British-Lithuanian Cooperation in Cancer Support
The core team working towards the establishment of the Oncology Centre of St Francis, based in Kretinga, will visit the UK from 5 to 10 October under the auspices of The Tiltas Trust and Cancer Choices of Dungannon, Northern Ireland. During their visit, they will visit key institutions providing support for cancer sufferers and their families in N Ireland and London, visit a hospice and have talks with Macmillan and Marie Curie. On 9 October, the Lithuanian Ambassador, HE Mr Vygaudas Ušackas, a Patron of The Tiltas Trust, will host a reception in their honour.
The purpose of the visit is to enable the Kretinga team to have first hand experience of the UK approach to self-help and support through training and education, to learn what support may be available from some of the major players in this area, and to work this into the exciting plans for their new oncology centre in Klaipeda.
The team is led by Franciscan friar and priest who is the Guardian of the Monastery of Revelation in Kretinga, Benediktas Sigitas Jurčys. The other members of the team include Evaldas Darulis and Tomas Žymantas, also Franciscan friars; Aldona Kerpytė who is a director of the St. Francis Oncology Centre and leader of the community ‘Vilties Piligrimai’ (Pilgrims of Hope), which unites people who have been affected by cancer; Irena Baltiejienė, a social worker for Kretinga municipality who is part of the start up team for the Centre and Rutenis Pikšrys who is responsible for developing and maintaining most of the Franciscan websites. They are supported by, David Holliday, former British Defence Attaché to Lithuania and Liudovika Pakalkaitė, an HR consultant.
In Northern Ireland, the visit will focus on the work of the Cancer Choices Therapy and Support Centre in Dungannon, which has developed a crucial relationship with the Kretinga project, not least as a consequence of the significant Lithuanian population in the district. The visitors will also see the new Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre in Belfast and the Belfast City Centre Hospital Oncology Centre. They will be present for the British launch of the first Oncology Centre of St. Francis publication at a Reception hosted by the Mayor of Dungannon & South Tyrone, Cllr The Lord Morrow.
In London there will be visits to the HQ of Macmillan Cancer Support, the UK’s leading charity providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support to improve the lives of those affected by cancer; to St. Luke's Hospice in South Brent which has been linked for several years to the Kauno Slaugos Ligonine (hospital for the terminally ill in Kaunas): and to St. Christopher's Hospice, which advises on the setting up of hospices throughout the world.
This visit, which is supported by The Tiltas Trust and Cancer Choices Northern Ireland builds on previous cooperation between these organisations and the St Francis Oncology Centre, not least a series of information-gathering and training events held in Lithuania in 2007 and 2008.
