Constitution Document Amended Feb 06

We have recently added some new members to our advisory board. Andrew Wilson-Webb is our new Political Adviser, and Angie Jones our Patient Adviser.

Peter Gwilliam

Roy Craft

Neil Rushton

Lynn Blackadder

Patrons

Dr Martyn Caplin MD

Dr Martyn Caplin is a consultant in gastroenterology and hepatobiliary medicine at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

In addition to his general practice in gastroenterology he is lead physician for the Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit at the Royal Free, leading a multidisciplinary clinical team as well as heading a research programme in neuroendocrine tumours.

His research interests include gastrointestinal peptides, new targets for neuroendocrine tumour therapy, assessing the efficacy of targeted isotope therapy for neuroendocrine tumours and other interventional protocols.

Dr Sarah Brewer

Dr Sarah Brewer qualified as a doctor from Cambridge University. She completed her medical training at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and was a full-time GP in Plymouth, Devon, for five years. She now works as a media medic and is currently completing a Masters degree in Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey, Guildford. Sarah writes widely on all aspects of health, including nutrition, complementary medicine and sexual health. She has written almost 50 popular self-help books and appears regularly on TV and radio. She is a regular contributor to a number of newspapers and women’s magazines, including Prima, Natural Health, the Daily Mail and others. She was voted Health Journalist of the Year 2002.Sarah is a member of the Guild of Health Writers, where she first met NET founder, Cathy Kalamis at one of their regular meetings.

“When we first decided to move to Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, Cathy was really helpful, explaining the complex residency rules, and pointing us towards the Estate Agents specialising in people ‘emigrating’ from the UK. We met up from time to time in The Hollows restaurant that she ran at The Gouffre with her husband, Babis. Two years ago, I joined the Guernsey NETworkers Cathy had set up to select two deserving people to visit the private island of Brecqhou, just off Guernsey. The first fund-raising open day raised almost £25,000 for the charity, and was so successful it was repeated again last year. My husband, Richard, who is a bit of a computer wizard, also spent many hours with Cathy helping her plan and lay out the new NET website, which sadly was put on hold towards the end of Cathy’s illness. It is a great honour to be asked to become Patron of the NET Patient Foundation and I will support it in any way I can.”

Best Wishes
Sarah Brewer

The NET Patient Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received a generous donation from Blue Hackle, one of the country leaders in Global security.

For many companies, corporate responsibility has become an important aspect of good business practice and is beginning to have a significant impact on how their company operates. A key part of any corporate responsibility programme will be a focus on involvement with good causes – either directly or via partnerships.

Whilst traditions of corporate philanthropy date back to Victorian times, companies are now more than ever beginning to engage actively with charitable organisations and build meaningful relationships to meet both the charities needs and business objectives – and to address key concerns.

Corporate community involvement can take the form of charitable donations, gifts in kind or employee volunteering initiatives. Many companies are also now developing sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with charitable organisations working in a variety of fields.

Corporate responsibility and charitable involvement initiatives are increasingly having significant positive impact for many companies. Aside from generating considerable public goodwill, evidence shows that CR can also assist companies to build links with public policy makers, aid innovation, involve, motivate and retain employees, build corporate reputation and enhance competitiveness.

In short, CR is now seen as an essential element of good business practice.

Both Ipsen and Novartis have also provided generous sponsorship for the production of information and for the patient support groups.

We hope to continue working together to provide the best service for patients and their families.

The NET Patient Foundation incorporating Living with Carcinoid has been working since 2006, with the following aims:

1.    To provide accurate and up-to-date information for people living with, or affected by, neuroendcrine tumours. We do this through information and forums provided on this website (and links to other sources of information on the web).

2.     To provide support for patients and others affected by neuroendocrine tumours. We offer a support line which is manned by an experienced healthcare professional; and organise patient support groups around the UK and Ireland.

3.   To improve the quality of life for patients and their families. We can do this by providing support and information about treatments available, as well as by funding and publicising research and existing medical initiatives.

4.  To raise funds, which will help to support research and diagnosis initiatives around the UK.

5.   To raise awareness of neuroendocrine tumours throughout the UK and Ireland, and also within the medical community.

Catherine Bouvier Catherine is a Neuroendocrine Tumour Nurse Specialist. She was based at the Royal Free Hospital in London for 7 years and was responsible for the support, education and coordination of the management of day to day patient care. Her educational role also expanded to other health care professionals both locally, nationally and internationally. She has worked on the production of various patient and medical educational tools and has coordinated a number of research studies for patients with Neuroendocrine Tumours. She  set up a frontline nursing service holding regular screening, follow-up and emergency clinics. She is a member of UKINETS and other specialist neuroendocrine groups.

She co-founded the Foundation with Andrew Geach who was a truly inspirational patient with a great deal of dedication to forming a service that would support patients and their families nationally. Cathy Kalamis, another patient and talented medical journalist  then joined Cathy and Andrew to run the NET Patient Foundation, bourne from and amalgamated with the Living with Carcinoid support group.

Peter Gwilliam – founder, Living with Carcinoid Peter and his late wife Liddy (nee Oldroyd – a well known, award winning, TV comedy director) were founder members of Living with Carcinoid following Liddy’s diagnosis. Following Liddy’s death in 2002 Peter was determined to remain involved with the support group. Together his colleague, Carolyn Marshall, he has run its operation from their Surrey office.

Peter is also involved in fund raising for The Quiet Cancer Therapy Appeal at the Royal Free Hospital which is specifically in Liddy’s memory. Over £160,000 has been raised by friends and fund raising events include the annual Liddy Gwilliam Memorial Softball Tournament.

Peter and Carolyn have welcomed the expansion of the group’s activities under the NET Patient Foundation umbrella.

Maia Sissons Maia is joining the Team to help co-ordinate and manage fundraising campaigns, and to raise awareness of the Foundation through the website and other initiatives. She has been overwhelmed by Cathy’s commitment to the Foundation over recent years, and hopes to provide her and the rest of the Team with lots of energy and support as we move forward.

Carolyn Marshall Carolyn Marshall has organised the ‘Net Patient Foundation’ office since its inception.
Carolyn worked in London for a medical advertising agency before moving to Surrey 20 years ago. She has been working with Peter for the past 10 years and in addition to assisting Peter with his surveying business, runs the NET Patient Foundation office.
Carolyn divides her time between answering email enquiries, managing databases and liaising between members of staff.