for business so you have every opportunity of grabbing a great venue for your auction. Generic Poster.pdf
B
Bake Sale – Emulate ‘Little Evie’ and bake your way to fundraising success. Whether you run the event at work, school or your home, be sure to have a great selection ready: give yourself the chance to maximise sales! Can “20-20 Voice” Cancer help you with the Cake Sale poster? Download our Cake and Bake pdf Generic Poster.pdf
Bag packing day – at local supermarkets. Many local supermarkets let charities come in and pack bags, allowing you to ask their customers for donations. Why not pop in and find out if your local supermarket will support you on your quest? If they will then simply register with us as a supporter and we will provide you with collection tubs so that your grateful shoppers can donate. if you want to do this but your local store needs confirmation then please get in touch with us immediately and we will write to them: [email protected]
Baked Bean/Tinned Tomatoes walk – Can you lay out a short walk which comprises either cold baked beans or cold, chopped tinned tomatoes? Ideal for a Fete or school Funday and you can easily charge £2 per ‘walk’ just for the “dare factor” – make sure you have a hose pipe nearby for rinsing of squelchy feet’! Generic Poster.pdf
Bingo – If the phrase two little ducks bring a smile to your face then Bingo could be the activity for you! Our advice: keep it fun and adapt the game for your audience. If they are celebrity obsessed why not use photographs of famous people instead of numbers or perhaps your friends are foodies… food bingo anyone? Generic Poster.pdf
Beard Shaving – Whilst you may love your furry face, what about your friends and family? Would the idea of shaving your beard off have them reaching into their pockets in the name of “20-20 Voice” Cancer? I suppose that you could ask your ‘beardie’ to dye it too (before the big shave) as a way to raise extra funds….. but I fear that might not be received too well. Need a poster to advertise the ‘big shave’ & get more sponsors? Download our Beard Shave pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Bike rides – Can you organise a fundraising bike ride in your community or simply take part in an organised ride? We have three organised rides in Leicester each year and you can join in any/all of them if you wish. There are lots of organised bike rides nationwide so let us know your area and we will try and source all available bike rides where you are! Posters & Sponsorship forms are always at the ready. Generic Poster.pdf
C
Car Boot sales – can you collect all the unwantable and hold a car boot sale in your area? Always remember folks, one man’s rubbish is another man’s GOLD! There are car boots all over the country so why not book yourself into one near you and see just how much you can raise? Advertise your efforts beforehand, everywhere you can think of before the day. On the day, make sure your stall is well advertised as a charity stall. Generic Poster.pdf
Coffee mornings – Most people rely on coffee to get them through the day (I know I do!) so hosting a coffee morning is a great way to fundraise on your lunch break or a Saturday morning. and gathering donations is made easier when you offer something people wanted anyway. Why not ask what sandwiches everyone likes and make them a dinner time ‘pack-up’ for a couple of quid? On a Saturday morning simply lay out the cakes & coffee pot – ‘they will come! And, if you’re looking to host inside of the workplace, why not ask all workmates to donate an extra 20p every time they have a coffee-it soon mounts up you know Poster? Download our Coffee Mornings. pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Collections Tubs – Can you host a “20-20 Voice” Cancer Collection Tub in your office or place of work? Can you place any of our tubs anywhere else? Speak to us and become an agent/representative for “20-20 Voice” Cancer. Download our Collection Tubs pdf
Colour-coded days – This is another great event for the workplace! Why not have a day where you have to wear a certain colour? As you are well aware, our “20-20 Voice” Cancer theme is blue (Pantone actually) so a “Blue day” would be a great start! And then there is Red, Green, Brown etc…! Generic Poster.pdf
D
Dinner Party – An event which can be hosted all year round, on its own or in support of other events a dinner party can be adapted to appeal to most people. The top tip: pick a theme. You could focus on the origins of the food you serve or go theme first, food second and serve dishes from your favourite film. Keep in mind the timing of your event, if your hosting in January why not throw a healthy food dinner party to appeal to all those trying to kick bad habits in the new year?
