Furness Cancer Support Group share their smiles

A LOCAL support group that works hard to put a smile back on the faces of cancer sufferers is sharing those smiles with the rest of the town.
Over the past few months, members of the public have been taking part in the Share a Smile project. Devised by Barrow police and the Borough Council, it involves Community Press photographer Steve Hillman taking snaps of 1000 smiling faces. The photos will be used on video screens and projectors to promote the positive side of life and to spread the Love Barrow message.
Sheila Batty who goes to Furness cancer support group heard about the scheme and invited photographer Steve and The Community Press to come along to one of their meetings and meet the members and take their photos for the project.
Sheila said: “I thought it would be perfect for you to take photos of our group. Here, you start off with the pain and the tears and you end up with a smile on your face.”
The group have been meeting for 22 years in various locations, but have now settled in the Lesser Kings Hall on Hartington Street.
Anne Beattie is one of the group’s leaders. She said: “Anyone with any type of cancer or those who have suffered a bereavement are more than welcome to come along.
“It’s a very informal group, people can sit and have a cup of tea and a chat and we have relaxation sessions, guest speakers and even trips away.”
Another member, who didn’t want to be named, told us the group was a real lifeline. She said: “It gets you away from cancer. We don’t talk about the illness, we do things to take our minds off it.
“There’s no doom and gloom but if there is anyone who wants to talk about cancer, there is always someone available.
“Without the group we’d go to pot. The support is wonderful, everyone rallies round if you’re ill – I would say I’ve made some real friends for life here.”
Furness cancer support group hold their drop-in meetings at the Lesser Kings Hall on Hartington Street every Wednesday from 2pm-4pm and everyone is welcome to attend.