History of the group
Early in 2015, an initiative by St Michael’s Hospice, Prostate Cancer UK and Basingstoke Hospital led to a number of prostate cancer patients being asked if they were willing to get together to run a Support Group. Luckily these patients relished the challenge. So a Management Committee was formed and started work on planning how the Group would be established and run.
The Ark Conference Centre at Basingstoke Hospital provided the first meeting venue. The Group registered as a partner organisation of Prostate Cancer UK and they, together with Macmillan Cancer Support, awarded grants for the initial cost of hiring meeting rooms and providing free refreshments for Group Members.
Numbers in the Group steadily expanded to over 30. Having enough space in meeting rooms at the Ark soon became a problem leading to some very cosy discussions with standing room only on some occasions.
The Group moved to the Weybrook Park Golf Club in October 2016 as the Club was able to offer a large meeting room. This meant that the Group could look forward with confidence to supporting the growing membership of cancer patients.
A weekly exercise class was started in February 2016 at the Basingstoke Sports Centre. The staff there go the extra mile to make sure that this class is well organised and properly supervised. Numbers have grown steadily and members enjoy the challenge of the workout, appreciating of course the health and well-being benefits that exercise brings.
An enthusiastic Committee Member, as social events secretary, organises monthly “fun” afternoons at a local pub when members can play skittles or join in other events. These afternoons are well attended and many members meet for lunch together beforehand.
We’ve also held a very successful “Spring Fling” evening dance. More social events are planned – see the Social Events tab.
With an ever increasing membership, the Group recognised that it would again have to relocate to find bigger meeting space. From September 2018, the Loddon Vale Indoor Bowling Club, West Ham Leisure Park, Basingstoke will be the Group’s new home.