Tap dancing triumphs, cancer patients surviving coronavirus and llamas delivering food – there’s a lot to smile about in this week’s good news round up.

Simply tip top tapping!

We have to start this week’s good news round up with our National Tapathon.

On Sunday [24th May], over two thousand people took part in the tapathon to raise money for those living with lung cancer. They included Fiona, who did her routine outside St John’s Hospital in Livingston just before her shift, a very light footed 81-year-old, Graham, and not forgetting Penny’s tap dancing diplodocus.

Donations are still coming in thick and fast, but we are already passed the £50,000 mark, which is absolutely incredible. We can’t thank you all enough.

We also want to say a big thank you to Harrison Vaughan who led the routine superbly.

If you missed the big event, you can still watch it on our Facebook page. You can also still donate to the tapathon on our Just Giving page.

Cancer patient who recovered from coronavirus

When it comes to coronavirus, we know people with cancer are high risk so when Ruth was diagnosed after just completing her treatment for breast cancer, she was very scared.

She was experiencing the common COVID-19 symptoms: a high temperature and a cough. She also had a pain in her chest. Following the official advice, she remained at home but eventually, as her symptoms worsened and, after calling 111, she was advised to go to hospital.

The first couple of weeks with coronavirus, I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I thought, I am going to die of this. I found it harder than breast cancer. It’s been a very difficult past few weeks and I feel so thankful that I made it.”

Ruth story is taken from the Breast Cancer Now website 

And speaking of survivors…

A 106-year-old woman who survived Spanish flu is now the oldest coronavirus survivor in the United Kingdom.

Freda Hodgson, from Surrey, became unwell with suspected COVID-19 at the start of April. She had been sick, with a fever, a chest infection and had aches all over her body.

Speaking to Sky News she explained her symptoms:

I had pain in my knees. I couldn’t turn over. Pain in my back. I couldn’t raise myself up. My neck, I couldn’t raise my neck… I didn’t want to do anything.

Unable to visit under the lockdown rules, her family were understandably very worried. Fortunately, Freda has now made a full recovery and back enjoying her tipple of choice – brandy and ginger – ahead of her memoirs being published!

Deliver-llama?!

Forget Deliveroo, vulnerable residents of a rural Welsh village are having their food delivered by a herd of llamas.

When Matt Yorke, from Rhydwilim farm in Pembrokeshire, realised his elderly neighbours were struggling to get essential supplies, he turned to his herd of South American llamas for help.

Speaking to Wales Online, Mr Yorke, explains how the idea came about:

“It’s a very rural area so many of the roads are more or less dirt tracks which means it’s sometimes not ideal for cars to go on, but when you have a herd of Llamas in the field outside it’s really not an issue.

“We decided pack the shopping on their backs and take them round to people’s houses a couple of time a week to drop off the food.

“It’s really a win-win for us because it helps keep the animals fit, and also makes sure people nearby have the supplies they need, especially if they are in self-isolation.”

The sun has got his hat on

Lockdown has been very difficult. But at least the weather has been on our side.

It’s set to be another lovely weekend. We hope you are able to make the most the sunshine. However, if the hotter weather is impacting on your symptoms, here’s some tips for managing during these warmer days:

• – Avoid the hottest part of the day (usually 11am – 3pm).
• – Wear loose fitting clothing as well as a hat and sunglasses.
• – Drink plenty of cold water. Coconut water is a very good drink for rehydrating.
• – Eat food with a higher water concentration such as watermelon, cucumbers, celery, oranges and strawberries.
• – Avoid doing anything too strenuous during the hottest part of the day
• – Using an electric or handheld fan can help to reduce feelings of breathlessness, as well as cooling you down.