The sun made an appearance for our annual Summer Tea with the All-Wales Cancer Community which took place at the Senedd on Wednesday 19 June.
Over a hundred people including Members of the Senedd from across the political spectrum, stakeholders, and Tenovus Cancer Care staff, joined our All-Wales Cancer Community for a cuppa and chat about cancer services in Wales.
Summer tea refreshments were served before our 60-strong Abergavenny and Merthyr Tydfil Sing with Us choir officially opened the event with a wonderful performance.
Our Chief Executive, Judi Rhys, welcomed attendees and introduced the theme of this year’s event: self-advocacy. Judi explained the importance of having a voice and speaking up for your health and the difference it can make in improving outcomes.
New online resources, informed by the All-Wales Cancer Community, were launched at the event with the aim of helping people to help themselves make better decisions concerning their health.
Guests then heard a few words from event sponsor, David Rees, MS for Aberavon & Dirprwy Lywydd, before former First Minister and MS for Cardiff West, Mark Drakeford, took to the stage. He was joined by constituent and All-Wales Cancer Community member, Mal O’Donnell.
Mal, from Ely, has been supported by Tenovus Cancer Care to develop a collection of his poetry documenting his personal and poignant experience of cancer. In a moving moment, Mark presented the book to Mal and the pair did a reading from the anthology. The book will be available at our local shops for a small donation.
The harmonious sound of the Sing with Us choir brought the formal part of the event to a close before guests enjoyed mingling over a cuppa and cake.
Our fundraising campaign ‘Tea for Ten’ was also previewed at the event, where supporters are being asked to hold a tea-party between June and August to help raise vital funds for our Counselling service.
If you would like to be part of the All-Wales Cancer Community, it couldn’t be easier to join. The more voices we have, the stronger our impact can be.