Dances / Disco – You don’t need access to a ballroom and moves strictly to host a dance (but if you do that’s great) you just need space and music to move to. Will you host your dance at home or will your hire a local venue? Again, your local pub/club may well be able to help you out, after all, it brings more business in for them. Mention that you are fundraising for “20-20 Voice” Cancer and perhaps they will even host one of our Collection Tubs on the bar: you never know! We’ve helped lots of supporters raise funds this way so if a disco is how you want to raise money get in touch and let us help you fundraise too. Download our Disco Nights pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Darts competitions – Set your sights on bulls-eye and keep the game serious charging an entry fee to raise funds. If you are or know of a local darts champion why not charge a fee to play against them? Set up a charity Darts night in your local pub/club ensuring that the winner gets (say) 4 ‘free pints of beer. Determine your own entry fees per ‘tournament’, it’ll draw plenty of would-be ‘Eric Bristows’ in I assure you! Download our Darts pdf Generic Poster.pdf
Dog Walking – can you walk someone’s dog every day to raise money for those that are unable to speak? Just think….. they might turn up on your doorstep one day to rather croakily thank you for your kindness. Some voice is always better than NO voice and we do everything we can to help cancer sufferers to regain some form of voice. Generic Poster.pdf
E
Eating competition – Is there a “Cool Hand Luke” out there? How many hard-boiled eggs could you eat? How about crackers without water? How about a pancake-day fest? When it comes to food there are lots of challenges to be set, you don’t need to think too long to come up with yet another intriguing way of raising money through food. You can raise money with entry fees or tie an eating competition into a larger event. Top tip: breaking records could help you gain press coverage and increase your fundraising (FYI the record for eating a raw onion is 89 seconds-but of course you need to know just how big/small that onion was!) [Guiness Book of Records might help you] Generic Poster.pdf
Easter Egg Hunt – The only constraint here is time – we find eggs are hard to find in December so start planning the next Easters hunt and buy the eggs nearer the time. Generic Poster.pdf
Easter party/Any party – With the school holiday and a long bank holiday weekend, Easter is a great time to fundraise. You’ll have more time to plan the activity and people are more likely to have the time to support you. There are lots of low-cost ways to raise money at an Easter party… from the more obvious Easter egg hunt to a Easter bunny hop race (floppy ears/feet at the ready?). Generic Poster.pdf
F
Face painting competition – Not got the time or resources to organise your own Fete or street party then why not get involved in one which is already taking place and offer your services as a face painter, most events will be happy to have you & your charity onboard. Many schools will be delighted to have the charity aspect working with them. Generic Poster.pdf
Football match / Five-a-side football – Even if you don’t score, this is one match that guarantees you’ll make a difference in 90 minutes. If you’ve got smaller numbers why not opt for a game of five-a-side: 30 minutes? Why not try and utilise a school playing field and create a mini tournament with an entry fee per player – trophy’s/medals are not expensive these days! Why not let spectators donate too – ask them to take part in a penalty shoot-out at the end of the match? “20-20 Voice” Cancer can help with posters & advertising. Download our Football 5 a-side pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Fancy dress days – Fancy dress isn’t just for Halloween, it’s a great way to raise money. If you’re the boss why not have everyone come into work in fancy dress and pay a small donation for the day or if you are a dab hand on a sewing machine why not make up your own costumes to raise money? Top Tip: Why not let your colleagues cast votes on the costume you have to wear for the day, they pay a fee to vote which goes towards vital equipment (and, of course, embarrassing you). Need posters/ideas? Generic Poster.pdf
G
Games Night – You don’t have to be a monopoly board master or play scrabble like Carol Vorderman to host a games night. You just need games, a place and people. It can be as simple as charades or if you have a screen and console to hand why not go down the gaming route, charging friends to play? Tight on time? Put on a lunchtime session at your office, for the price of a coffee your colleagues pay to play. Generic Poster.pdf
The Dancing WuMasters Gig Nights – are you part of a local band or group of musicians that could spare an afternoon or evening to raise funds for our charity? Can you entertain the local community with your music? Then why not drop us a line and tell us what you fancy doing, and where you fancy doing it, to raise funds for “20-20 Voice” Cancer – after all, you have the voices we don’t! Generic Poster.pdf
