The Hop! Summer 2015

CLAN Moray was lucky enough to
be chosen by Masson McPherson
as the new home for the massive,
mystery bear. He arrived just in time
for the Christmas decorations to
be hung in the centre and
immediately proved very
popular with all our
clients, not just the
children. He wore a
Santa hat, took part in
all the festivities and
even hung up his stocking
on Christmas Eve!
COLOUR in Clancy!
POOR CLANCY! He’s lost
his colour! Can you make
him feel a bit brighter by
getting your colouring
pens out?
what’s
inside...
1.Draw or write about a special memory. Maybe your special memory
was a great trip somewhere or time with someone kind or fun.
Choose a memory that makes you feel really good inside. Maybe it
was a time you achieved something. Remember as many details as
you can. What were you wearing? How did the air smell? What could
you hear? How did you feel? What did you see?
Just thinking about your special memory will help you feel the way
you felt that day, excited, proud or happy. And guess what, those good
feelings help to crowd out worry feelings. It takes practice but Clancy
recommends just five minutes a day thinking about your special
memory will help you feel good.
2.Make a worry box out of an old shoe box. Decorate it using stickers,
paints, markers, sequins, anything you like. When you have a worry,
pop it in the box. Have a certain time each day of “Worry Time,” when
you open your box and speak to an adult about your worries. Do this
for about 20 minutes per day during a quiet, special time with an
adult. They might be able to help. STOP! ALERT! Only talk about
worries during your worry time and that way you have time for
your worries but they don’t take over your day.
Next issue:
3.See how many star jumps you can do in 60 seconds. Get an adult to
time you. Being active helps your body stay relaxed and calm.
We hope you have enjoyed the third issue of The Hop! Keep your
stories and pictures coming... We need them for the next issue!
Telephone 01224 647000
Freephone: 0330 440 2526
www.clanhouse.org
CLAN (Cancer Link Aberdeen & North). Registered Scottish Charity No. SC022606.
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Colour
in
Clancy!
But as Clancy knows there are lots of things you can do to help manage
your worries. Here are Clancy’s top worry tips:
The winner of
the Under 8 story
competition was
Archie Coull and the Over 8 competition
winners are sister and brother, Martha and
Joseph Farquhar, who submitted a joint
effort. The winners were presented with
their prizes at CLAN Moray during the
school Easter holidays.
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Random
acts
of
kindness...
When you or someone you know has cancer, there can be lots of
changes to get used to. It can be a worrying time. It’s good to share
your worries with trusted friends and family or you can talk to your
Support Worker from the Children and Family service.
The winner of ‘Name the Bear’ was Tony
Cardwell, a member of the Elgin Writer’s
Group who chose
the name ‘Declan’.
A new extra large
T-shirt was ordered
for the bear
embroidered with
his new name.
Can you spot the hidden bunny?
Keep up
to date with
Clancy’s
Chat...
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4
6
Learn to be a Worry Fighter
Jill, the Children and Families Support
Worker in Elgin, ran 2 competitions – in
the first competition entrants were invited
to name the bear using the letters CLAN
in their choice and in the second, entrants
were asked to write the adventures of the
bear explaining how he had ended up all
alone on a deserted beach in the winter.
CLAN Cancer Support
CLAN House
120 Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB25 2QA
thehop@clanhouse.org
SUMMER 2015
CLAN Moray’s
mystery bear
has a happy
new home...
THE
ience
A child’s exper
ren’s
at CLAN’s Child
Group
See if you can come up with some of
your own worry fighting techniques
and write them in the box below
How to
help
with
worries
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Left: CLANCY
gets into the
festive spirit
with some of
the CLAN team.
Random Acts of Kindness
Dates for your diary...
In every issue of The Hop! we hope to share with you the many kind acts that our children
and young people do for CLAN every day. Without these very kind people we would be
unable to help so many people, so a very big THANK YOU!
