Depressing, you say?

Written by Riviera Reporter

We heard the other day that one of our veteran readers, a British woman, had been diagnosed with cancer; she has since died. She was fluent in French and we told her she might like to visit the relatively new non-medical centre for cancer patients in Nice operated by the Ligue Contre Le Cancer and featured in Reporter n° 125 and on our website. As Director Gerard Van Den Bulcke told us, “We offer a programme which includes psychological counselling, relaxation therapy, advice on relational and sexual problems, gym sessions, beauty treatment, diet cookery and help with employment and administrative issues.” The centre hopes to set up an English-speaking section and, Van Den Bulcke told me, “We’d like to hear from anyone who’d like to help out – with experience in post-operative nursing, for example, or who would like to run courses in diet cookery, cosmetic care, gym.”

But why our title? Just before the article appeared we e-mailed every branch of the British Association with the text and a suggestion they might like to mention the centre in their newsletter. Not a single one did so. We took this up with one branch official who told us, “We thought it a very depressing subject and we didn’t want to push it at people.” We had mentioned this to our diagnosed reader. “That’s so sad,” she said. “When you get that news you can feel very alone. Even friends and family can seem uncomfortable about it.” Just like the British Association, it seems.

Not that the B.A. deserves anything but praise for its outstanding welfare work in our community. Apart from its own resources, the association calls on other organisations for help such as – when relevant – the Royal British Legion, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Burma Star Association; and then there’s Elizabeth Finn Care, in ancient time known as the Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association. They tell us that they “offer financial support to British and Irish subjects who live in France and they can provide a weekly allowance of up to £30 to those who qualify and meet our criteria. They should be over 18-years-old, be on a low income, be from a professional background and have less than £5,000 in savings. Help is also available, for other items such as repairs to the home.” Valerie Haxton, who has visited their London office, tells us, “They do a marvellous job and they deal with people with great tact and sympathy.”

For more information on Elizabeth Finn Care see elizabethfinncare.org.uk or write to the Director of Casework, 1 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY. L’Espace Ligue – not at all a depressing place – is at 3 rue Alfred Mortier in Nice (a couple of streets going eastwards from the Lycée Massena). Membership costs just €8 a year. The English-speaking contact is Roger Massoni.

From Riviera Reporter Issue 130: Dec 2008/Jan 2009

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