Girls Night In – Get the girls round and gang up on Head & Neck cancer. It’s simple, just invite your friends round and ask them to donate the amount they would usually spend on a night out towards our life-saving diagnostic equipment. View our free Girl’s Night In pack for more information. Generic Poster.pdf
Give it up! – We all have bad habits, some worse than others (we are looking at your finger/toenail chewers) but if you have a habit you want to kick why not do it whilst fundraising for vital equipment for those without a voice? If your habit is costly why not donate the money you save or if your habit causes more frustration to others than yourself why not have people sponsor you? Why not have a ‘1-month’ sponsored diet? We can provide you with a sponsorship sheet to get friends & relatives involved, just send us some details and we’ll get to work on it. Posters??? No problem! Download our Give it up pdf Generic Poster.pdf
Guess the number of… – Why not get a giant plastic tub and fill it with a variety of sweets etc and then hold a “Guess the number” competition in your local hospital or local marketplace – guaranteed to create a great deal of interest. (Just don’t forget to count the sweets [or whatever you put in the container] as you put them in. We will help with posters & numbered charts etc, Generic Poster.pdf
H
Head Shave – Every popular fundraising activity is the good old head shave! I applaud every single one of your brave hearts for I know only too well what suddenly being bald is all about and It’s a brave way to not only raise money for people that have lost their voice-box but raise greater awareness of Head & Neck cancers. Make sure your bold move gets the recognition it deserves, why not offer people the chance to bid to shave your head, advertise the event locally and get as many brave souls involved as you can. Why not get 3 willing gents and have a “Good, Bad the Ugly” Head Shave? 3 gents = 3 x’s the sponsorship for your favoured charity “20-20 Voice” Cancer! Or, you could go slightly bigger and aim for the “magnificent 7”! The bigger the event the bigger the ‘prize’! Ladies….. you can join in too! Can we help at all? Download our Head Shave pdf Generic Poster.pdf
Halloween Party – Great night to dust off the BBQ and get those burgers flaming nicely and the only thing better suited to fancy dress than a fancy dress party is Halloween so get your invites out and charge guests an entry fee to spend the night apple bobbing to Thriller – cannot fault that idea, folks! Generic Poster.pdf
Hogmanay – (Especially for our friends north of the border ). If you can’t make it to Scotland this year why not bring Scotland to you and throw your very own Hogmanay party? It’s never too late or too cold for a BBQ (under cover of course). Friends can donate the cost they would usually spend on venue entry (and no long queues for the ‘wee room’). Can’t tempt your friends from the streets of Edinburgh/Glasgow? Why not focus your fundraising on the pre-event of Hogmanay and prepare a traditional Hogmanay meal for friends before the celebrations? Go on, you know you can do it! Generic Poster.pdf
I
International evening / International Day – (Quiz-based idea) Whether you’ve travelled the world or just love a particular culture, an international theme is a great way to get people excited about raising money. Ask your local Pub/Club if they would host such an evening. Choose your country/countries (or go ‘around the world) and charge people an entry fee. Have a think about dress codes, food and music. Entertainment such as quizzes can be a great way to raise extra funds at the event. Fancy a poster and/or set of questions to get you started? Generic Poster.pdf
It’s a Knockout – The ultimate school sports day for adults, fun is a big incentive for people to get involved here but we’d also recommend reaching out to looking businesses to donate a prize to help a good cause (and if your event gains press interest they will also get exposure). You’ll need materials so if you, or somebody you know works in a school or local sports centre reach out to them, and if you don’t have one perhaps ask a neighbour if they have a hosepipe you could use. Generic Poster.pdf
Irish Night / Day – It doesn’t have to be St Patrick’s day to celebrate the Irish culture, whether you’ve got Irish blood or just love the music you’re sure to have fun and an Irish focus opens up an array of activities. You can hire a space and throw a party and if you have the skills why not charge people for Irish dance lessons and donate the fee? Generic Poster.pdf
J
Jewellery collection, Jewellery making/selling – If you have high-value pieces you’re looking to donate an auction could be the best route for you, if your skill set lies in making why not put on a ‘make-your-own‘ craft session? You can tie this in with any fundraising Fetes or Rummage sales or even Auction events. Generic Poster.pdf
Jazz – Use Jazz music as the centre of your fundraising. You could put on an evening of entertainment and charge for entry or if you’re a jazz musician yourself you could share your talent and provide music lessons for donations. Generic Poster.pdf
James Bond – The Bond films are iconic and so finding fans shouldn’t be hard and a ‘JB’ quiz night should be easy to arrange!….. but, a James Bond night can offer a lot more than movie watching, get ready to make a lot of drinks but not too many Martinis!
