About Our Charity
It is a sad and worrying fact that one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives and 300 men a year are also diagnosed with it ~ early detection and treatment is vital.
Our charity aims to improve the early detection and treatment of breast cancer by funding high-tech equipment for this purpose.
In 2004 the Breast Care Unit was opened at the Maidstone Hospital and it now houses most of the items of equipment our charity has funded or part funded over the last 16 years:
- Mammotone Prone Biopsy Scanner
- Camera attachment for the above
- Attachment for the Mammotone to do core biopsy
- Hand held Scanner
- Digital Mammography Machine
- Specialist Photographic record for reconstruction patients
- Equipment & training for Sentinel node clearance procedure
- Rapid Tissue Analysis Machine
- DVD for Radiography patients to accustom themselves to the procedure they will undergo
- Micro Bubble Machine
- Two more machines currently being purchased. Details to follow.
Please visit our Gallery to see the equipment our charity has purchased to date.
Please give generously to our worthy cause
Thank You
Background
The Mid-Kent Breast Cancer Research Appeal was registered as a charity (Charity Registration No. 1054459) in 1995 by Mr Peter Jones, Consultant Surgeon at Maidstone Hospital, with the aim of providing essential high tech equipment and techniques to greatly benefit breast cancer sufferers.
Profile of Mr Peter Jones MS FRCS ~ Founder of our Charity
After qualifying from Westminster Hospital Medical School, Peter Jones completed his pre-registration year at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, after which he decided to pursue a general surgical career. Mr Jones began a very long period of surgical training which started at St James’ Hospital, Balham, which was then not just the ‘Gateway to the South’, but regarded as the pinnacle of a surgeon training base. From there to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, where as a surgical registrar Peter Jones obtained his FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons) and thus became a “Mr” - a well deserved title. Further surgical training and research was undertaken at St James’ Hospital, Balham and St George’s Hospital and the resulting thesis was awarded with a mastership in surgery. St James’ Hospital, Balham, did not just play a pivotal role in Mr Jones’ surgical training but it was where he met a new house surgeon Sue Basson, later to become Mrs Sue Jones.
For his final training Peter Jones was appointed as Senior Registrar at Westminster Hospital and then as a Consultant General Surgeon to the Maidstone Hospital in 1983. As with all General Surgeons at that time they gradually became more specialised and with the help of Sue Jones the dedicated breast clinic was started at Maidstone Hospital in 1993.
It was at this time Peter Jones also launched the Mid-Kent Breast Cancer Research Appeal Charity to support the work of the breast clinic. The Charity continues successfully to raise funds due to the great support it has received from the public and celebrates the 16 years it has been established.
Cheque donations may also be sent to:
The Mid-Kent BRCA
c/o Mr Peter Jones' Office,
Maidstone Hospital,
Hermitage Lane,
Barming,
Kent ME16 9QQ
Trustees
Mr Peter Jones.
Mrs Sue Jones.
Dr Russell Burcombe.
Managing Committee
Mrs Sandra Gregory - Treasurer.
Mrs Katie Hogan - Secretary / Minute Taker.
Mrs Carole Nunn - Administrator / Chairperson.
Mrs Sadie Sharp - Publicity Officer.
Committee and Voluntary Helpers
A committee of volunteers was formed in June 1996 and originally consisted of 12 people. At present our smaller, but very active committee, meets every six weeks. Every member of the Managing Committee has suffered from breast cancer, so they are very sensitive to the needs of patients and realise early detection and treatment is vital in the fight against breast cancer.
Voluntary helpers are always needed to organise and run events, man stalls and help on collection days.
See Please Help Us for details.
Please Note: Our charity is not involved in experiments on animals, nor does it support this practice.
Our charity does not pass on or sell any information or data received from members of the public, to other companies, charities, groups, etc.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to:
Gary Pritchard for providing the website, his expertise and giving our charity great support over the years it has been in existence.
The Pink Ribbon Foundation for the continued support it has given to our charity ( www.pinkribbonfoundation.org.uk )
Appreciation
Sandra Gregory has been on the committee since 1996. Sandra has given invaluable support to various events and projects over the years.
Katie Hogan has been our Treasurer for the last nine years and is valued member of our committee. Donations may be sent to Katie for the Mid-Kent BCRA at 123 Poplar Grove, Allington, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0AJ.
Carole Nunn has been with the charity since the committee was formed in 1996. Carole has combined fund-raising, liaising with the public and private sectors, together with administration & Chairperson duties for the charity. Also for a number of years ‘kept the books’ after the untimely death of the previous Treasurer, Kevan Dougal.
Sadie Sharp has been with the charity since 1996, as Publicity Officer, Fund-Raiser and Crafter for the charity. For many years Sadie produced the pink ribbon badge with various additional emblems making them unique to our charity and now is also crafting greetings cards and manning a stall with these items at various events and at the once-a-month - Support Group Meeting at the Post Graduate Centre at Maidstone Hospital. Sadie is also another point of contact for our charity on 01732-870703.
