1370265753 Together We Can News http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/ Together We Can News en info@togetherwecan.org.uk Copyright 2013 2013-05-31T14:25:31+00:00 Congratulations to our BUPA 10K runners! http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/congratulations-to-our-bupa-10k-runners http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/congratulations-to-our-bupa-10k-runners#When:14:25:31Z A huge thank you to all our runners who ran the BUPA 10K with together we can... on Bank Holiday Monday.

55 of you ran for Guy’s and St Thomas’ and the Evelina, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley. You’ve raised £10,000 already, and there’s still more to come in. You all truly deserve a pat on the back!

A big thank you to everyone who came down to support their friends and family and cheer on the together we can… runners on the day.

Got pictures or comments?

You can share your pictures with us on twitter.com/togwecan or facebook.com/togwecan pages - and don't forget to tag yourself in our photographs too. We'd love to hear how you did, so don't hesitate to send us a tweet!

 

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2013-05-31T14:25:31+00:00
Channel 4 Documentary Needs Top Professionals http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/channel-4-documentary-needs-top-professionals http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/channel-4-documentary-needs-top-professionals#When:16:04:10Z Are you at the top of your professional field with an extraordinary life story to tell? Channel 4 wants to hear from you.

Channel 4 is making a new documentary about an ‘unsung hero’ in the UK. They want to follow someone with an exciting or unusual life for a 24 hour period to show the human face of challenging or interesting work environments. 

The documentary will be made by The Garden Productions, who are the team behind One Born Every Minute and 24 Hours in A&E.

If you know someone like this or think this could be you then please get in touch.

Email: hello@thegardenproductions.tv
Telephone: Amy – 020 7620 6745

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2013-05-24T16:04:10+00:00
Thank you to our marathon runners http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/thank-you-to-our-marathon-runners1 http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/thank-you-to-our-marathon-runners1#When:15:10:28Z Congratulations to our marathon runners!

A huge thank you to all our runners who ran the London Marathon for together we can... on Sunday.

So far you have raised over £200,000 in sponsorship for Guy's and St Thomas' and the Evelina, King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley - with more money still to come in.

A big thanks too to our fantastic together we can... supporters who cheered our runners all the way to the finish line.

Got pictures or comments?

We'd love to see them. You can share them with us on twitter,com/togwecan or facebook.com/togwecan pages - and don't forget to tag yourself in our photographs too.

Can't wait for next year?

The ballot for the 2013 Virgin London Marathon will open on 29 April 2012. Please go to www.virginlondonmarathon.com to enter - be quick though, it fills up fast. together we can... will have a number of charity places. If you'd like to register your interest, please email support@togetherwecan.org.uk.

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2013-04-23T15:10:28+00:00
Cheer on our marathon runners! http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/cheer-on-our-marathon-runners http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/cheer-on-our-marathon-runners#When:13:25:59Z This Sunday 21st April we have 83 London marathon runners in team together we can... raising funds for Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley.

Why not come down and show your support? We have three designated cheering points where you, your friends and family can watch the race and cheer on our runners.

Cheer Point 1: Mile 12, Tower Bridge, SE1 2UP

As you are crossing Tower Bridge from South to North, our cheering point will be on the right hand side, half way across the bridge.
 

Cheer Point 2: Mile 19 – 16-19 Canada Square – London, E14 5EW

Our cheering point will be outside Waitrose, opposite Canary Wharf.
 

Cheer Point 3: Mile 25.5 – Victoria Embankment (in between the Battle of Britain Monument and Westminster Bridge) – London, SW1A 2JH.

Our third cheering point will be on the Victoria Embankment, not far from Westminster tube. We will be on the river side of the road, outside the Thames River Boats entrance.
 

Click on the map below and move the mouse to see the three cheer points, or click the link below the map to view a larger version.


View Marathon Cheer Points in a larger map


Our cheering points will be decorated with together we can... balloon towers, flags and banners, so you can’t miss us.

We’d love you to join us afterwards for the post-race reception. This will be held at 2pm at The Waterfront Bar, 2nd Floor, The Macadam Building, King’s College London, Surrey Street, WC2R 2NS.


