Essex creatives team up with Macmillan to help people facing cancer
The project will launch an exhibition at The Art Place in Chelmsford later in the year
A librarian from Chelmsford is one of a group of creatives launching a new exhibition and supportive community for people affected by cancer in Essex.
Whilst going through treatment for breast cancer, Amanda Adams got through the pandemic by being creative.
Amanda had to isolate from her children during the pandemic, so she turned to writing to help her through the hard time.
Now she is part of the ‘Can Create’ creative cancer community that is being backed by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The 47 year old secondary school librarian was diagnosed with Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer in 2018 and has since worked with Macmillan Cancer Support to establish ‘Can Create’.
The project explores how creativity can help in the face of cancer, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team will be formally launching their initiative with an event and exhibition at The Art Place in Chelmsford in October this year, with anyone affected by cancer in Essex invited to submit their entries by Monday 5th July.
It was whilst receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment in 2018 that Amanda first discovered how creativity could help her manage the emotional challenges of living with cancer.
She said:
“As a mother with two young children, I found this creative outlet enabled me to process the often difficult and conflicting emotions that I was experiencing post-diagnosis.
“Writing was giving myself permission to express my fears, my rage and my guilt; emotions that were very often too painful to share with those close to me. After chemotherapy ended, I began writing a Facebook blog, ‘Triple Negative, Staying Positive’, and have continued to use this platform to share my experiences.”
When the country went into its first national lockdown in March 2020, Amanda found herself placed on the official shielding list of those most vulnerable to Covid-19:
“It was decided that my children would remain with their dad, to minimise the risk to me. In those initial locked-down days, I could not have conceived of a situation where we would be separated for four months, but that’s what happened. 5pm video-calls to read with my son became our ‘new normal’.
“Working from home gave some much-needed structure to my weekdays. Outside of these times, being actively ‘creative’ each day, whether that be writing, painting, baking or other creative projects, helped to both fill time and distract me from the anxieties and uncertainties of the pandemic.
“While I feel that to some extent, undergoing cancer treatment was good preparation for needing to fully isolate - as managing any chronic illness requires resilience and resourcefulness – I was not prepared emotionally for the months of shielding away from my children. That’s when I discovered the many benefits of creativity in supporting my mental health.”
Bringing people together
‘Can Create’ aims to bring together people like Amanda, who have turned to creativity to help them through their cancer diagnosis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said:
“We’re aiming to bring together a thriving new creative community, for those with a cancer experience, full of inspiration, ideas, resources and friendly support.
“We’d love people affected by cancer to submit whatever they’ve been creating, whether it’s woodwork, pottery, painting, writing, videos, crafts, photography or something else entirely - anything that has taken their mind off the unknown and given them a productive outlet.”
The first 50 entries will receive a £20 voucher for art materials and an invitation to a creative workshop, but all events will be designed with the latest Covid-19 advice in mind.
Rebecca Loan, Macmillan Engagement Lead in Essex said:
“Covid-19 restrictions may have eased, but the emotional toll of a pandemic that has brought widespread isolation, uncertainty and hardship for people with cancer is still apparent.
“We recognise the emotional difficulties that people have faced over the past year and the role creativity has played in helping them manage. That’s why Macmillan Cancer Support has worked with a team of local writers, artists and creatives to establish a supportive cancer community that gives a voice to anyone in Essex affected by cancer.
“We’re passionate about supporting community ideas and felt that this initiative would be a great way to bring people together and learn more about how creativity makes a positive difference to the lives of people with cancer.
“If you’d like to establish a cancer support group local to you or discuss another initiative to support the wellbeing of people with cancer, I’m all ears. Please get in touch.”
Lyndall Warne, a Can Create team member from Colchester said: “As a cancer patient myself, I find I am always waiting; for the next results, the next scan...waiting for appointments, waiting to be seen.
“I was in hospital during the first lockdown. Just lying in a hospital bed, not able to eat, drink and sleep when I chose, relying on the wonderful NHS staff, who themselves were so pushed for time. No visitors, nothing to interrupt the boredom.
“It was a very passive experience and I watched way too much daytime telly! But I have learned to take a notebook with me and scribble observations, feelings and notes, and these have fuelled my creative writing over the course of this strange year.”
The deadline for submissions for the Can Create exhibition is Monday 5th July. Please submit a photo or file containing your submission to Rebecca Loan (RLoan@macmillan.org.uk).
Join the Can Create Community Group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/283735872962229