End of an era at MABS Cancer Support Fundacion
MABS Cancer Support Fundación President and founder steps down and new President is appointed
Jacqui Phillips MBE, the President of the highly respected MABS Cancer Support Fundación, the cancer support group with facilities in the Costa Cálida and Costa Blanca, has stepped down.
MABS is well-known and much appreciated for providing practical help and support to local people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and has been formally recognised by the Murcia regional health authority for providing "Excellent care and support". MABS has therefore been duly approved as an official collaborator with the health authority.
Jacqui will be replaced by long-time Treasurer and Camposol resident Bev Thompson BEM and the organisation released the following announcement:
END OF AN ERA
On 7th August 2023 our President and founder, Jacqui Phillips, decided it was time to step away from her role as President. We are not losing her experience as she will remain as a Trustee. Since we began in 1999 Jacqui has been an integral part of MABS turning her hand to whatever was required to support those with cancer. It’s true to say that since we became a Foundation in 2017 the workload increased significantly but Jacqui rose to the challenge to ensure MABS remained fully compliant with the various legal requirements we had to abide by, but this additional office work took her away from the front line and as those who know Jacqui would agree, this is simply not her style. Her achievements are tremendous and have been recognised at the highest level by the award of an MBE in 2005. We now operate five shops and five care centres across a wide geographic area and our own Respite Home in Mazarrón. This now raises the funds required to support around 400 cancer patients annually with counselling and practical needs like travel to hospital appointments, medical translation services, equipment loans and nursing.
Jacqui had made us aware several years ago that this day was coming, but putting all the elements of a succession plan in place was not easy, and further complicated by the Covid era. However, the last part of this succession plan dropped into place in June this year when we were delighted to welcome Mark Love to the team as Group Treasurer. Mark is a qualified Accountant and ideally placed to take over the reins from our current Treasurer, Bev Thompson, who has managed the MABS finances for the past 13 years.
Bev will now become President of the organisation. She is already very well known in Costa Calida where she has for a long time been the senior MABS representative, and the driving force behind expanding our activities in CC (Costa Calida) including establishing our own Respite Home at Camposol and obtaining official collaboration with the Murcia Health Service for MABS Costa Calida team. She has also already received a British government honour, the BEM for her work with MABS and will now bring this energy to the entire MABS organisation.
We are also delighted to announce an expansion of our Board of Trustees with the appointment of Oscar Anton, an Abogado based in Javea.
So we operate going forwards with five trustees, Bev, Jacqui, Thelma Dunn (our long serving secretary who carries on in this role), Mark and Oscar. They are supported by Regional Coordinators focused on Operations (Mike Downie and Karin van Hooton for CC and Hilary Bowick for CB) and Finance (Bonny Horne for CC and Irena Bodnarec for CB). And then each care centre and shop has its own fantastic team too numerous to mention, but contact details are on the website www.mabscancerfoundation.org.
Finally, returning to the key subject of this announcement, we would all like you to join us in paying tribute to Jacqui and to thank her for her incredible work over the past 24 years, it’s true to say we wouldnt be here if it wasn’t for you!
For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Camposol Today.
Mobile: 620 582 418 - General Enquiries
MABS Cancer Support – Mazarron (Fundación)
620 422 410 – Helpline
615 016 035 - General Enquiry Line
689 052 123 - Zue Burgess (Fundraising Co-ordinator)
966 490 780 - Respite Home and general office number
634 362 954 - John; volunteers co-ordinator
968 425 761 - Totana shop
660 819 533 - Totana shop manager, Sue.
MABS Mazarrón provides care and support for all those touched by the hand of cancer in the south-west of the Murcia region. Volunteers provide a wide range of services to help those who are undergoing treatment for cancer in a multitude of practical ways, helping with both the physical and the mental challenges of dealing with cancer. The group operates from a cancer centre on the Camposol urbanisation, and fundraises from its shop in Totana, as well as receiving donations from businesses and individuals who support MABS with a wide range of fundraising activities.
Cancer Support Foundation (MABS) is a registered charitable foundation and is funded via donations and fundraising activities within the local community in Spain. They are a strictly non- profit making group who rely totally on donations and fundraising events, MABS does not receive any financial assistance from local or regional governments. All funds raised by the Mazarrón group remain in the Mazarrón area and are used to help local people at this very difficult time in their lives.
The Cancer Support Group (MABS) Mazarrón offer:-
Transport to and from hospital/clinic appointments
Translators
Patient escorts to hospital and clinic appointments
Support and befriending to patients and their families
Leaflets on various types of cancer and treatments available
Information on where you can obtain assistance in Spain and the UK.
Information on where you can purchase wigs, prosthesis or medical aids.
The Group also has branches with co-ordinators in Costa Blanca North (Valencia), Costa Blanca South (Gran Alicant and La Marina, Orihuela/Torrevieja and Mutxamel), Murcia Region (Mar Menor San Javier, Murcia North West and Mazarrón).
They always need Volunteers
Do you have some time on your hands? Could you offer friendship and support to someone in need? Could you take a cancer patient to the hospital for treatment or a consultant’s appointment? Could you do some light housework or ironing? Could you walk a patient’s dog? Could you do some shopping or collect a prescription for a patient? Are you fluent in Spanish and able to help with spoken and written translations?
If you said ‘Yes’ to any of these questions then you could become a volunteer for Cancer Support Foundation (Mabs) Mazarrón. There are no special skills necessary to become a volunteer, just a desire to help those less fortunate than ourselves. The group have volunteers from all backgrounds, some whose lives have been touched by cancer others who have not. Initial training is provided and ongoing support is available to all volunteers.
WHATEVER YOUR SKILLS - THEY NEED YOU!
The MABS Information Centre on Camposol
The MABS Respite Home and Hospice opened in April 2018 and is the focal point for MABS activity offering information, counselling and support to those affected by cancer in the Mazarrón area. In addition, the centre offers respite care for carers and provides end of life support in its comfortable environment as well as providing storage facilities for MABS equipment.
The Drop in Centre will be open Monday to Friday, from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm. Visitors are welcome or you can call 620 582 418 to make an appointment.
Situated in Avenida de la Covachos, number 278, Camposol B4, the centre is on the right hand side heading from the commercial centre towards sectors C and D. The Centre is funded by the MABS shop in Totana
MABS shop in Totana :
The shop in Totana provides a great source of income in order for us to continue our work in the Mazarrón area, but we need your donations of furniture , books, clothes, CDs and bric-a-brac, so please bring them along.
The shop is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Avenida Juan Carlos I, number 50, Totana.
Telephone: 660 819 533