A Liverpool woman is sharing her experience of battling cancer to spread an all-important message of "hope".
The ECHO previously reported the annual Pause for Hope service, which has been running since 1999, returns to the Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday. We asked you to send your poems or 'Messages of Hope', one of which would be read our at the ecumenical service.
Barbara Deus, 71, who has lived in Liverpool all her life, shared her inspirational poem 'A CAUSE FOR HOPE' based on her own experiences. Back in 2004, Barbara began to feel "extremely tired all the time" and after being sent for a blood test, she was soon diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia.
The disease was closely monitored and kept under control with annual blood tests to ensure it remained stable. Barbara's father and sister were also diagnosed with cancer and, sadly, her dad died 13 years ago. However her sister, who survived cancer twice, is "living life to the full".
Barbara became a bereavement counsellor at St Joseph's Hospice, in Thornton, where she supported terminally-ill patients, their relatives and also staff. She said: "It was during this time that I became involved with the Pause for Hope team.
"I was proud to attend their regular meetings and to act as a representative for St Joseph's Hospice. The service is so important to me and others affected by cancer because you feel united in your fears and concerns.
"Many people shared their feelings with me after the service and, although emotional, they said it was cathartic. They didn't feel so alone with their fears as they realised so many others go through this.
"They hear stories about survival and positive outcomes. The hope for this year is that people come to the service on Sunday and go away feeling less isolated or frightened."
The ‘First’ Pause for Hope service was held in St Francis Xavier’s Church, Everton, in 1999 and was launched by Professor Ray Donnelly, founder and president of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. The service proved popular and was held the following year at the Metropolitan Cathedral and every year since then it has been held in one of the city's two cathedrals.
Barbara told the ECHO: "To be attending the service this year, and reading my poem out, will be so special to me for a number of reasons. One being able to share my experiences with the congregation and also to be back with the Pause for Hope team, lead by Ray Donnelly, after a two-year break because of Covid.
"It will be a proud moment for me as the winner of the competition to be able to read my 'Cause for Hope' poem at this very special Mass for the Pause for Hope charity. I have lived in Liverpool all my life.
"It's a wonderful friendly city, the people are warm and open. Just like the people of Liverpool, our sense of humour is so unique. No doubt about it, it's what helps us to cope with life's challenges."
The service gets underway at the Metropolitan Cathedral at 3pm on October 2 and everyone is invited to attend. Speaking to the ECHO previously, Professor Ray Donnelly told how the service supports cancer sufferers across the region as well as their loved ones.
He said: "I was working as a surgeon back then and was seeing a lot of patients with cancer. Being myself, I saw a great need for people facing cancer and their families, to turn to prayer and help them. Many will turn to God during difficult circumstances and the first service was very well received.
"We then moved to alternate between the cathedrals every year. It's a very moving service. People who go get a lot of consolation and hope from it, there's a purpose."
A Cause for Hope - by Barbara Deus
'CANCER, THE NAME ITSELF BRINGS FEAR
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME?
WILL I STILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR?
SO MUCH I WANT TO ASK
AND YET I'D RATHER NOT KNOW
I ASK ANYWAY, LETTING THE TEARS FLOW.
I HEAR WORDS OF HOPE, OF TREATMENTS GALORE
THEY TELL ME I'M IN SAFE HANDS
WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, THAT'S FOR SURE!
MANY PEOPLE SURVIVE AND LIVE ON,
WITH TREATMENT, LOVE AND CARE
WE FIND HOPE AND RESILIENCE
WE NEVER KNEW WAS THERE!
HOPE IS EMPOWERING
IT'S AS STRONG AS YOU MAKE IT
THERE'S A CAUSE FOR HOPE, AND IT'S FREE
JUST TAKE IT!