If you have any questions please email support@togetherwecan.org.uk or call 020 7848 7431.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

 

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2013-04-15T13:25:59+00:00
The ICC brings London’s cancer experts together http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/the-icc-brings-londons-cancer-experts-together http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/the-icc-brings-londons-cancer-experts-together#When:17:09:04Z It's London's leading cancer experts working together

The Integrated Cancer Centre – a collaboration between Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and King’s College London -– was founded to provide leading cancer services: research, diagnosis and treatment; for sufferers, survivors and during end of life care. 

By working together, clinicians, academics and researchers at the ICC turn research into practice quickly. Which ensures the care we offer our patients goes above and beyond; we give our patients the care we’d want for our nearest and dearest.

At the ICC we are committed to being:

  • Patient-centered – patients benefit from improved access to care and an exceptional patient-experience
  • Research-driven – researchers and clinicians lead the way in developing diagnostic tools and delivering new treatments
  • Clinician-led – our clinicians link academic colleagues with patients and families to ensure our cancer services are high-quality and drive innovation in cancer care.

To support the Integrated Cancer Centre, donate now.

together we can… improve cancer treatment

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2013-03-25T17:09:04+00:00
Giant magnifying glass can detect skin cancer in seconds http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/giant-magnifying-glass-can-detect-skin-cancer-in-seconds http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/giant-magnifying-glass-can-detect-skin-cancer-in-seconds#When:17:07:53Z Thanks to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, the St John’s Dermatology Institute at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is testing a new ‘Vivascope’ which is able to give instant diagnosis on serious skin conditions including life-threatening skin cancer.

One of only a few in use in the world, the scanner works like a giant magnifying glass producing incredibly detailed images to detect cancer cells, making it easier to stop the spread of cancer melanoma.

The number of British cases of skin cancer has more than quadrupled in the last 30 years, with melanoma the most deadly type, killing about 2,000 people in the UK annually.

The disease can start in existing moles and doctors maintain that early detection is vital. Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the first hospital in Britain to introduce the Vivascope test, which could save hundreds of lives.

Oliver Smith, Director of Strategy and Innovation at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, says: ‘Our recent investment in the VivaScope for the St John’s Institute enables it to pursue world-leading research and clinical trials that will greatly advance our understanding of skin melanoma and its treatment.

Once the Institute, working with the Trust’s Medical Physics department, has validated the technology within a clinical setting, it will improve the care of patients attending this leading centre for skin disorders.’

How it works

Like an ultrasound machine, it works by producing instant images of skin layers up to a depth of two millimetres, using a high-powered but harmless laser.

The dermatologist places a small pad on the mole or affected area of skin. The laser is directed at the area and sends back scans which highlight any abnormal cells.

Once validated, the Vivascope will make a large difference to the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer by:

• reducing the number of precautionary biopsies, which can leave patients with scars;

• providing a diagnosis in uncertain cases – often such lesions are re-examined after three months;

• delivering on-the-spot diagnosis, enabling patients to be examined, diagnosed and treated in a single visit, which reduces stress;

• providing post-surgery to help check that all the melanoma was successfully removed.

 

Did you know?

St John’s Institute at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the UK’s largest referral centre for skin cancer, and has the best equipped skin imaging unit in the UK.

Only a handful of other centres around the world have comparable research and development capability.
 

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2013-03-25T17:07:53+00:00
Request your money box today! http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/request-your-money-box-today http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/request-your-money-box-today#When:16:55:41Z

Want to make a small gesture that can really make a big impact?

Why not order one of our stylish new pop up money boxes that you can keep at home or on your desk?

All your loose change can add up within weeks and if you can commit on a regular basis we can plan for the future. Whatever the amount, all donations help.

To order yours now please telephone 020 7848 4701 or email info@togetherwecan.org.uk

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2013-03-06T16:55:41+00:00
Run the 2013 Virgin London Marathon with together we can… http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/run-the-2013-virgin-london-marathon-with-together-we-can http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/run-the-2013-virgin-london-marathon-with-together-we-can#When:15:54:17Z Are you one of the lucky ones to be allocated a place in the ballot for this year's Virgin London Marathon? We’d love to have you on our team.

The Virgin London Marathon is one of the world's most prestigious and exciting sporting events, as well as one of life's great challenges, and we want to help you to be a part of it. You will receive all the same benefits as our charity place runners, and we'll help you raise as much as possible.

