3 Mums Arrive at Oxford

The 3 Mums successfully completed their challenge of rowing from Lechlade to Oxford in aid of Cancer Care at Hope Ward.

You can read more about this initiative on our website here:

http://suubitrust.org.uk/3mumsinaboat

Here they are at the start in Lechlade on Friday morning…

Friends and Family turned up on Sunday afternoon to meet them at the finish in Oxford….

Lots of hugs, kisses and a few tears…

We did it!

We have posted these and a number of other photos over on our Flickr page at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/suubitrust/

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Running For Suubi Trust

Heather Taylor and Katie Barrell are running in the Adidas Women’s 5k Challenge, to be held in Hyde Park on 7th September. Every year this event is held with approximately 30,000 women of all ages taking part. Some will be running to raise money for the race’s suggested charity “Breakthrough Breast Cancer”, however many also run to raise money for lots of other charities.

Heather and Katie both felt that they wanted to run in aid of Suubi Trust, to help meet the cost for those being treated for cancer on Hope Ward, in Kampala, Uganda.

Heather writes:

As my Dad Steve is heavily involved in Suubi Trust, I have seen the hard work that has gone into the charity and have heard many stories of how it is helping those that are vulnerable and in need of medical care in Uganda. I also work with a charity, and I have become increasingly aware of how money can make such a difference in a country like Uganda. As Suubi Trust has only been established for just over a year, I have been deeply encouraged by what it has already achieved and also by people’s support and generosity. I have wanted to raise money for Suubi Trust for a while and for me this race will be a good start, and as I’m not a born runner it will definitely be a real challenge.

It will be a great day to also celebrate my birthday(!) but more importantly to be able to give hope to those in Uganda with the money that we raise.

You can help Heather and Katie to raise some funds by going to the following link:

http://suubitrust.org.uk/giving.html#howtogive

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Message for 3 Mums from Dr Ian

I have just watched the girls set off on U tube. It looks a bit colder than the trip I did down the Nile about four years ago - from Uganda to South Sudan - sometimes the temperatures were 40 and we drank a lot of water from the river. But I want to thank the three mums for what they are doing for Suubi Trust. I know that it is initiatives like this by ordinary individuals which ultimately makes the difference. We have so many people here in Uganda who are not accessing treatment for cancer and we cannot just stand by and do nothing. I am very touched that some people on the other side of the world are doing something for us here in Uganda.

A Colouring Book

I am taken once again by the photo of Dennis and the care provided by Lucy and the team at Hope Ward. Take a look at this photo…

It isn’t that difficult to make a BIG difference to these lives: Lucy simply cared and arranged some help in Hope Ward. Simple, small gifts such as a coluring book can make a huge difference…

Please help.

Kevin.

3 Mums Leaving Lechlade

Here are a few short video clips from this morning. (you may find the quality slightly better over at You Tube)

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3 Mums Set Off

Earlier today Steve and I had a quick trip over to Lechlade to see Kate, Charlotte and Ruth setting off.

It was a cold, damp start;

Here they are listening carefully to instructions from the Skiff-Man…

 

The all important traditional photo session at the start…

and they’re off…

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Immunisations in July

Kenneth Odongo (Medical Clinical Officer at the Lira Clinic)

has sent us a report showing details of the 50 patients that he has treated with various immunisations in July, including Measles and Polio. Three quarters of those being treated are young children under the age of 5.

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Emmanuel Lubaale (Emma)

Emmanuel Lubaale (Emma) is a charming 3 year old boy.  He is the second born of three children.  His father is a teacher in a government school.  His mother was a student at Makerere University pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree; she had to discontinue her education to take care of her ill child (Emma).

Emma’s illness started when he was six month’s old.  At first it seemed that he had recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, severe malaria and severe anemia.  He was in and out of hospital and had several blood transfusions.  After one and a half years of this recurrent sickness several tests revealed that Emma had Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.).

Emma was referred from Mulago Hospital to the Uganda Cancer Institute where he received three courses of chemotherapy inductions, but sadly the cancer did not go into remission.  At this point his family had depleted their financial resources on Emma’s treatment and could not afford more chemotherapy.  Fortunately Emma’s parents met a very kind man named Jimmy one of the Hope Ward sponsors.  Jimmy referred Emma and his family to the Hope Ward at International Hospital Kampala.

Emmanuel was then admitted to the Hope Ward where he was started on a fourth course of chemotherapy induction in January 2008 and he completed it in May 2008.  Repeat tests (Bone marrow aspirate) showed no evidence of cancer in Emma’s bone marrow; the cancer had gone into remission.

Emma is now on consolidation chemotherapy (which is less aggressive) which will go on for up to 2 or 3 years.  Emma is now back at home and whenever he visits the hope ward for follow up visits he brings such joy to the nurses and medical team.  It is so exciting to see him so happy and active.  He is a very special boy.  Just seeing Emma makes one realize that all we put into the Hope Ward is more than worth it.

Many thanks to the Hope Ward team and sponsors; indeed you are making a difference in many people’s lives in Uganda.

Three Mums in a Boat

On Friday 8th August 2008 the 3 Mums, Charlotte, Kate and Ruth, will be taking on the challenge of a three day rowing expedition along the River Thames, raising funds for Suubi Trust.

With a lot of enthusiasm but no previous rowing experience (!), they will row from Lechlade, very near the source of the Thames, along the river to the University Boat Houses in Oxford.

The money they raise will be used to help meet the cost of treatment for a number of cancer patients on Hope Ward.

Atimong Sophie, a 45yr old female from the IDP in Mbuya is probably the most desperate now. She has locally advanced cancer of the left breast which presented as a fungating breast mass for 2yrs. She could not access treatment then due to financial reasons until early this year when she was connected to Hospice Africa and referred to Dr Hodges, a Plastic surgeon in Mengo Hospital. She then had mastectomy (removal of breast) and breast reconstruction free of charge.

She is now recommended to receive 6 cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy but cannot access any help for funds. She is a poor market vendor, selling mainly tomatoes and vegetables to earn a living; she’s married to a builder and has 4 children all of whom never went to school (the eldest is 19yr and youngest is 4yrs old).

If you would like to help then click here to read more…

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426 Patients Treated at the Lira Clinic

In June we treated 426 charity patients at the Lira Clinic.

Jemimah, our Programme Coordinator, has provided the following analysis and comment:

• 80% of those treated are 18 years or younger, 122 are 5 and under
• We had 63 referrals from the Lira Primary School
• The top two conditions treated were Malaria and Respiratory Tract Infection
• Women being treated for Malaria outnumber men by 2 to 1
• The average cost of treatment in June was UGX 28,613; equivalent to £8.75. In the majority of cases the patient was able to contribute the nominal fee of UGX 2,000 (61p) and Suubi Trust met the balance.

Our continued thanks to our hard working team in Lira and to all of our supporters here in the UK.

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