Chinwag

Making the headlines

Goodbye to Rachael Bland

Expert advisors Christie consultant Lisa Barraclough has been providing expert advice to Coronation Street script writers during one of their current storylines. The soap is currently telling the story of factory worker Sinead Tinker who is being treated for cervical cancer.

Christie consultant Fiona Thistlethwaite was interviewed for BBC Radio 5 live following the sad passing of journalist and Christie patient Rachael Bland. Rachael was an advocate for cancer care and was famous for hosting the podcast You, Me and the Big C.

An Olympic effort

Athletes from GB Taekwondo delighted patients and staff at The Christie by dropping by to show-off some of their winning moves, as well as their expansive medal collection including gold, silver and bronze from the 2016 Rio Olympics and a selection from this year’s European Championships.

The team of 11 athletes, which included Olympian Mahama Cho, Para Taekwondo World Champion Amy Truesdale and two-time World Championship medallist Damon Sansum, in addition to the demonstration of ‘kicks’ and rules of the sport, chatted with a range of patients, including those in for chemotherapy treatment, their family members and staff, handed out cupcakes, signed autographs and posed for selfies. Roger Spencer, Chief Executive added: “It was a pleasure to welcome such a talented group of sporting professionals to The Christie. We are delighted that they were able to take time out of their busy training schedules to take a tour of the hospital and meet some of our patients, visitors and staff. The taekwondo demonstrations that they did were a real hit with patients.”

GB Taekwondo athletes with Lesley Taylor, Regional Director (North) of HCA Healthcare UK, Roger Spencer, Chief Executive at The Christie, Natasha Young, Chief Operating Officer at The Christie Private Care and staff

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