Growing interest in breast cancer group

The first meeting of a breast cancer support group in Southwell was attended by 18 women who had or were recovering from the disease.

The Southwell Pink Ladies met at Gossip’s coffee house on Friday.

A founding member, Mrs Julie Astill (64) of Stenton Close, Southwell, said she was pleased with the number of people who attended.

She said: “People seem very interested in the group.

“Even people who haven’t been affected by breast cancer have said that having a support group is a really good idea and something that was needed in the town.

“Local women can come along when they are first diagnosed. They may want to chat to people who have been through a similar sort of experience.”

The group plans to meet once a fortnight or once a month. The time and date of the next meeting will be decided at a committee meeting today.

A raffle at the meeting raised £29 and Mrs Heather Matthews raised almost £50 by selling homemade jams at the Westgate Salon, Westgate, Southwell. The money will go to breast cancer charities.

The owner of the Spar shop, Leeway Road, Southwell, Mr Nick Turner, paid for the tea and coffee at the meeting and Mrs Lynn-Marie Hamilton of Lynn-Marie’s Salon, Archer’s Field, Southwell, made pink table displays.

The group has been chosen as Southwell Co-op’s charity of the year.

A group member, Mrs Tricia Bowie (56) of Dornoch Avenue, Southwell, said: “They are going to have a raffle in the shop, have a pink week where all the staff will wear pink and a carwash.