Over the past 90 days, a Gosforth man has been writing a blog entry every day to raise money for his vital North Tyneside cancer charity.
Ben Elliott, 33, has been blogging about the Wellbeing 9 a Day journal that he helped to design and which the Live Well With Cancer charity is using to help support cancer patients through some of the mental health struggles that come with a shocking diagnosis.
The charity - run by Ben's nurse mum Maureen in her spare time, when she's not on the wards at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle - works to provide support from art therapy to walking groups for those going through a cancer diagnosis. To highlight how the journal works, Ben set himself the challenge of blogging every day for 90 days - and he's hoping to raise £1,000 in the process.
Currently, around thirty volunteers have been trialling the journal - most of whom are cancer patients. The idea behind it is that across three broad topics - "your journey", "your fitness" and "your relationships" using the journal to set out one's thoughts and set goals can be a positive experience and help people through difficult times, especially when living with or recovering from a life-threatening illness.
Ben, a writing consultant, said: "I'm pretty process driven and it started out as something I was doing for myself. A friend and I designed the wellbeing nine-a-day -it's all about the journey you go on in life with a focus on fitness and relationships. We have used it with people coming to the charity and so far we've seen it has been proven to help behavioural change.
"What one person needs to be doing is different to another though - an 80-year-old for example might need very different things to someone younger.
"At the start of this year, on the 18th of January, we had our first in person workshop. With people coming out of hospital and off treatment, that's where we have seen the most benefit. They come off treatment and they're suddenly not getting the one-on-one support
"That's where it's been brilliant to use this with them. One of the main bits of feedback is that people are living more consciously through it. Often you might be doing many of these things anyway, but doing it consciously and checking in on yourself can give you a better experience."
So far Ben has smashed his initial £1,000 fundraising target, and is now aiming for more. All the money goes to Live Well With Cancer. The wellbeing sessions also received a grant of £7,440 to go towards the cost of in-person and online workshops.
Speaking about the Lottery grant, charity founder Maureen Elliott said: "As a volunteer-led charity, we rely on the generosity of funders and our supporters to empower anyone affected by cancer to improve their health and wellbeing. We are so grateful to receive this funding."
To find out more about Live Well With Cancer and access support if you need it, visit livewellwithcancer.co.uk or email livewellwithcancer@gmail.com. To support the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ben-elliott15
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