June
Wed 3rd
CLAN Beetle Drive, CLAN House,
Aberdeen
Sat 6th
Fee’in Market Stonehaven
Right: CLANCY
meets a minion
at a recent
fundraising
event!
Sat 6th
Sol: Sol set out to read 9 books in
9 days before his 9th birthday and he
was thrilled and delighted as he achieved
this and exceeded his fundraising target of
£200.
Hello friends!
Welcome to the third issue of The Hop!
Our newsletter for young people,
no adults allowed!
in September and there will be two routes, one
shorter than the other. I can’t wait and hope to see
lots of you there.
I am really enjoying getting out and about now
that the weather is improving and hope you all are
too. I had lots of fun running with CLAN supporters
in the Baker Hughes 10K. It was tough but we all
felt really proud afterwards and it was great to raise
money for CLAN. You can find out more about it in
my Clancy Oot ‘n’ Aboot section on page three.
I am also on the lookout for new members of
my crew. If you want to join me just send your
pictures, news and stories by email to
thehop@clanhouse.org or
c/o The Hop, CLAN House, 120 Westburn Road,
Aberdeen, AB25 2QA. If they are published you
will become a member of my club, how cool is that!
I am looking out my best purple shirt because it
will soon be time to Go Purple for CLAN! It will be
held during the month of September so make sure
you get your purple thinking caps on for what you
can do.
Until next time,
We have had some exciting news at CLAN - the
Landmark Walk will be back this year! It is also
Clancy
X
Interview with Cliohna
What do you like best about CLAN?
“CLAN is a real home from home – and somewhere away from the
hospital that they would let me go to, even if it was just a few hours at a
time. It’s so welcoming and I felt safe there and the people are really lovely
and friendly and my family stayed there so they could be close to me.”
What is your most memorable moment at CLAN?
“I have two - one was the amount of food I would eat! I was on steroids
and they make you really hungry so I ate bowls and bowls of pasta and
everyone was shocked that I could eat these mountains of pasta. It was
great. Another special memorable moment was meeting one of my
chemo buddies – we are now close friends and because we could, we
used to have fun swapping wigs.”
Tell us about your craziest fundraising adventures
“I recently jumped out of a plane for CLAN – I am an adrenalin junkie and
it was on the top of my bucket list – it was a dream to do. CLAN did so
much for me so I wanted to give something back.
“When it came to the moment of jumping out – I was so excited, I
couldn’t wait. But I missed the part where they said I was going out first!
I was jumping in tandem (attached to an expert). There was no door
on the plane just a big gap so I got a shock as we went first and we did
a somersault. But I was delighted – It’s the closest thing you can get to
flying. Also this weekend I am going to fly a plane... again.”
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Sol’s books
Georgia’s Hair Cut: 14 year old Georgia
a 3rd year pupil at Aboyne Academy
decided to get 12 inches of her lovely hair
chopped off by Robert of Demilo Unisex
Hair Salon, Ballater. Georgia, who plays
in the school netball and football team
wanted not only to raise money for CLAN
but donate her hair to the Little Princess
Trust to turn into a wig in time to give to a
little girl for Valentine’s Day.
With Love
send your stories to theHOP@clanhouse.org
Cliohna Thomson, aged 17, is a special young lady. Not only has she
shared her story at a number of our events, but she has also taken part
in some amazing fundraising challenges for CLAN, including jumping
out of a plane! We caught up with her during one of her recent visits…
CLANCY OOT 'N' ABOOT...
What about hobbies and interests?
“I love sports. Before I got ill I used to do
competitive trampolining at Scottish
national level and also Scottish
championship gymnastics and I have
won medals in both. Now I am
recovering from chemo I do belly
dancing and pilates with my mum
and younger sister Morgan (15).
Great exercise and good for your
core strength. I still get tired but
I take my time and go at my own
pace. I look fine to others who can
do more but doing just a couple
of the exercises they say gives me
confidence.“
Do you think people treat you differently?
