A man from Thornaby whose cancer journey saw him become one of the first male volunteers an NHS trust’s cancer support centre has ever had is on a mission to raise awareness of the struggles men like him have.
Lee Bainbridge, 50, became one of the first men to volunteer at the cancer information centre at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust after they helped him through his own cancer battle.
Lee, who is 50 and a father-of-two, was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2020 after a long period feeling poorly and has had treatment since at The James Cook University Hospital.
While on a charity walk of the Cleveland Way he got talking to another person taking part in the event – Alan Chandler, the Macmillan information and survivorship manager at the trust.
Alan spoke to Lee about volunteering at the centre at the University Hospital of North Tees, something he has been doing a day a week since April.
On the walk, organised by Mike McGrother and Jonny Ferguson and supported by Macmillan Cancer Support, a song was also recorded by Teesside male choir group Infant Hercules to help raise awareness of the importance of men with cancer reaching out for support.
Lee, who has also written a piece about his cancer journey, said: “The hardest part was also the thing that has benefitted me most and that was swallowing my male pride and reaching out to talk to Macmillan and accepting help from them.
“Macmillan Cancer Support are a fantastic organisation and offered me so much practical, emotional and financial support and advice.
“One of the biggest things for me personally that has come out of the project is that I now volunteer in the cancer information centre at North Tees.
“Making cuppas and chatting to patients on the chemotherapy and haematology day units is my way of giving something back.”
Alan Chandler, the centre manager, added: “I was really privileged to be invited along to join Infant Hercules for part of their 130 mile walk and had a really good chat with Lee, finding out all about his cancer journey to date.
“He said he wanted to give something back for everything the centre has done for him. I explained that we don’t get many male volunteers come forward – sadly, there still are barriers stopping some men from opening up and talking about these things.
“I said it would really help if Lee volunteered, it would encourage other men to open up and get that support.
“It has been a pleasure to have Lee come to the centre and offer his time, he is an inspiration to us all.”
