The ‘Life Life Live Well’ event held by Cherry Lodge Cancer Care on Monday 15th May 2017 certainly lived up to its promise to be fun and upbeat as well as informative and useful. This second Cherry Lodge ‘healthy living day’ was held at Barnet Multicultural Centre (BMCC) in Hendon and was sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support. Admission was free but by ticket only. It was well placed to attract people living in the west of the borough of Barnet.
The aim of the day – organised by Cherry Lodge’s nurses, Fiona and Kirsty – was to empower people living with cancer and other chronic of life-limiting conditions, such as heart failure, high blood pressure and diabetes, to make some positive but easy changes to their daily life. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of exercise and healthy eating. The event was chaired by Glenys Carter, MBE, a Cherry Lodge volunteer, and there was a motivational talk by Dr Ann-Marie Tully, a Camden-based GP.
The various activities were all very well received. To get things off to a good start there was a seated exercise class, led by Tracy Levy from the Extend Programme. Later in the morning, attendees were treated to a healthy cookery demonstration by Michael Tomlinson of the Healthy Cake Company.
This was followed by a delicious, healthy, vegetarian lunch, which was very much enjoyed. There was also an opportunity to look around the different stalls: Cherry Lodge Cancer Care information stall; Dermasilk (therapeutic garments); Farrah Mosaheb – henna artist; Healthy Cake Company – Michael Tomlinson; Moo Goo skin products; MOVE4YOU – Tottenham Hotspur Foundation in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support; and Prostate Cancer UK.
In the afternoon, there were sessions led by two Cherry Lodge therapists and volunteers: a very entertaining exercise session, with remedial pilates specialist Alison Noreiga Clarke, and a meditation/relaxation, with Geoff Davis. The final activity of the day was a sing out with Jenny Graham, accomplished singer songwriter and gospel choir director.
Fiona and Kirsty pass on their special thanks to Bahar Mohsini, manager of BMCC, for her help and enthusiasm in setting up the day. Thank you also to all the speakers, session leaders, stall holders and volunteers from BMCC and Cherry Lodge who each helped make this event such a great success. Cherry Lodge also expresses its gratitude to Machmillan Cancer Support and BMCC for their generous sponsorship of the event.