It is only when you see what a difference it makes and when you experience the mobile unit for yourself that you see just how brilliant it really is.
When Joanne York was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of 2024, the first thing she asked was whether she would be able to have her treatment on the mobile unit near her home.
And it wasn’t just the convenience of the location prompting Joanne’s request because fundraising to keep the cancer care units on the road has been a family affair for her for a very long time.
Her mum, Jenny Green, has been involved in charity fundraising for more than 40 years and has been raising money for Hope for Tomorrow since 2016.
Joanne’s dad, Vic Green, used to be part of a country and western band that put on gigs to add to the funds, too.
Inevitably, Joanne got involved long before her own diagnosis, so she was only too familiar with the service offered when she needed to use it herself.
I had seen friends of the family and neighbours getting their treatment there, so I didn’t hesitate for a second. I knew that was where I wanted to have my treatment too
“It is only when you see what a difference it makes and when you experience the mobile unit for yourself that you see just how brilliant it really is,” she says.
Joanne, 43, found a lump in her breast while in the shower but wasn’t too worried about it, thinking it was probably a swollen gland. But she did see her GP and was very quickly diagnosed with breast cancer.
“The time from the diagnosis to the treatment was so quick, I really can’t fault the response I got. Everyone was wonderful,” she says.
“I was told my condition was completely curable, so I think that helped me to just roll with it, and I put my trust in the treatment. Compared to others, I haven’t had too bad a journey; I have been very lucky.”
Initially, Joanne had to attend Cheltenham Hospital for chemotherapy, and she then underwent a mastectomy. On a bad day, that journey from her home in Cinderford to the hospital was a 2-hour round trip plus a 1-hour 40-minute treatment.
“I used to be so miserable for days when I knew I had to make the journey as there is such a bottleneck of traffic into Cheltenham.
“It makes the whole process really stressful wondering if you are going to make your appointment on time. I couldn’t go alone either as after chemo, I would be asleep as soon as I got back in the car.”
Joanne was relieved when she was told she could move on to have her chemotherapy on ‘Helen’, the unit that is parked around 7 minutes from her house.
Joanne visits her local mobile cancer care unit, ‘Helen’
“It means I can be in and out and back home in bed for a rest in no time at all.
“I was so keen to move on to the unit, firstly, because it’s on my doorstep, but also everything is just so quick and easy on there, and I can pick up my prescription from there too.
“When you are sick, you want everything to be as easy as possible.
“Psychologically, I found that going to the hospital somehow felt so much more serious. It’s a very clinical environment, and there are a lot of very sick people there who understandably are not in the mood for banter, so it’s a very different experience.
“Patients on the mobile unit were happy to chat and swap stories and have a chuckle. That helps to put you at ease.
“There are only four chairs, and everyone there is usually very personable. We talk about anything and everything. It seems so much better for your well-being. It puts you at ease and in a good frame of mind.
“The same nurses rotate from working on the wards. They are doing the same job, but the atmosphere on the unit is just so much more relaxed.
In the past, Joanne has worked for two breweries, Hillside, which is no longer in business but was involved in a lot of fundraising for the mobile units and more recently, Bespoke Brewery in Littledean, which even though she no longer works there, still runs a monthly quiz and donates the proceeds into Joanne’s Just Giving page for the charity.
“We set out at the start of the year to raise £5,000, but already we have hit more than £4,000, so we are well on course to beat that now,” she says.
Joanne has now finished her treatment, and she rang the bell to celebrate at Cheltenham Hospital in October (Fri 18th), But the fundraising shows no sign of stopping.
Joanne York (right), plus Sue Matthews and Jenny Green pictured at their fundraising coffee morning in July 2024.
She is now planning a 24-hour charity triathlon, hopefully with a group of friends, possibly in May next year, with the proceeds going to Hope for Tomorrow.
It’s a passion of hers that is quite infectious and looks set to continue. People who come in contact with Joanne seem to get swept up in her enthusiasm. Her business partner, Nix Barnaville, shaved her head earlier in the year to raise money for the units.
“I have been surrounded by some fantastic people who have kept me going through everything,” she says.
“And since I discovered it takes £45k to keep the unit on the road for a year, I can’t think about giving up the fundraising. It’s a brilliant service, and it’s much needed.”
Joanne and her mum, Jenny, 74, are both planning to sign up to be volunteers to do talks for the charity in the future.
“We are just going to keep going. You can’t put a price on what these units provide for people going through cancer.”
