Caremark Thanet Raise Money for East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal, or "The Waxing"

Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action week took place between the 21-27 May. We wanted to do something to raise money for the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia appeal during this period and hit on the idea of someone having his legs and chest waxed. However, things did not run to plan. When our original volunteer became unavailable with less than a week to go we were left asking: "what do we do?"

We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and we all knew that to let them down was unthinkable. Our distress call was answered by one of our fabulous care and support workers, Jerry. At very short notice, Jerry agreed to step up, lie down and place himself in the very capable hands of the Beauty Lady, Julia Marrison.

However, what Jerry did not realise was that there were going to be a number of other hands very eager to help him shed his body hair.

"The Waxing"

We'd like to extend our thanks to Karen Scrivener, Dementia Specialist Nurse and Vicky Adley, the Fundraising and Development Officer at East Kent Hospitals for coming along on the day and making a significant contribution to Jerry's hair removal.

Further contributions to the new hairless Jerry were made by: Kerry Hill, Xana Welch, Abbi Downton and Jayne Costain.

Video production was by Jemma Clayton. We understand that the full length recording of the "The Waxing" has become a cult classic- you can find the expurgated version on our Facebook page. There are rumours that a major Hollywood studio is seriously considering financing a big budget blockbuster of "The Waxing" with a "triple A listed male star" as good as signed up to play the lead role. The scheduled release date is October 31 2018.

Our biggest thank you has to go to Jerry. He was very bold to lie down on that table: and very bald when he got off it. Only Jerry's legs and chest were at any point placed at the risk of harm. Contrary to the reports that you may have seen on social media, we refused to allow Jerry to have a body double for the close up scenes, and we can, therefore, reassure the public that at no time were any small furry animals harmed. We understand that Jerry has fully recovered; that there is unlikely to be any lasting damage and that his life is now returning to normal.

We're not sure how much we have raised, yet. Our aim was to hit £700. If you would like to contribute it is not too. late. 

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for Dementia Action Week

About Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases with Alzheimer's disease being by far the biggest cause.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 people living with dementia and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 people currently living with dementia, rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Caremark Thanet's Dementia Support

As things stand, there is no cure. There are, though, things that can be done to help those living with dementia and their families. These things often cost money. And that money is often raised through charitable donations. At Caremark Thanet, we were trying to think of what we could do for Dementia Action Week, which this year takes place between the 21 and 27 May. We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and thought that me might like to do something again for that appeal.The question was what precisely could we do?

Our question was answered for us by Jay Harrison, pictured below, who volunteered to have his legs and chest waxed to raise money for this very worthwhile charity. 

Jay Harrison before his waxing

Jay who works for Caremark Thanet, is no stranger to charitable fundraising. In June 2017, he made his debut as a stand-up comedian at our charity comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate.  Let's face it, to do a stand-up comedy routine takes some courage, but probably not as much courage as having your legs waxed. With Jay's help we are trying to raise £700. If you'd like to donate you can do so by going to Jay's JustGiving page. 

Jay will be having his head shaved at 3.00 pm on 21 May 2018 at Caremark Thanet's offices - Unit A5A Continental Approach, Margate, CT9 4JG. His legs and chest will be waxed two days later on 23 May 2018 at the same location - the time to be confirmed.



Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Present a Cheque to East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal

In December 2017 we sponsored a quiz night at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in aid of East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal. The weather was atrocious, but that did not deter some of Thanet's hardiest quizzers.

From left to right: from East Kent Hospitals: Vicky Adley, Joy Marshall, Lorna Shadbolt and Karen Scrivener; and Garry Costain, Managing Director of Caremark Thanet.

Many people living with dementia have to be admitted to hospital. The aim of the appeal is to help those people leave hospital as fit as possible. The people who attended the quiz night at Bernie's were exceptionally generous in their support of this worthwhile cause. On the night we raised almost £400 and Caremark Thanet was very pleased to match this sum. Caremark Thanet, with the support of the amazing Thanet community, has raised £2000 since June 2017 for the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal and there is no doubt that there will be more fundraising activities in the future.

From left to right: Jemma Clayton, Caremark Thanet's Business Development Manager; From East Kent Hospitals: Joy Marshall, Lorna Shadbolt and Karen Scrivener; and Garry Costain, Managing Director of Caremark Thanet.

We'd like to say a very big thank you to everyone who supported our quiz and gave so generously on the night.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on01843 235910or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website atwww.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet's Quiz Night in Aid of East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal

1966 and All That

In the early evening sunlight on Saturday 30th July 1966 a young man by the name of Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore raised the Jules Rimet trophy above his head as he was raised aloft by his team mates. In English sport, the image is iconic; the moment immortlised; the performance unparalleled. How achingly sad it is to know that three of those players surrounding Bobby Moore are today living with dementia.

Something like this also concentrates the mind on the human condition. Our bodies are frail and feeble in the face of attacks from countless ailments. Science has made great progress in preventative and curative medicine, but none of us is indestructible.

Dementia

Dementia touches the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent, the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Dementia is not itself a disease. It is an umbrella term that refers to symptoms caused by a number of illnesses, of which Alzheimer's disease is, perhaps, the most widely known. There are probably, however, a hundred or more illnesses that can cause dementia. Our Knowledge of dementia is still quite elementary. There is no cure; though there are treatments that can help.

Caremark Thanet's Charity Quiz Night

On Friday 8th December, Caremark Thanet will be teaming up with Bernie's Chocolate Bar for a charity quiz night in aid of East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal. In June this year, we held a charity comedy night for the same appeal and raised £1200. The evening will start at 7.30  - entry is just £5 on the door -  and in addition to the quiz there will be a raffle.

