Beatson Cancer Charity has been gifted a bespoke double-decker bus by First Glasgow as part of a new partnership for its regional campaign, ‘Together Along the Way’.
The bespoke bus will allow the charity’s messages to be seen and heard in communities across Greater Glasgow and beyond. The bus operator will support a full calendar of events alongside Beatson Cancer Charity over the next 12 months.
The Beatson Bus will be starting the campaign tour in Renfrewshire, where there are known high levels of patients and families. It will then be rolled out across other parts of the west of Scotland throughout the remainder of the year.
READ MORE: Heartbreak as young Glasgow paramedic dies from rare cancer after marrying love of her life
The bus has been transformed with the eye-catching and noticeable Beatson-branded yellow. The pandemic highlighted a rise in isolation for cancer patients, the need for assistance with employment rights, access to bereavement support and better advice on accessing benefits.
At each of the events, Beatson Cancer Charity staff members and volunteers will be available on the bus to give information on the services offered and signpost people who require support.
52-year-old Graeme Dickie from Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. He has been receiving treatment at The Beatson’s satellite centre in Inverclyde for the last decade, after it was discovered his cancer had progressed to stage 4 in 2017.
Graeme’s scans last year identified a Neuroendocrine tumour, which is treatable. He has recently moved onto receiving a new drug which he is responding well to.
Graeme was eager to go back to work as an electrical engineer after he was first diagnosed, but he has now been receiving treatment for a decade, so volunteers for Beatson Cancer Charity when he is able to.
Graeme, who has three kids, said: “I was engaged with the Specialist Health and Work Service (SHAWS) team for a period of time because they were helping me deal with the challenge of getting ready to get back into the workplace. I used the SHAWS facility for a while and was on their ‘return to work’ programme.
“Unfortunately, I never went back to work and I’ve just continued volunteering. I was 42 when I was diagnosed so you’re still very much right in the middle of your career, so it’s a huge factor you’ve got to consider is the impact on your work.”
READ NEXT:
Firefighters race to Glasgow blaze after 'deliberate attack' metres from family home
St Enoch Centre to be demolished and replaced with new shopping centre, homes and hotel
Celtic fans filmed crashing through bus stop roof during trophy celebrations at Glasgow Cross
Glasgow couple win £300,000 on National Lottery scratchcard after buying £3 ticket at Tesco
Paedophile 'hates social media' after being caught in vigilante sting
