Mayo Cancer Support Association has announced its new autumn programme of activities. This programme is based on feedback from people who have used its services and is aimed at promoting wellbeing and bringing a sense of fun back into life during and after treatment and into the future.
All of the courses on offer are free of charge to those whose lives have been affected by cancer, whether it is the patient, a family member, or a significant other. Funding has been obtained from the HSE, the VEC, and a private benefactor towards this programme. We are fortunate that the people of Mayo support the association so generously in its fundraising thus enabling it to provide these services to all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
People go to Rock Rose House from all parts of Mayo. Referrals come from Mayo General Hospital, UCHG, GPs, public health specialists, and people can just ring up and book a place on a course. The drop in service is available five days per week. There is no need to make an appointment. You can walk in at any time between 9.30am and 5pm.
Art therapy is a new addition to its programme. This can be group sessions or one to one sessions. The course will run every Tuesday from 10am to 4pm from October to May, excluding Christmas and Easter holidays.
Music therapy will be facilitated by Deirdre Ní Chinnéide. This one day event will be a time of reflection and celebration of Celtic spirituality through art.
Kundalini yoga is a means of enhancing health in body, mind, and spirit and of cultivating a higher consciousness. It is a practical means of increasing vitality and cultivating a sense of wellness and connectedness in the individual.
A barbecue/music evening is a fun event planned to celebrate life and music and to acknowledge the work being done by benefactors, volunteers, supporters, staff, and families and all those who use the services. It will take place on September 17 from 5pm to 8pm.
Stress management classes for six weeks duration will commence on September 15 from 8pm to 10pm.
Bra/prosthesis fitting will be held on Thursday September 16 from 8pm to 10pm.
Therapeutic writing with a clinical psychologist will continue on September 16 from 10.30am to 12.30pm weekly until December 9.
A bereavement support group will run for the month of November on Monday nights from 8pm to 10pm starting on November 1.
At a date to be announced, a breast care evening will be facilitated by Assumpta Walsh, breast care nurse at Mayo General Hospital.
An information evening on prostate cancer will be held on November 9. Eamonn Rogers, consultant urologist, will be the main speaker on this evening and the seminar will be chaired by John McCormack, the chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society. Bernie Byrne, oncology nurse at Mayo General Hospital, will speak and Jim Scott from Men Against Cancer will speak from the patient’s perspective.
Christmas will be celebrated in style with Santa on Saturday December 11 from 2pm to 4pm. Wine tasting and hors d'œuvres will be served on December 13 at 8pm and a talk on diet and nutrition will be held on the same evening at 7pm.
Visit Rock Rose House at 32 St Patrick’s Avenue, Castlebar or call 094 903 8407.