K
Karaoke night – Time to stretch the vocal cords and get ready for a night of karaoke, love it or hate it this fundraiser has proven it’s a great way to raise money. Just think about it folks, you will be fundraising via the one medium we are all working so hard for – to provide VOICE for those who have suffered a great loss courtesy of cancer. If you’re on the lookout for a karaoke machine reach out to friends on social media to save money on renting one. Ask your local pub if they will hold a karaoke night on behalf of the charity with a donation of only £1 per song from each singer. It will not only boost the charity coffers but also boost the bar takings too and that should make for a happy licensee! Need help with a poster? Generic Poster.pdf
Knitting – British weather means that knitwear is often in demand so use your needle skills to raise money. You don’t have to be a “Shreddies Nana” to join in either. Decide how you want to sell your unique items, you could use online auction sites, set up a stall or speak to your local “20-20 Voice” Cancer agent/rep. Want to raise more awareness of your fundraising? Set up a Facebook page, or for more publicity put a few posters out & about to try and get a ‘knitting circle’ going. Generic Poster.pdf
L
Ladies Night / Day – Throw a ladies day (or evening) and get your female friends together. The first challenge will be getting a date in the diary so if this is the event for you start to ask people now about their availability so you can pick a date that works for the majority. Once you’ve got the date, start to think about entertainment. You could have cocktails and canapés or a Mad Hatters tea party. You know your guests so choose what makes them tick. Generic Poster.pdf
Luncheon / Lunch – You don’t have to be a lady to lunch, men can ‘lunch’ too. if your office has a habit of ordering food on a Friday why not cook up your own treats? You’ll save your colleagues time by buying lunch which will give them even longer to enjoy their food. Generic Poster.pdf
M
Marathon events – Before you skip this and go to the next idea, just have a little read and think. A marathon doesn’t have to mean running or walking extreme distances. In the past, supporters have raised money with marathon DJ sets, roller skating, card playing etc. Decide if you want an activity that will take you 26.2 miles, minutes or hours. You can subdivide if you want into 26 x 10/20/30 minute sessions –it all adds up to that magical 26 number!
Matched Giving – Whether you are raising money in the office or outside of work, ask your employer/sponsor/local business about matched giving. Lots of our fundraisers have the amount they raise matched by their employer/sponsor/local business so don’t be afraid to ask. If you never ask you simply never get it!
MILE of coins – Can you find a safe location where you can start a massive fundraiser off? I remember seeing this done along a church wall in Leigh-on-Sea many, many years ago and you would be surprised to know just how many people added their contributions. To keep the coins steady you need them 3-deep, then the next row 3-deep and covering half of each of the piles beneath. The stacks only go 3 rows high but it is amazing just how many coins are there at the finish! Of course, to make it a ‘mile of coins’ you need to work out how many rows (width) you need to create & the distance of each row….. have fun folks! Generic Poster.pdf
Magic of Motown Tickets Motown Night – Can you organise or get your landlord/ladies help in organising a fabulous MMN (Motown Musical Night)? I’ll guarantee that you fill the place as letting the message be ‘out there that one night of all that fabulous music is going to be available to all & sundry. But, beware of one thing folks – know your venue capacity as I’m exceedingly confident that ticket sales will soon reach capacity levels! Download our Motown Night pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Music and mulled wine evening – Pop, rock, or Jazz regardless of genre if fundraising through music appeals to you it’s time to start thinking about your event. Will you be performing or looking for local acts to support you? Do you know of a local band that would pitch in and hold a gig for you? You could keep it simple with a Saturday busking session, but if you’re thinking bigger start to look at venues (or start being extra nice to friends with big gardens). There could be support available in your local community, see our page on local fundraising groups. Generic Poster.pdf
N
No Make-Up Selfie / Natural Week – Want to take it one step further, why not go natural for a full day, week or (dare I suggest it?) a whole month? Generic Poster.pdf
Name the … – Name the laryngectomy teddy, laryngectomy bunny or laryngectomy dog. Whatever it is you choose, tap into people’s competitive nature with a simple guessing game. Charge per entry and the winner takes home poor lary bear/bunny/dog. Download our Lary Bear pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
New Year’s Eve dance/party – Avoid a night of queuing and host your own New Year’s Eve party. Similar to Hogmanay you get to control the music and the guest list and can charge cheaper than local pub for entry and donate the fee. It’s simply won/win folks. Generic Poster.pdf
O
