Champion Team

Jul 13 2008 by Pauline Holt, Sunday Sun

"ANGELS on earth" is how the staff on Newcastle General Hospital’s Ward 24 were described by their nominator.

Consultant Juliet Hale proudly picked up the award on behalf of her team that treats children and teenagers with cancer, in particular those suffering from brain tumours.

She said: “I have always felt very proud of belonging to a team that works so well together, which depending on the circumstances, can number up to 70 people.

“It’s a very hard job working with children with cancer and their families and it would not work without all the different components of a team we can completely rely on. But most of all it’s a privilege to work with these families.”

Juliet and her team were nominated by Shirley Lydon, of Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, whose daughter Lily Joy Slater also won a Child of Courage award. Lily had to undergo a seven-hour operation and 18 months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy that won’t end until October.

On her nomination form Shirley wrote: “I can honestly say I’ve fallen in love with a bunch of strangers who can only be described as angels on earth.”

Andrew Moffat of sponsors Port of Tyne said his organisation was delighted to be involved in the Champion Team awards again.

He said: “The Sunday Sun Champions of the North Awards provide an excellent opportunity and means of recognising the everyday heroes, those people who give so much of themselves for the benefit of others.

“We have been a keen supporter for several years and there’s no doubt that working together is at the heart of every successful organisation, whether in business, the education sector, in the community, in sport or in medicine.”

Runner-up in the Champion Team category were Cancer Connections, of South Shields, South Tyneside, who run drop-in services for people with the disease at West Harton Churches Action Station in South Shields, and The Carers Association in South Tyneside, which cares for those who care.