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Christianity and Cancer

Former Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas reveals how his faith sustains him after the sudden death of his wife from cancer. Hymns include God Is Love.

Sean Fletcher and the Rev Kate Bottley hear how the Christian faith sustains those affected by cancer, including former Blue Peter host and TV presenter Simon Thomas, Baptist minister the Rev Andy Stammers, campaigner Della Ogunleye and cancer specialist nurse Mary Mountford-Lister.

Sean visits Maggie's Oxford, a centre that specialises in support and care for those diagnosed with cancer.

Kate meets a support group for black women who are dealing with effects of breast cancer.

Music includes In Christ Alone, Break Every Chain, God Is Love His The Care, and Keep You Here, a special song from Stuart Townend written after his late brother's cancer diagnosis.

Music:
Crown Him with Many Crowns from Holy Trinity Platt Church, Manchester
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from All Saints Church, Cheltenham
In Christ Alone from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor
Keep You Here by Stuart Townend & Family
Break Every Chain from Birmingham Christian Centre
God Is Love, His the Care from St James the Greater, Leicester.

34 minutes

Stories

Caring for those with cancer
Sean Fletcher finds out just how much cancer affects the UK, and meets cancer support specialist and former nurse Mary who has had a long career supporting people through their illness. Mary explains to Sean the vision for Maggie鈥檚 Centres across the UK, and Sean explains his personal reasons for praising the invaluable work of cancer nurses.

Losing a loved one to cancer
Sean meets TV presenter Simon Thomas whose wife Gemma died last year, 3 days after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, to hear how his Christian faith gives him hope through testing times.

Cancer survivor making a difference
Rev Kate Bottley meets Della Ogunleye, motivated by faith and her own experience of breast cancer to start one of the only support groups for ethnic minorities affected by cancer. Kate joins Della as she holds her regular one-to-one support sessions with a woman who has also been through breast cancer herself.

Living with cancer
Baptist minister and keen cyclist Andy shares his experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumour and holding on to his faith whilst living with the terminal diagnosis. Each year Andy sets himself strenuous physical challenges to celebrate each year he鈥檚 still alive, and this year he鈥檚 cycling 200 miles, coast to coast.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sean Fletcher
Presenter Kate Bottley
Executive Producer Cat Lewis
Executive Producer Emyr Afan
Producer Mark Warburton
Series Producer Matthew Napier
Production Company Avanti Media

Broadcasts