Office Collection Day / Office Fundraising – Short of time but eager to make a difference? Then fundraising in the office could be the right activity for you. Fundraising activities for the office could include; Cake Bake Sales, the simple Football Card goes well, dress down day or perhaps take breakfast/lunch orders and set up your own tea/food trolley: a morning coffee could make workers happy to sponsor you. Introduce a “20-20 Voice” Cancer Collection Tub for any donations etc Generic Poster.pdf
Open Garden / Day – Have a “20-20 Voice” Cancer day If your garden is in full bloom or you have a house with a colourful history. Why not open your doors for an entry fee and host an open house? With the kitchen close by it will be easy to offer teas & coffees to raise extra funds and it will also be a great way to introduce the neighbours to “20-20 Voice” Cancer! A multi-prize raffle & ‘tombola should also go well here. Generic Poster.pdf
P
Pamper Day – It’s likely your friends are already spending money on pampering (the UK beauty industry is worth £17 billion per annum) so why not plan a day that offers the break people need and leaves them feeling good in more ways than one? Are you a trained beautician, masseuse, or hairdresser? “20-20 Voice” Cancer need your skills. If pampering is more of a hobby, whilst we’d suggest staying away from offering haircuts, why not have your friends over for a night-in? You could even make your own beauty products which will help keep guests entertained and expenditure low. Generic Poster.pdf
Pancake race / Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday – Ideal day for a ‘pig out on pancakes’ competition-how many could you eat?. Shrove Tuesday or pancake-day, we don’t mind what you call it as long as you flip & eat for “20-20 Voice” Cancer. Generic Poster.pdf
Poker Nights – Why not get a few of your mates around for a night of poker playing? Better still, could your pub set up a poker tournament with say a £5 entry fee and the winner receiving a Trophy or a gallon of beer perhaps? Generic Poster.pdf
Q
Quiz night – The pub, local club, village hall, local sports centre and your best mate’s garden are all venues suitable for hosting a quiz. Decide what is right (and available) to you and get working on those questions. Will the focus change by rounds or will your quiz be more channelled, with all questions specific to a particular band, film or book? You host the night and guests pay to play. Simple… but the questions might not be. Don’t forget that “20-20 Voice” Cancer can provide you with posters to advertise your night & a full set of questions on multiple topics. Download our Quiz nights pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Quaintly British Day of Celebrating – Bunting, Bangers, Tea and Scones are just a few things that spring to mind, perhaps for you, it is afternoon tea, marmite & jam, maybe a Sunday Roast and veg, possibly a good old English breakfast? Put on a celebration of all things Quaintly British. You can charge entry and raise funds with tombolas and bake sales & also run a raffle if you so choose! Generic Poster.pdf
R
Raffle – A “20-20 Voice” Cancer raffle is great to have at a fundraising event or as part of your fundraising for a wider event you just charge a fee for tickets and the winner gets a prize, this could also work as a stand-alone fundraising activity. Just be aware of offering unwanted gifts as prizes, your friends may recognise them! However, be heartened by the fact that local businesses will often donate a worthy item for you to raffle off as a ‘major’ prize. Download our Works Raffle pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Running – Build your own team of ’trainer trotters’ (training wearing heroes & heroines) and fundraise by running! No organised event yet? Just you and your trainer trotting ideas so far? Simply get in touch with us and we will help you organise your running event. Download our Running to raise pdf Generic Poster.pdf
Rock ‘n’ Roll nights – Has your local pub/club got the room for a bit of jiving (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3U4mFO2xxs)? We’ve found that quite a few pubs with a reasonable area have turned one night per month into a fantastic ‘golden oldies’ night with ‘RnR’ and by jingo, ‘you wanna see some of them move‘! It’s a great night for a raffle and also to let even more people know who we are, what we are doing & why we are doing it. Need a poster to advertise your RnR night, then simply get in touch with us asap and we’ll help you all we can. Download our Rock n Roll nights PDFGeneric Poster.pdf
S
Sweepstakes – Want a way to fundraise fast, a sweepstake could be the perfect way for you to raise money. You have one question for example, ‘How many sweets are in the jar?’ and people pay to be given an answer. Whoever has the winning answer gets a prize and you donate the money raised. We have a “20-20 Voice” Cancer sweepstake format to make this extra easy (just let us know the event well in advance please): try your local hospital or pub/club. It’s very simple to create a board with squares for people to place their guesses/names. Generic Poster.pdf
Skydiving – some of our supporters are super brave. Despite the obvious fear factor, skydives are one of the most popular fundraising activities so join our dedicated fundraisers, get in touch and start organising your skydive today. This is NOT a cheap option but with the right marketing, it can create an awful lot of interest & revenue – which is exactly what you want to do!
