A taxi company’s act of kindness has ensured Andrew Beaumont, a hospice service user living with tonsil cancer, has been able to attend his choir’s first public performance since lockdown.
Andrew, who is from Beccles, was due to perform on 3rd April at Royal Over-Seas League in London with his laryngectomy choir Shout at Cancer – which is consists of people who have had the surgical procedure.
A service user of the care provided by the partnership of St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) since September 2022, Andrew’s ongoing illness has impacted his mobility and ability to use public transport, meaning he was unable to take part in the choir’s performance in London.
This was until Ipswich taxi company, Hawk Express Cabs, offered to drive Andrew free of charge, to and from his Beccles home, so he could attend and watch the performance by Shout at Cancer.
Andrew, who is also chair of Norfolk and North Suffolk laryngectomy group, said: “I am deeply grateful to Hawk Express Cabs and their driver Mick for getting me to London to see the performance by the Shout at Cancer choir. I was guest of honour and greeted warmly by Geoff Parkin, Arts Director for the Royal Overseas League and Dr Thomas Moors, Director of Shout at Cancer.
“Although I’m no longer able to perform, just to be there at the concert was tremendous. The generosity and compassion shown by Hawk Express Cabs and the team has been quite overwhelming and such a special day, fully of my gratitude.”
Andrew was first diagnosed with stage 4 tonsil cancer in 2006, before then being diagnosed with stage 2 cancer in his larynx and the base of his tongue in 2013. As a result of this diagnosis, Andrew underwent a laryngectomy – which is the surgical removal of the larynx – in 2013.
Despite his operation – which also saw 60% of his tongue base removed – Andrew has regularly performed with Shout at Cancer at a number of prestigious venues including the Wellcome Collection and the Barbican.
Kim Morphew, Company Director at Hawk Express Cabs who are also headline sponsors of St Elizabeth Hospice’s Midnight Walk 2023, said: “As soon as we heard Andrew’s story we reached out to the St Elizabeth Hospice team in order to help Andrew attend this special performance by the Shout at Cancer choir.
“His story is truly inspirational and we are so glad he had a brilliant time at the concert at the Royal Over-Seas League in London.”
Since launching in April 2019, more than 3,700 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney have been supported by the free specialist palliative care provided by the joint partnership of St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and ECCH.
Typically living with conditions such as cancer, heart failure, chronic lung diseases – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – and neurological disorders, these patients have received free care through the partnership’s varied, specialist palliative care provision available at Beccles Hospital, in the community and through the service’s 24-hour advice line, OneCall.
For more information about the partnership’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/how-we-can-help/hospice-care/great-yarmouth_and-waveney.