News of the grant comes as the UK marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity was awarded a grant worth £1,500 from Weston Park Cancer Charity to support a prostate cancer support group held in Whiston, Rotherham.
The group gives people who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer the opportunity to come together and share their experiences. It is run by Suzanne Miles, who works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.
The grant will cover the cost of venue hire and refreshments for the group for two years. The award was made as part of the charity’s small grants programme, which provides up to £1,500 for any project that benefits people in the region who have been affected by cancer.
The Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist team runs two prostate cancer support groups each month – one for men who have gone through surgery or radiotherapy, and a second for men with more advanced cancer.
The group helps patients to find community and build an invaluable peer support network in a friendly and welcoming space.
Staff from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s Urology Department are on hand to offer advice during the sessions. In the past, the group has also hosted guest speakers from organisations such as Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Suzanne Miles, Clinical Nurse Specialist at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our team provides professional and compassionate care to our patients, but I wanted to do something that enhanced our clinical roles.
“I realised there was a need for a friendly space in which men could come together and support each other through what is often the most difficult time in their lives. The support group started out with a few core members and has grown to between 30 and 40 gentlemen, which has been lovely to see.
“We’re thrilled to receive a grant from Weston Park Cancer Charity, which will pay for room hire and refreshments. We have a lovely rapport with our patients, and they can now look forward to another two years of support from their peers and professionals close to home.
“Our patients tell us that the group has made a difference to their positivity and resilience. Group members form friendships and can have honest discussions in an informal setting with other people going through similar experiences.”
Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising at Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity, said: “We are so grateful to Weston Park Cancer Charity for awarding us a £1,500 grant for the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
“It’s wonderful to know that the group can continue to support men through their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Both our charities are passionate about enhancing patient care and this shows what wonderful things we can achieve when we work together.”
Grace Rawson, from Weston Park Cancer Charity’s Small Grants Committee said: “This March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – a very fitting time to announce this funding for Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s fantastic prostate cancer support group.
“We’re delighted to be working together with The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity to support patients. We hope this grant helps even more people impacted by cancer to build community and friendship.”
Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity raises money to enhance the health, happiness and wellbeing of patients in the community and at Rotherham Hospital. It funds resources, equipment and projects that the NHS would ordinarily not be able to afford – from support groups to life-saving equipment.
Weston Park Cancer Charity helps people throughout the region to live well, with and beyond cancer. The charity has a comprehensive grant giving programme, which supports individuals, research, community projects, and training opportunities.