Sponsored Silence – Ever pleaded with your child to shut up for 5 minutes??? If you’re a chatterbox who finds being silent rather a challenge then perhaps you could raise funds with a “sponsored silence”. As many of our fellow laryngectomees know only too well ‘silence is not so golden’ when forced upon you! Just remember, you probably have a voice so don’t be quiet about the cause ( “20-20 Voice” Cancer ) or your fundraising before & after the event! This is a great one to get the kids involved in-and simply sponsor your own child to remain silent for the longest. Need a sponsorship sheet to record the length of the great silence? Download our Silence pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Smartie Tubes – whatever you do folks never forget our flagship fundraiser, the good old reliable Smartie Tubes. You know how this works by now folks as you simply get a group of you together (office mob is ideal) and send in for your smarties & instructions. You then eat the smarties and refill the empty tube with 20p pieces (or even £1 coin if you like ) – SIMPLES! Download our Smartie Saver pdf Generic Poster.pdf
T
Tea Party – A good cuppa can change your mood, we drink it when we are sad, we drink it when we are happy and today why not drink it to help those with no voice regain that all-important first word? Download our Tea/Coffee mornings pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Tug-of-War – we know that together we can provide those with throat cancer with the diagnostic equipment to get to the problem sooner than is the norm, but will you help us keep the momentum going? Let’s pull together and buy the equipment that is badly needed.
University Challenges – Why not meet up and speak with your local University students, I’m fairly sure that they will be happy to help you organise some pretty good fundraising events – particularly in RAG Week. Generic Poster.pdf
Uniform-free day – This is a great way to get raise funds at school or let everyone relax a little with a dress-down dress code. Swapping your usual uniform for a fancy dress could help you raise even more money. Generic Poster.pdf
V
Valentine’s Day – Lots of single friends and a penchant for matchmaking? Then get organise a singles event from speed-dating to organising a full-blown valentines ball the best part of this is that even if you don’t get a love match you know that people can go home happy knowing they have supported such an important cause as “20-20 Voice” Cancer. Don’t have the resource (or friends willing) for a singles event, which does not bake some love-themed goodies for the office. Or why not throw the alternative Valentine’s Day event, whether it’s fitness or food make the theme ‘what you love and ask for donations from friends who attend. Generic Poster.pdf
Vintage – Got enough vintage shirts, old toy cars, cigarette cards, books etc to set up your own stall? Got an eye for finding furniture gems online and at local car boots (?) then why not organise your own ‘vintage sale’ and donate proceeds to “20-20 Voice” Cancer? If you don’t have enough to organise your own stall why not organise a vintage clothes swap, people pay a small fee for entry and you raise funds on the day with activities such as ‘cake n bake’ sales, perhaps selling lemonade/tea/coffee to keep people refreshed while they swap! Generic Poster.pdf
W
Walk – Where and how far will you walk to fight cancer? Some walked over 89 miles to cover the Isle of Man boroughs, some have walked Hadrians Wall, some walked 5k whilst others did it blindfolded but they all did it with the same aim, to help give a voice back to a cancer sufferer sooner. So whether you head to your shopping centre in your clodhoppers or trainers or make your way from John O’Groats – Lands End, walk with purpose and become a very important “20-20 Voice” Cancer fundraiser today. Download our Walking-Ramblers pdfGeneric Poster.pdf
Wax It – It’s a classic fundraising technique that provides an interesting insight into how much your friends are willing to pay to hear you shout ‘Ouch’. A packet of wax strips (and maybe some aloe vera) is all you need to raise money with wax off. Generic Poster.pdf
Wear It – People like to laugh, so give them an incentive to sponsor you by letting them nominate what crazy clobber you can wear for an hour or a day even! Generic Poster.pdf
Wolf Run – Is there a ‘Wolf Run‘ anywhere near you? If so could you organise a big party for you to take on the challenge and raise vital funds for Head & Neck cancer sufferers? Leicestershire & Warwickshirehost Wolf Runs throughout the year but beware as you need to book up early, for both venues attract a monstrous amount of competitors. We can soon create a poster for you and you can also advertise via our generic poster –> Generic Poster. pdf … Don’t forget folks, the more you get involved the more funds & sponsorship you can get! You might get a bit muddy but there is always a welcoming bar on site!