It is only when you see what a difference it makes and when you experience the mobile unit for yourself that you see just how brilliant it really is.
When Joanne York was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of 2024, the first thing she asked was whether she would be able to have her treatment on the mobile unit near her home.
And it wasn’t just the convenience of the location prompting Joanne’s request because fundraising to keep the cancer care units on the road has been a family affair for her for a very long time.
Her mum, Jenny Green, has been involved in charity fundraising for more than 40 years and has been raising money for Hope for Tomorrow since 2016.
Joanne’s dad, Vic Green, used to be part of a country and western band that put on gigs to add to the funds, too.
Inevitably, Joanne got involved long before her own diagnosis, so she was only too familiar with the service offered when she needed to use it herself.
I had seen friends of the family and neighbours getting their treatment there, so I didn’t hesitate for a second. I knew that was where I wanted to have my treatment too
“It is only when you see what a difference it makes and when you experience the mobile unit for yourself that you see just how brilliant it really is,” she says.
Joanne, 43, found a lump in her breast while in the shower but wasn’t too worried about it, thinking it was probably a swollen gland. But she did see her GP and was very quickly diagnosed with breast cancer.
“The time from the diagnosis to the treatment was so quick, I really can’t fault the response I got. Everyone was wonderful,” she says.
“I was told my condition was completely curable, so I think that helped me to just roll with it, and I put my trust in the treatment. Compared to others, I haven’t had too bad a journey; I have been very lucky.”
Initially, Joanne had to attend Cheltenham Hospital for chemotherapy, and she then underwent a mastectomy. On a bad day, that journey from her home in Cinderford to the hospital was a 2-hour round trip plus a 1-hour 40-minute treatment.
“I used to be so miserable for days when I knew I had to make the journey as there is such a bottleneck of traffic into Cheltenham.
“It makes the whole process really stressful wondering if you are going to make your appointment on time. I couldn’t go alone either as after chemo, I would be asleep as soon as I got back in the car.”
Joanne was relieved when she was told she could move on to have her chemotherapy on ‘Helen’, the unit that is parked around 7 minutes from her house.
Joanne visits her local mobile cancer care unit, ‘Helen’
“It means I can be in and out and back home in bed for a rest in no time at all.
“I was so keen to move on to the unit, firstly, because it’s on my doorstep, but also everything is just so quick and easy on there, and I can pick up my prescription from there too.
“When you are sick, you want everything to be as easy as possible.
“Psychologically, I found that going to the hospital somehow felt so much more serious. It’s a very clinical environment, and there are a lot of very sick people there who understandably are not in the mood for banter, so it’s a very different experience.
“Patients on the mobile unit were happy to chat and swap stories and have a chuckle. That helps to put you at ease.
“There are only four chairs, and everyone there is usually very personable. We talk about anything and everything. It seems so much better for your well-being. It puts you at ease and in a good frame of mind.
“The same nurses rotate from working on the wards. They are doing the same job, but the atmosphere on the unit is just so much more relaxed.
In the past, Joanne has worked for two breweries, Hillside, which is no longer in business but was involved in a lot of fundraising for the mobile units and more recently, Bespoke Brewery in Littledean, which even though she no longer works there, still runs a monthly quiz and donates the proceeds into Joanne’s Just Giving page for the charity.
“We set out at the start of the year to raise £5,000, but already we have hit more than £4,000, so we are well on course to beat that now,” she says.
Joanne has now finished her treatment, and she rang the bell to celebrate at Cheltenham Hospital in October (Fri 18th), But the fundraising shows no sign of stopping.
Joanne York (right), plus Sue Matthews and Jenny Green pictured at their fundraising coffee morning in July 2024.
She is now planning a 24-hour charity triathlon, hopefully with a group of friends, possibly in May next year, with the proceeds going to Hope for Tomorrow.
It’s a passion of hers that is quite infectious and looks set to continue. People who come in contact with Joanne seem to get swept up in her enthusiasm. Her business partner, Nix Barnaville, shaved her head earlier in the year to raise money for the units.
“I have been surrounded by some fantastic people who have kept me going through everything,” she says.
“And since I discovered it takes £45k to keep the unit on the road for a year, I can’t think about giving up the fundraising. It’s a brilliant service, and it’s much needed.”
Joanne and her mum, Jenny, 74, are both planning to sign up to be volunteers to do talks for the charity in the future.
“We are just going to keep going. You can’t put a price on what these units provide for people going through cancer.”