We hope that you will be able to come along and support this most worthwhile of causes. If you can't make it but would like to donate just call us on the number below.

You can be almost certain that one of the questions will not be: who won the world cup in 1966!

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Presents a Cheque to East Kent Hospital's Charity Dementia Appeal

Dementia affects an estimated 850,000 people in the UK. This is expected to rise to over one million people by 2025. In Kent, there are currently some 22,000 people living with dementia. This figure is expected to rise to 30,000 by 2026. There could be thousands more people living with dementia that is as yet not diagnosed. It is estimated that in the UK there is one person every 3 minutes diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia is not a disease itself but is caused by other diseases; Alzheimer's disease, perhaps, being the most widely known of these causes. There is no cure for dementia. Historically, dementia research has been underfunded. This under-funding has meant that the progress in dementia research has been slow, when compared with other areas of medical research.

Although there is no cure for dementia; there is help. Often this help comes through the work of charities. One such charity is the East Kent Hospital's Charity Dementia Appeal. On June 30 2017, Caremark Thanet was pleased to team up with Bernie's Chocolate Bar to sponsor a stand up comedy night for the East Kent Hospitals appeal.

The evening was a runaway success. The twelve talented comedians kept the audience laughing. One of a number of comedians making his debut at stand up comedy was Caremark Thanet's financial controller, Jay Harrison. Jay was the youngest performer on the night and proved a real crowd pleaser.

A fantastic £1,200 was raised on the night, and the cheque was presented by Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar to representatives of the dementia appeal. From left to right in the photograph above are: Berine Morgan (owner of Bernie's Chocolate Bar), Lorna Shadbolt, Joy Marshall, Karan Scrivener (dementia nurses), Jemma Clayton (Business Development Manager, Caremark Thanet), Garry Costain (Managing Director, Caremark Thanet) and Vicky Adley (Fundraising and Development Officer, East Kent Hospital's Charity).

The money raised will be spent on facilities at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Comedy Night Raises £1200 for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal

East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal will receive £1200 in the next few weeks. This is the sum of money raised  last night - 30 June 2017 - from a charity stand-up comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate and sponsored by Caremark Thanet.

Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar

The charity comedy night is the second event organised by Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar. On 16 June 2017, we held a Great Get Together, in celebration of the values of Jo Cox. Our Charity Comedy night was held to raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal. We have requested that the money raised goes to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

The evening was a fantastic success, but it could hardly have failed. Our venue - on the seafront in Margate - is stunning. If you've been to Bernie's you'll know what I mean. The hospitality was - and always is - exceptional. The comedians were outstanding. The audience was receptive, warm and appreciative. And everyone was generous. 

Thanet's Talent

The people who performed for us were all very different. Our oldest performer was 86; our youngest was 22; one or two were seasoned performers; one or two were less experienced; some were first timers. The one thing they each had in common was their talent. Thanet should be enormously proud of  the very talented people who live and work here. We were truly entertained by twelve of those remarkable talents last night. 

Some of those first time performers had been coached by Bernie in the work she is doing with Ageless Thanet. Bernie should be congratulated; her students did not let her down.

Caremark Thanet's Own Talent

I could not end this article without drawing particular attention to one performer. I do this only because, by day, this comedian works for Caremark Thanet. His name is Jay Harrison; he works in our office as our Finance Controller. He took to the stage last night; it was his first time; his performance was magnificent. 

We should have expected nothing less because, by night, he is The Caped Comedian 

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Can You Answer The Question: What Is Comedy?

What Is Comedy?

Working in domiciliary (home) care is a serious business; so a little light relief is always welcome: And there are few more effective ways of delivering that relief than through comedy. Have you ever wondered, though, what comedy is? if you have; you are in fine company. Stan Laurel is on record as saying: "A friend once asked me what comedy was. That floored me. What is comedy? I don't know. Does anybody? Can you define it?"

Stan Laurel, one half of one of the greatest comedy double acts in history, did not know what comedy is. Can you believe it? 

If that has got you thinking about what comedy is; let me tell you that I have the answer. Sadly, the great man died some time ago so I cannot share it with him. I can, however, share it with you. But why should you believe me? That is a very good point; a very good point indeed. You do not know me, and I must confess that my qualifications for answering the question do not rank highly.

Having confessed to one deficiency, I might as well go on a roll. I'm not actually able to tell you, in so many words, here and now, in this article, what comedy is. But if Stan Laurel didn't have the answer; I'm in good company

I'm not be able to tell you the answer; however, I can do something much better than that. I can show you what it is. At least, I can if you accept my invitation to a charity comedy evening. At this event, there will be a group of well qualified people who will demonstrate the art of comedy. This group of people will be performing at our charity comedy evening. Allow me, then, formally to invite you to:  A Charity Comedy Evening at Bernie's Chocolate Bar, sponsored by Caremark Thanet. The event starts at 7.30 pm on Friday 30 June 2017.

Now you know where to find the answer to the question "what is comedy?" why not come along? In doing so, you will not only have the balm of insight applied to the itch of curiosity you will also be helping the worthiest of causes:  East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal.  

Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Please Join Us

I hope you can join us on 30 June. We have a wonderful cast of comedy talent lined up. Some very experienced; some less so including one or two first time performers. We have old and young: there is a 60-year age gap between our oldest and youngest performers.

Whatever money is raised on the night Caremark Thanet will match up to £500.

The cost is £5 on the door. Please tell your friends. Please share this article with your friends. There’s no need to dress up, but you can if you want: and if you do dress up, as Stan’s partner Ollie didn’t say: “that’s another evening dress I’ve got you into.”

I promise the jokes on the night will be far superior to that.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.