X
X-Factor Competition – Fundraising is all about doing what you can to make a difference, so if you can hit the high notes like Mariah Carey or the low notes, Lee Marvin style, then an X-Factor style competition could be right for you. If you’re not the singer in the group stick to hosting and if you can’t get find the talent to compete why not host a night to watch the show? You can put a sweepstake on the show, from who’ll be the first to go to how many times the phrase “I didn’t like it, I loved it” gets used. The prize can be a percentage of the money raised or a non-monetary prize of your choosing (Trophy).
Y
Yoga marathon – Know your tree pose from your downward dog? Lots of fundraisers use skills they already have to successfully raise money so if you are a self-confessed Yogi why not run a not-for-profit class, your pupils will not only have invested in their own health but also have the added satisfaction that they have made a difference to other people’s wellbeing too. Generic Poster.pdf
Year to Remember – What was the most memorable year of your life? Why not make it this year, and for all the right reasons-Believe in Yourself!. What could you do for a year to make a difference? Doing something every day for 365 days is the ultimate dedication and a sure way to encourage people to sponsor you. But, what to do? How about walking dogs every day for a year and donating the money you make? Or how about giving something up for a whole year? How about simply saving 1 x 20p coin every single day for a year? Remember those Smartie Tubes !!!
Z
Zumba – They Zumba’d with the girls, whilst others Zumba’d with the boys. Some simply Zumba’d together! Others did it in water, some on ice & some in a field. Some did it wearing pink, some yellow & some in polka dots (!) but one thing stayed the same… they all Zumba’d their way to fitness & vital fundraising for “20-20 Voice” Cancer. Ready to get fitter & feel the rhythm? Then get in touch and tell us how you would Zumba for “20-20 Voice” Cancer. Don’t forget folks, we can provide information & sponsorship sheets for virtually any event you care to put on. Need a poster? Generic Poster.pdf
*****
Please note that we also provide a Generic poster (Generic PDF) & sponsorship sheet (Sponsorship PDF) which have blank boxes for you to fill in with all your relevant details. You can either ‘dress the poster’ to suit your needs on your computer, or, simply print off and stick your required designs on manually before simply photo-copying to the desired number of copies.
Although it is said that you could put 1,000 lays in a room together yet everyone would be different (and I truly believe this would be the case) there is one problem that affects all lays –
BREATHING.
The new airway created during surgery
No great surprise there then as the normal passage of air has been shut down (nasal & oral) and the new airway opened up in the throat, via a marvelous bit of surgery & needlework by your surgeon. It is very easy to say, “well, at least I can breathe properly” but in actual fact, you can’t and that is because the body’s natural filters (nasal passages, etc) no longer deal with the inflow of air and therefore the lungs are suddenly exposed to all sorts of pollution that currently sits in our supposed ‘clean air that we breathe. Note here that the World Health Organisation has categorically stated that our ‘clean air‘ & cooking vapors/emissions are now leading causes of cancer (various types).
As many of you know, once leaving the hospital with your new breathing system firmly in place and all the protective information to hand, it is a big frightening world out there as you have very little protection against chest infections which are easily caused by rapid temperature changes, damp atmospheres, hot dry atmospheres etc.
It takes time to adjust to your new way of life. Some larys need constant nebulizer applications, using a variety of Saline, Salbutamol & Budesonide solutions to keep the airway moistened & open and some larys need a semi-permanent lary tube inserted in the airway to keep the airway open and to continue to breathe.
Don’t worry, not all airways decide to contract for as I said at the beginning-everyone is different. What you have to remember is that all this surgery is one hell of a shock to the system and therefore, there are bound to be reactions as your body attempts to regain control of its severely altered functions. The early tube is made to accept a stoma button in the end of it so that the air you inhale is filtered properly and you will find that your speech/respiratory nurse will advise which type to go for. (Countrywide Supplies provide a tremendous range of equipment needed by lars-and delivers to your door!)
This brings us to breathing-your very life blood (no pun intended of course). Take a breath dear reader….. now hold it for 50 seconds….. struggling already as you read this?….. I’m not surprised in the slightest – breathe out and regain your composure, please. As ladies we have to be able to control our breathing at all times-and believe me, sometimes this is not an easy task.
