Mags- she’s one of our own!

Margaret Lewis well what can I say?

Mags was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 whilst in the third and final year of her mental health nurse training at Sunderland University. She was adamant that the diagnosis would not interfere with her studies and she completed rounds of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy without one day off sick!! The strength and determination she showed during that time was second to none and paid off!

Mags qualified as a community psychiatric nurse in September 2022 and began her new and exciting role in Sunderland North Community Team. She settled into the role immediately and was thriving, she was running her clinic and loved working with her service users, going the extra mile at every appointment. Unfortunately in February 2023 following a CT head scan Mags and her family were told that the dreaded cancer had spread to her brain. She is currently awaiting a further round of intense radiotherapy and then further chemotherapy but as normal Mags isn’t thinking of herself she’s thinking how she can raise money for a good cause whilst she can. So with that in mind we are organising with the team at Veterans in Crisis a dip in the North Sea on Saturday 18th March at 8am, there is also a charity walk from South Shields to Seaburn on Sunday 26th March 2023 finishing with a well deserved refreshment with Mags at the end in the Stack.

Veterans in Crisis is a charity close to Mag’s heart. As a serving member of the Royal Navy between 1991 and 1994 She met friends she would have for life and she has a sense of humour people “just don’t get”.

Mags has been accessing support from the guys and girls at Veterans in Crisis over the last year and feels that this has given her the chance to do things she would never have done. This includes being part of the “shrimp platoon” on a Saturday morning and plodging into in the North Sea (often in minus temperatures). Veterans in Crisis do amazing things within the Sunderland community including free gym sessions, walking groups, helping people to move, drop in sessions and giving Christmas dinners to ex-servicemen and women and their families.

Any donations received no matter how big or small will be given to Veterans in Crisis . This will allow a great charity to continue their excellent work with veterans in the community.