Get out your dancing shoes for the Blood Counts Ball!

A Macmillan Nurse from the haematology ward at The Royal Oldham Hospital is digging out her dancing shoes and organising a fundraising ball, all in aid of the hospital’s Blood Counts charity.

Catherine Wardley, Macmillan Haematology Specialist Clinical Nurse, works with patients on the haematology ward at the Royal Oldham and is hoping to raise vital funds to enhance facilities on the ward.

The Blood Counts Ball will take place at The White Hart, Lydgate in Saddleworth on Friday, September 21 and tickets are on sale now.

Tickets cost £55 and include a drink on arrival, three-course dinner, live band and raffle for a range of fabulous prizes to be won on the night.

The Blood Counts charity fund is one of the Pennine Acute Trust’s key charities and the fund supports the haematology unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

All donations and funds raised are used to purchase additional equipment, support enhancements to facilities and assist the Trust in providing the highest standard of care for all patients.

Catherine explained why she’s keen to raise funds for the charity.

She said: “The haematology unit supports patients with chronic long term blood disorders and blood cancers, who receive treatment in the integrated day case and 22 bed in-patient unit.

"Most of the patients attending the unit are receiving chemotherapy and can be in hospital for prolonged periods of time, and many have to attend the unit on numerous occasions as a day case.

“We want to ensure that our patients have the best experience they can every time they attend the unit. Any funds we raise go towards enhancing the facilities on the ward.

"We think the Blood Counts ball will be a fun way to help raise vital funds.”

Gianna Lisiecki-Cunane, aged 36, is a patient on the haematology ward.

She is supporting the haematology team’s efforts to raise money for the unit.

Gianna was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in March, 2018.

As a mum to a one-year old and five-year old, she thought nothing of the general symptoms she experienced in the run up to being diagnosed.

She put symptoms like fatigue and shoulder pain down to being part and parcel of the pressures of being a mum.

It was only when she sought help from a chiropractor for the shoulder pain that she discovered a lump in her shoulder.

Gianna said: “My diagnosis for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma really came out of the blue.

"I work as a partner at JMW Solicitors in Manchester and I’m a busy working mum to two children aged one and five.

"I’d recently returned to work and was in the middle of moving house.

"I’d experienced a number of symptoms sporadically and thought nothing of it, as the symptoms would come and go. It was only when my shoulder pain wouldn’t go away that I went to the doctors for advice.

"My GP arranged for me to have an ECG, blood tests and x-ray to try and find out what the cause of my shoulder pain was.

“I was told that my results would take two weeks, but I ended up receiving a call with the x-ray results the same day, and I was diagnosed with lymphoma.

"Shortly after my diagnosis, my condition deteriorated quite rapidly and I ended up in A&E.

"I was admitted to hospital for 13 days.

"I was eventually discharged from hospital on Good Friday and started my first chemotherapy treatment soon after. I’ve been receiving treatment every week since Easter.

“The staff on the haematology ward have been amazing. I can’t thank them enough for the care and treatment I have received whilst I’ve been a patient.

"I really hope that the Blood Counts Ball raises lots of money to help enhance the facilities on the ward.

"Every penny really will make a difference.”

For more details on the Blood Counts charity or to book your ticket, please contact: Catherine.Wardley@pat.nhs.uk or call 0161 778 5531.

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