North Oxfordshire (Banbury)

NORTH OXFORDSHIRE LYMPHOMA SUPPORT GROUP

ABOUT THE GROUP:
The North Oxfordshire Group was started in October 2004 following a chance meeting by from the Banbury area at the Lymphoma Association Annual Conference in May 2004 at Milton Keynes. Both people felt that that the conference was an excellent opportunity to meet and talk to other patients and that a local group based in the Banbury area would be useful.

With support from the Lymphoma Association and our local Consultant Haematologist, an inaugural meeting was arranged to see if there was enough support for a group in the area. More than 40 people attended and there was a clear mandate to start a support group. Initially the group met on a monthly basis and this later changed to every other month which seems to work well.

Our meetings are very informal with plenty of time to have a cup of tea and chat with other members. This provides mutual support by sharing experiences and coping techniques. Everyone is very friendly and new members quickly find themselves at ease. We sometimes have guest speakers, fun quiz nights, visits to other departments within the hospital, meals out and visits from lymphoma professionals and from the Lymphoma Association. The group is self-financing by holding a small raffle during the evening.

Our support group is not a fundraising group, although sometimes members organise their own fundraising events.

MEETING DATES:
20 October
1 December: Informal Christmas get together

All meetings start at 7:00pm

MEETING LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:
The Terence Mortimer Post Graduate Centre,
The Horton Hospital,
Oxford Road,
Banbury,
OX16 9AL

The centre is located adjacent to the Horton Hospital and is accessed from the Oxford Road. If approaching Banbury from the Oxford direction, you pass the main hospital entrance on the left and the take the next turning left and then immediately turn right. If coming from the Banbury Town Centre direction you go through two sets of traffic lights and then take the next turning left and immediately right. The centre has ample free parking outside.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
We realise that it may be daunting for new people to attend a meeting for the first time, particularly if they have only recently been diagnosed. If you would like a chat to one of the group before your visit, please feel free to contact the group coordinators. It is usually better to ring either Liz or Geoff before attending the first meeting as occasionally we have a meeting away from the Post Graduate Centre.

Liz Rodrick on 01295 253817 
Geoff Wilkins on 01280 702217
Or Email: geoffcwilkins@tiscali.co.uk

Read our ‘In Touch’ newsletter for our support groups by clicking here.