Hywel Dda Health Charities is pleased to announce the Holistic Acute Recovery Programme (HARP) for head and neck cancer patients as its Charity of the Year. HARP is Wales’ first head and neck cancer recovery programme and was launched at the beginning of the year. It offers three free sessions giving patients recovering from cancer treatment access to advice, guidance and support on a range of issues from diet to oral hygiene; relaxation to counselling; and the welfare services available to them. The programme aims to give patients a better understanding of the long-term side effects of their treatment and to promote self-management.

This is the third time that Hywel Dda Health Charities has given a team, department or service within the University Health Board the opportunity to become Charity of the Year with the aim of raising funds and awareness for a specific scheme. The winner is decided through a staff vote.

Clinical Nurse Specialists for Head and Neck Cancer, Anwen Butten and Karen Howarth, who have been instrumental in setting up HARP, said: “We are truly delighted to be named Charity of the Year and look forward to working with the charity’s team. The treatment for people with a cancer of the head and neck can be extremely tough, both physically and mentally. We recognised a gap in the service for our patients following their treatment where we could provide additional holistic support to help them on the road to recovery. We hope HARP will provide our patients and their family members, with the support they need to help them self manage the long-term side effects of their treatment. Being named Charity of the Year will help us raise funds to run the programme in all three counties and also to raise awareness of the scheme.”

Roger Jenkins was diagnosed with cancer on his right tonsil and tongue last year and after a bewildering series of hospital visits, tests and scans culminating in six weeks residential radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment he has made a full recovery.

Roger said: “The HARP programme has been integral in my recovery by providing me with information on diet, pain management, physical fitness and also emotional support. The head and neck team saw me regularly and were constantly encouraging and supportive - even when I thought I was making little or no progress the team always told me that I was doing really well and that kind of support was invaluable to me at the time. I felt cared for at all times by the team, they understood what I was experiencing and always made me feel positive about my recovery.

“One of the best pieces of information that was given to me was when my Clinical Nurse Specialist told me about the National Exercise Referral Scheme and asked me if I would be interested in taking part. She referred me to the scheme representative at my local leisure centre who assessed me and recommended an exercise programme to suit my fitness level at the time. That was in October last year - I am still attending the gym twice a week and it has now become part of my lifestyle.”

A calendar of fundraising events to support HARP will be organised throughout the year. For more information and details on how to support HARP, contact Emma Harries, Head and Neck Cancer Service Assistant, on 01267 248750 https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hywelddahealthcharities/harp