Thu 28 Mar 2024 - 10:00AM
PANTHERS FIGHT CANCER: HOW OUR FANS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Over the past few years, The Nottingham Panthers have been working with Nottingham Hospitals Charity to support the Oncology Unit after our beloved General Manager, Gary Moran, sadly passed away from cancer in 2021.
The Panthers were invited to the Oncology Unit at the City Hospital this week to meet the team who we've been raising money for, as well as introduce us to the machine that you, our incredible fans, have helped raise money towards.
Players and staff from Nottingham Panthers were joined by members of the Oncology team including Professor Srinivasan Madhusudan and Dr Lucy Gossage.
Panthers Fan Liaison Officer, Lisa Rawding, said: “It was great to get some of the team down to the hospital to see how the fundraising is going.
“We’ve had incredible support from the fans all season and their backing for any fundraiser is always fantastic. We’d like to thank everyone for their superb backing.”
Joanne Burr, Community and Corporate Fundraising Manager at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “It was fantastic to be able to show the team at Nottingham Panthers the impact of their fundraising as part of Panthers Fight Cancer in November and showcase the new device that they will help fund to benefit patients undergoing chemotherapy.
“We are looking forward to supporting the team again in April as they raise money for the Hayward House Appeal. Their fans are always incredibly supportive and have raised over £77,000 since they started fundraising for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.”
Steve Henaghan, Specialty General Manager from the Oncology Unit, said: “Thank you to the players, staff and fans of the Nottingham Panthers. Your fundraising, support and donations mean that those battling cancer within our community will have access to new and innovative equipment to make a tangible difference in their lives. “
On 25th November 2023, our amazing fans helped raise £12,563 for the unit. This was raised through sales of a limited-edition jersey and a raffle to win jerseys worn by the players during the warm-up.
The kind donations raised will go towards helping to fund a Hilotherm machine, which helps patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, by reducing their risk of peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.
Katharine Stein, Director of Hilotherm, helped bring the first device to Nottingham hospitals. She said: “When patients undergo chemotherapy they can experience a tingling and burning sensation in their hands and feet which can not only affect the way they walk or use their hands but can impact their daily living and hobbies.
“For example, we’ve had patients who were surgeons and were incredibly keen to go back to that after their chemotherapy was complete to a lovely lady who really wanted to make sure she could continue to embroider after her cancer treatment. The machines help preserve the hands and feet from the damage that can be done due to the chemotherapy drugs.
“When people think of chemotherapy, they automatically think that someone will lose their hair but they don’t necessarily think of the side effects that happen within the body such as the nerve damage, so these machines can really help patients long term.”
