***Update 13 August 2024***
Kerry completed her head shave yesterday!
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A huge thank you to everyone who came along yesterday, baked, donated raffle prizes, put out tables and chairs and donated! We are extremely grateful. Thank you especially to Kerry, Megan and Steve.
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Kerry Giles-Brown is one of our most experienced and well-loved team members. And she is having her head shaved to raise money for our charity, before she starts chemotherapy herself.
Kerry has worked for Caring Together for over 30 years and last year held a fundraising tea-party, raising over £1,000 to support our services for unpaid carers.
In recent months Kerry has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but together with her family, she is determined that some good will come of her situation. Kerry is due to begin chemotherapy shortly so has organised to have her head shaved to raise money to help us support as many people as possible.
The head shave will take place at Kerry’s home in Littleport on Monday 12 August. Kerry’s daughter, Megan, has set up an online fundraising page. There will also be a raffle and cake sale to raise as much money as possible.
Kerry explained, “Caring Together Charity is a major part of my life and always will be.
“I want the charity to benefit at this time. Having been part of the team for a long time, I know how important our support is to people who are caring for a family member.
“This is a way for me to do something positive and make sure the day is filled with laughter, smiles and hope.”
As a Homecare Professional, Kerry is a member of the team providing breaks to unpaid carers by stepping in to look after the person with a disability or long-term illness. The charity provides breaks for unpaid carers so that they can go to a GP or hospital appointment without worrying about the person they look after back at home. Unpaid carers can also have some much-needed time to themselves – or to reconnect with family or friends – knowing the person they look after is in safe hands. Being an unpaid carer can be exhausting, with half of carers having health issues of their own. They can become burnt-out, isolated or even reach crisis point where they feel unable to cope. This is why the charity provides vital breaks for unpaid carers.
Our Chief Executive, Miriam Martin said, “We are in awe of Kerry! It’s amazing that at a time when she faces her own serious health issues she’s thinking of the unpaid carers we support and those they look after.
“We are immensely proud of Kerry who has worked tirelessly with our charity for over 30 years. She inspires us to do everything we can to make sure unpaid carers aren’t ignored or forgotten when they are doing something as incredible as looking after a family member who depends on them.
“Kerry’s amazing fundraising efforts will help ensure vital services, like our fun activities for children who are carers, can continue.”
We are currently supporting 126 unpaid carers in Littleport itself, and over 580 across the wider Ely area. Each year we help over 27,000 people.
Please support Kerry and her family, and help us support local unpaid carers. Click here to donate.
