Weekly Meeting - Kate Farminer & Jo Sutherland (Charlies)

Wed, Jun 15th 2016 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Friend: Paul Rosewell
VOT: Peter Burton

'Charlies' - Jo Sutherland and Kate Farminer (plus Whisper)

Our Honorary Member Roger Head joined us for this evening and we were given a treat by the co-Directors of Charlies, Kate Farminer and Jo Sutherland, who also brought their exceptionally well behaved black Labrador, a therapy dog called Whisper.

Kate and Jo are both the founders of this new Gloucester charity, which stems from on the one hand a personal family history of severe cancers, and on the other hand that they are both palliative therapists.

It is when patients are back home from hospital that time is more available for thought, and inevitably questions arise. Sometimes these worries can be sorted simply by socialising with people who have had similar experiences. That is one of the key raisin d'etre's for Charlies and invaluable for cancer sufferers.

Charlies began in Paul Mount's Snooker Club in March 2014, cost £300 to set up, was instantly a hit and outgrew the premises. However Paul came to their rescue earlier this year with part of Unit 2, Madleaze Industrial Estate, off Bristol Road in Gloucester, down the road from the old Moreland's Match factory. The place was derelict, damp, with holes in the roof and the use of the upstairs part was available to Charlies. Much begging for help resulted in repaired roof, plasterers, painters, Mike Till and his temporary kitchen, heroes helping from all over, plus Rotary Severn's financial help along with contributions from the public and friends. The chair lift was key for disabled cancer sufferers. In only a few weeks they were ready and the new Charlies opened in March, with decorating and cleaning going on right up to lift off. A magnificent achievement from a standing start with nothing in early February.

They now, apart from respite, do meditation, Whisper’s dog walking groups, knitting, drink tea, have therapy rooms, and accept both cancer and some other serious illnesses. They have a Health and Well Being centre, nutritionist, exercise room, and have a link with MacMillan Nurses. Future plans include the need to pay palliative therapists, and incredibly Paul Mount has just recently offered Charlies the downstairs warehouse which will need a complete makeover.

Kate and Jo are a power for good in Gloucester when people desperately need real help, and deserve support and congratulations; as do ComVoc for getting involved in such a worthwhile project.

Peter Burton

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