New support group launches for Jewish breast cancer patients
The breast cancer charity Future Dreams, founded by a mother and daughter who died from the disease, has set up a monthly meet up to support Jewish women during and after diagnosis
A dedicated support group for Jewish breast cancer patients has been launched as a continued legacy to a mother and daughter who died from the disease.
Bagel Deli, which launches on 25 July and is run by the breast cancer charity Future Dreams, will be a monthly meet-up providing a supportive space for women to come together and address the challenges faced during and after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Future Dreams was started by mother and daughter Sylvie Henry and Danielle Leslie. In a cruel twist of fate, they were both diagnosed with breast cancer and lost their lives to the disease within a year of each other in 2009. Their dream was to make sure that nobody should ever have to face breast cancer alone.
The meet ups will take place at Future Dreams House in Kings Cross, London. Opened in 2021, Future Dreams House is the UK’s only dedicated breast cancer support centre. All refreshments provided will be kosher.
Future Dreams trustee Sam Jacobs said: “We want everyone to recognise themselves at Future Dreams House – we have several diverse community groups, and we felt it was important to include a Jewish Community support group. The Future Dreams founders, Sylvie and Danielle were Jewish, and they believed that no one should face breast cancer alone. We are looking forward to welcoming members of the Jewish community, who have been touched by breast cancer, to have a safe space at Future Dreams House, every month, and a relaxed environment to share their stories and find peer to peer support at our Bagel Deli.”
Bagel Deli is the latest one of several support groups that Future Dreams run. There is also a Samosa Chaat & Chat for women from the South Asian breast cancer community, Black Women Rising, Secondary Sisters for those with secondary cancer, a BRCA community group, a supporters meet up for partners and carers whose loved ones have been affected by breast cancer, a young person’s meet up and a regular coffee morning hosted by Amanda Hanison, the Future Dreams Support and Awareness Ambassador, who has had her own breast cancer journey. The charity is also hoping to launch a group for the LGBTQ community next year.
Bagel Deli will be run by Amanda Hanison and breast cancer clinical nurse specialist, Jackie Wright. Topics discussed with guest speakers will include coping strategies, treatment experiences, lifestyle and wellness support systems and the available resources at the House and online.
Amanda Hanison said: “The group is an opportunity for patients to come together with other people who understand what they are going through and to share tips and advice learned through their own lived experience. Based on what we have seen in our other groups, these meet ups are so beneficial and can really make a difference to a breast cancer patient’s journey.”
Link to book: The Bagel Deli Jewish community monthly meet up in the Dream Kitchen
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