“Yes, as the cancer left me partially sighted, if I am wearing dark glasses
and have my white cane people are completely different but nice –
asking me if I am fine or needing help.”
Anything else you want to add?
“CLAN is brilliant – great for my family too. Elgin too, it’s brilliant. I get
some therapies and it takes your mind off cancer. Also you never feel
alone – someone from CLAN is always there for you. Just remember
to keep strong, never lose your sense of humour and remember that
without the bad in life, the good wouldn’t be as great.”
Georgia’s hair...
year old Papdale Primary School pupil
Emma Rendall made and sold Christmas
decorations to raise money for CLAN and
also for ‘Marys Meals’. In total the amount
raised was £504 and Emma can be seen
here presenting a cheque for £252 to
Karen Scott of CLAN.
There is no end to his talents as he recently completed the Baker Hughes 10k race for the first time!
Dolphin finds a new home
at CLAN
Kirkwall Brownies: The 2nd
Kirkwall Brownie pack held a ‘5p sale’
which included home bakes and
games. Since each item/game cost
just 5p, raising £66.05 was a fantastic
achievement.
We have a new star at CLAN House who has
been enjoying a lot of attention.
Meet our new wild dolphin called ‘Bird Ballet.’
He is a life size dolphin, but he isn’t any ordinary
dolphin, he is very special!
Kirkwall Brownies
Banchory River Festival
Sat 13th
almedie Summer Fete,
B
Balmedie Leisure Centre
Sun 14th
ildrummy Vintage Car Rally,
K
Deeside Activity Park
Sat 20th
on Accord Steam Fair, Castle
B
Fraser
Sun 21st
Father’s Day Walk 2015,
CLAN House
Sun 21st
Aberdeen Highland Games,
Hazlehead Park
Wed 24th
Go Purple for CLAN Launch
Night, CLAN House, Aberdeen
Piping at Forres, Forres
July
Sat 18th
New Deer Show 2015,
Craigieford Park, New Deer
Sun 19thFun Day at Aberdeen Sports
Village
Sat 25th
Aberdeen Country Fair, Belmont
August
Sat 1st
Aboyne Highland Games
Sat 1st
Aberlour Highland Games
2nd-3rd
Turriff Show, The Haughs,
Queens Road, Turriff
Sat 15th
Johnshaven Fish Festival 2015,
Johnshaven
Cycling for CLAN: After the sad
loss of her uncle, Brian, in 2012 Rachel
and her father Steven and other family
members received help and support
from CLAN. They all wanted to give
something back and they decided
to do a 350 mile cycle to raise funds
for CLAN and with the support from
family and friends and her Dad’s work
colleagues they raised £545.
Bird Ballet lives in CLAN’s back garden.
He loves getting his picture taken with
children. Why don’t you come and visit Bird
Ballet and see if you can count how many
birds are decorated on his body... or if you are
feeling really adventurous, why don’t you visit
Aberdeen beach and see if you can spot some
of Bird Ballet’s real life friends!
Sat 13th
Sat 25th
Banchory Show, Banchory
Emma Rendall
He doesn’t look like his fellow friends who live in
the big blue sea, as he has been decorated with
loads of colourful birds. He has an unusual name
for a dolphin, but this is why Bird Ballet is
so unique!
Sun 7thOpen Farm Sunday, Castle Farm
Shop & Café, Fordoun
Sat 27th
Emma’s Christmas Cracker: 10
ne Great Day, Bon Accord
O
Centre, Aberdeen
Sat 29th
Mastrick Community Day,
Mastrick Community Centre
September
1st-30th
Go Purple for CLAN
Sun 27th
CLAN Landmark Walk, Westburn
Park, Aberdeen
Cycling for CLAN
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It’s easy to get involved in any of our upcoming events, visit
www.clanhouse.org or call 01224 647000 to find out more
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