Local residents can honour a loved one who has or had cancer, or acknowledge their own cancer journey by purchasing daffodils from The Bays Hospital this Daffodil Day.
The Bays Hospital volunteers will be selling bouquets of daffodils and Cancer Council daffodil enamel pins on Thursday, 31 August, to create change for people affected by cancer.
All funds raised will be donated to the Cancer Council, to support lifesaving cancer research.
Breast cancer patient, Willy Maddock, recently completed her final chemotherapy treatment at The Bays Hospital in Mornington, and will be celebrating this milestone in her cancer journey on Daffodil Day.
“Having chemotherapy is an unpleasant experience for anyone. I have had some personal issues that have made that harder for me. But the Day Infusion Unit staff and the Jane McGrath nurse Rachel, have done everything in their power to enable me to get through this process,” Willy said.
Willy – a former nurse – was so impressed with the standard of care she received from her oncologist, Dr Zee Wan Wong and the nursing staff, that she wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to The Bays CEO, Jade Phelan.
“I recognise good quality care when I see it. The care provided at The Bays is of the highest standard, particularly in the Day Infusion Unit,” Willy wrote.
“I was encouraged to seek help for my anxiety in the form of psychology and also medication, both of which have been helpful in allowing me to get through the treatment. At no time was I made to feel that I was a problem,” she added.
Willy is now having a break from treatment before returning for surgery in early September.
The Bays is enhancing its services through the construction of a Cancer Care Centre, which will commence next month and will enable local residents to undergo radiation therapy on the Mornington Peninsula.
If you would like to support people affected by cancer, you can purchase daffodils from The Bays reception on 31 August between 10am and 2pm, or donate to The Bays Cancer Centre project by visiting www.thebays.com.au/donate.