Your ENT/Speech Therapist/Respiratory team will educate you in all matters of breathing, and yes, they are all highly trained, highly skilled, and extremely caring but once you have been shown how to control your breathing you quickly find ‘your own method‘ (from all you have learned) of control. A combination of short breaths, long breaths, quick/slow breaths, it doesn’t matter; it is literally what helps YOU to calm down and control YOUR breathing.
Never forget that while you are puffing & panting like an old steam train your heart is working overtime to pump the oxygen around your heaving body-not good. No matter where you are, no matter what you are doing (especially COPD/Emphysema sufferers) you need to get your breathing under control. [Note here that I have found my own way. I don’t care where I am or if people look at me as ‘go out, I know that I need to control my breathing-so I go through my silent routine.]
Being a lady you will find that a chest infection is your worst nightmare, your enemy to wellness. It causes you untold fatigue, a copious amount of secretions, discomfort with ‘wheeze’/crackling in the lungs, feeling lifeless, off your food, etc. You will no doubt be on strong antibiotics and a steroid (probably Prednisolone) to fight off the infection.
Do NOT venture out into the cold, clammy air, stay indoors, relax as best you can, and let the medicinals do their job. Remember also that having a lary tube in place enhances the difficulty of ridding the airway of phlegm (which quite often congeals somewhat to form ‘plugs’). Keep a suction machine permanently plugged in and literally suck out the unwanted secretions asap. Again, this will avoid stressing your heart. I would also advocate that you ‘up your dosage’ of nebulizer usage too as you need to keep the airway clear & moistened.
When you are indoors, try not to do too much, try and relax as much as possible, for this takes an enormous strain off the body as it fights the infection. Listening to soft music is a great relaxant and there are plenty of relaxation tapes/discs/CDs that literally lull you into a semi stupor-and that is exactly what they are supposed to do. Does it matter if the washing up doesn’t get done for another hour? Have you got the energy to hoover round? Did you really need to start polishing? I don’t think so-so be told. Relax, chill out, put some nice relaxing music on, and simply chill out!
In building our support system we contact many companies dealing with various goods that will help ladies and the enjoyment of life and on the music front, we have found that “Knighton Music & the bebop shop” (an excellent online music service) is in a class of its own as far as selection, despatch & service are concerned. We have formed an association with this online company and recommend that you search their vast listings to find the music that you know relaxes you.
Relaxation is half the battle when disposing of chest infections/colds/stress etc and believe me, there is nothing better than relaxing comfortably and listening to the sounds of your choice, whether it be classical music, Motown, 60’s pop music, dolphins & the sea, heavy rock, jazz, basically whatever ‘floats your boat. The bebopshop & the knightonmusicgroup are the same group-only the music genres have been separated for ease of searching etc. ( www.knightonmusicgroup.co.uk
Remember, the sooner you get your breathing under control the sooner your heart returns to its normal rhythm, the calmer you will feel, and the quicker you will fight off any infections-give it a try!
Hi there, folks, we have good news for you all. Now that we are finally registered with the Charities Commission (Reg No: 1156733) we can now advertise the “Charity Donation” website that we will be registering with and also that you can donate through. By doing so your £10, £20, £50, is increased by them as they do earn a small percentage out of ‘bumping up’ donations for charitable causes. The links will be here as well as on the front page of our website.
My donate – We are in business folks!
MyDonate £12.35 to charity per £10 donation with Gift Aid. More info
WE DO NOT USE any other charitable website as they all seem to have charges that be incurred by whoever uses their facilities. I’m talking about ‘set-up‘ fees and/or ‘monthly’ charges, which of course we want to save for the vital equipment we are buying for our ENT Cancer Departments, therefore any event you fancy taking on/setting up to raise money for “20-20 Voice” Cancer, simply log onto MyDonate and set it all up so that your friends, family, workmates, etc can contribute quickly & simply.
Anyone can donate directly to the Chairman’s own MyDonate page, which is linked directly to the charity bank account.
So folks, there you go, you now know how to make YOUR precious donation even more precious. Whichever charity event you choose, you can be sure that you are always helping us with every penny available making our work that little bit easier.
By Post: Simply send your cheque (payable to “20-20 Voice” Cancer) to “20-20 Voice” Cancer, 37, Windley Road, Leicester. LE2 6QX. You can also send cash if you wish and we will happily send you a receipt for your generous donations.
