Steve Bland in Bath – hosted by We Get It

On Thursday 23rd May, we gathered at Cafe Walcot to hear Steve Bland in conversation with We Get It’s very own interviewer extraordinaire, Lizzie Heffer.

We were there to meet Steve, learn about his involvement with You, Me and the Big C (the award-winning podcast founded by his wife, the legendary Rachael Bland) and to discuss Rachael’s last gift to her son, her memoir.

We learned how Steve and Rachael met, about their life together before and after diagnosis, their experiences of cancer care, particularly palliative care at home, and heard how Rachael is remembered and talked about with their young son Freddie.

Steve made us laugh, but also made us think more deeply about the very real need for better support for partners and families, perhaps particularly for men who might struggle to say how they feel or reach out for help.

Yet again, the We Get It audience, including guests from Penny Brohn and Dorothy House Hospice Care, brought loads to the table, including questions for Steve, personal experiences and suggestions around how the emotional side of cancer care for patients and families could be improved.

A few shoutouts

Steve – if you’re reading this, THANK YOU for coming to Bath, signing books for the audience, and talking with such honesty and humour. It was wonderful to have you.

Cafe Walcot – thanks for hosting us yet again and for the delicious pizza. Special thank you to George for his stunning performance on the piano. We love having our weekly Get-Togethers with you on Friday mornings.

Ross from Hanora Health – big thanks for the welcome drinks of Ginger and Lemon and Pink Lemonade Kombucha, plus the tasty raw chocolate orange bites on the tables.

Roy Newport – thanks so much for capturing the night with your camera!

Toppings & Co – many thanks for providing the copies of For Freddie.

Useful links and an event to remember…

You can follow Steve on Twitter

You can grab your copy of For Freddie from Topping & Co on the Paragon or buy online

You can catch up with You, Me and the Big C

You can swoon over the menu of the superbly Instagrammable Cafe Walcot

And you can make us very happy indeed by joining us at the Mad Hatter’s Charity Ladies Night on 31st August at the Apex City of Bath Hotel. It’s going to be a huge bash, with proceeds going to We Get It and Dorothy House (thanks Cow Parsley!) – see you on the dance floor. Oh we have moves…