By running for one of our hospitals, you can help to raise funds that ensure our scientists, doctors and nurses make more breakthroughs in dementia, cancer and life threatening childhood illnesses. It’s a real chance to make difference.

One of our amazing runners is Darren Smith, who is taking on this challenge in memory of his baby son Isaac who was treated at St Thomas’s in the summer of 2012.

Isaac was delivered by emergency caesarean after Darren’s wife Simone suffered a rare placenta abruption, where the placenta comes away from the uterus. He was deprived of oxygen during the birth and suffered severe brain damage. Isaac was rushed to St Thomas’ for treatment and though the team did everything they could, they were unable to save him.

Now Darren is determined to show his gratitude to the staff, who he says were ‘incredible’, and to raise much-needed funds for The Evelina Children’s Hospital.

‘Our son was with us for just six days,’ says Darren, ‘but he fought so hard and showed so much bravery in that short time. Running the marathon will be tough, but however hard it is, I know it will nothing compared with what Isaac went through. His determination will be my inspiration.’

Darren is training hard for the marathon – and blogging about his training regime at www.runningforisaac.blogspot.co.uk. He has a big challenge ahead of him but we’re here to support him, and all of our runners, every step of the way.

If you run with the Virgin London Marathon with us, you’ll receive:

• A personalised dri-fit running vest
• Invitations to regular training nights to meet the team
• Top training tips from our team coach
• Unlimited fundraising support from our dedicated events team
• An invitation to our pre-marathon pasta party
• 3 cheer squads around the course on race day to support you through to the end
• An invitation to our post-race reception with a complimentary massage and hot meal - friends and family invited too
 

Please click here to find out more and contact the Fundraising Team to join the team.

You can also chat to other runners on our Facebook message board, and share tips and advice.

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2013-02-28T15:54:17+00:00
Innovative test cuts premature birth rate by 15 per cent http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/innovative-test-cuts-premature-birth-rate-by-15-per-cent http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/innovative-test-cuts-premature-birth-rate-by-15-per-cent#When:10:26:17Z The number of premature births in south-east London has been reduced by 15 per cent, thanks to a ground-breaking new test that predicts the risk of a mother having a preterm baby.

The 10-minute test has been pioneered by Professor Andrew Shennan, who is Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London. He leads the specialist clinic at St Thomas’, where more than nine in 10 high-risk women have gone on to have a healthy, full-term baby. This is in comparison to the national average of 50 – 70% of high-risk mothers carrying a baby to term.

In recognition of this remarkable achievement, the clinic was awarded an NHS Innovation Challenge Prize earlier this month. Professor Shennan collected the award.
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“We are delighted that the preterm surveillance clinic has been recognised for its innovative approach,” he said.

“Premature birth is often caused by a combination of different complex factors, and no single strategy has been effective in reducing pre-term birth rates. We are very proud that our clinic is bucking that trend, by offering a unique package of care for high-risk women, based on best research and clinical evidence.”

This pioneering approach has already made a huge difference to expectant parents in south-east London, and could prevent nearly 9,000 premature births a year. It is hoped that the test will become routine across the UK.

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2013-02-25T10:26:17+00:00
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Community services keep people out of hospital http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/community-services-keep-people-out-of-hospital http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/news/community-services-keep-people-out-of-hospital#When:13:06:37Z Guy's and St Thomas' has pioneered home care to keep patients out of hospital.

Two schemes launched a year ago have been rated very good or better by four fifths of the patients that used them.

The Enhanced Rapid Response scheme provides short-term rehabilitation at home for elderly patients.

The Home Ward scheme allows patients to be treated at home for illnesses including diabetes, breathing problems and heart disease. 

71-year-old Dennis Richardson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital because of a severe chest infection and difficulty moving around. With the support of the Home ward team he was able to leave hospital early and continue to be treated at home.

He says: “Instead of spending days in hospital when I really didn’t need to, I was able to be cared for at home by the excellent community team.”

“I received fantastic care in my own home and I was able to recover much quicker. This helped me and my family, who cared for me once the treatment was over. I couldn’t have wished for better care.”

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2013-01-18T13:06:37+00:00