In Santa Bárbara de Nexe, an Association that supports people with cancer was (re)born

The Shares and Care Association was reborn in a new home, ready to welcome people with cancer, but also their families and caregivers

Sandra Matinhos – Photo: Mariana Carriço | Sul Informação

In 2008, Sandra Matinhos was far from imagining that one day she would be in charge of an association that has already helped more than a hundred people, but it is necessary to go back to that year to tell the story of struggle that led to the creation of the Partilhas ecuidados .

Today, the Association which, due to the financial support of the Participatory Budget promoted by the Chamber of Faro, works in an old Primary School of Santa Bárbara de Nexe and dedicated to helping people with cancer and their families (in the most diverse areas), is very different from the one founded in 2014 – but a long path of ups and downs was traveled until get here.

Sandra was 35 years old when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer – at the time, a cancer for which there was no cure.

At the same time that he had cancer, his father also went through one, ending up not resisting, and, in addition, he also had to deal with a separation. These were factors that made Sandra feel obliged to fight even harder to remain «firm» and «positive», as she always knew that this was the only way she would be able to overcome the disease.

However, during this period, he felt a lack of support – support from a project like the one he would later create.

“It wasn't just that I was suffering from cancer, it was also that I was suffering in other areas – and there was no support for that. If dealing with cancer is hard enough, imagine having to deal with it plus other aspects of your personal life. All this was a set of things that weakened me very psychologically and emotionally and, in that sense, also worsened my healing», he tells Sul Informação.

 

Photo: Mariana Carriço | Sul Informação

 

At this stage, Sandra was forced to, alone, go looking for things she missed: «someone who would give me Reiki, someone who would listen to me, someone who had already been through cancer and could tell me about this experience».

“More than 10 years have passed. At that time, little was said about cancer. People didn't expose themselves and there was a certain prejudice. If even today cancer is, for some people, synonymous with death, at that time it was so”.

In the Algarve, with regard to extra-hospital support, Sandra says that there was only the Oncological Association of the Algarve, which still exists, but which did not answer all questions.

«Yes, if I needed a hair prosthesis, or even a bra, they would sell it, at a reduced cost. But that kind of help where there are mutual support groups, there was none».

A process of long months of healing followed, in which the doctor adapted the treatment of other types of cancer to that of Sandra. Despite the complex diagnosis, Sandra overcame the disease.

«When I was already well, some friends started referring other people to come talk to me because of the positive way I dealt with the disease. From time to time, someone I didn't know would appear wanting to talk and I would do this process of help and support, still far from creating the association».

During the healing process, in which she was always linked to religion, Sandra began to believe that what she was going through would help her find her great purpose in life, «helping other people».

In 2011, it started by helping a group of homeless people, which, over time, grew. So, at that time, she created a Facebook page (with the name of “Shares”) where some people got together to donate clothes and food.

 

Sandra Matinhos – Photo: Mariana Carriço | Sul Informação

Until 2011, it worked for this purpose, but in 2014, when Sandra already felt able to embrace cancer-related causes, she decided to formalize the association, now with the name “Sharing and Care”.

At the time, Sandra transformed the space where she worked as a beautician (which was prevented from performing due to the disability caused by cancer) into a space to welcome those supported.

"It was there, in Faro, close to the hospital, where we used to meet: a small space, but at the time it was enough».

It didn't take long for Sandra to start welcoming more people. «Those who passed by commented with others and then the hospital itself started to indicate the association and that people came to talk to me».

“Until the pandemic, we had close to 100 people. I say until the pandemic, because, at that time, I was forced to close the space. Much to my regret, it became impossible to continue paying the rent and I had to close it, but always with the dream that one day I would be able to open the space I had so idealized (this one here), but, in fact, it was not easy ».

During the pandemic, the people supported continued to meet online (carrying out the usual sessions and even some physical exercise classes).

At that time, Sandra had already created, with the help of a friend, a working method that made it possible to open the doors of the Association also to people without cancer, who wanted to come and receive therapies.

«With the money from these people, we supported the Association and that was how I had the money to rebuild it, without having to ask any contribution from our associates».

During the pandemic (and after having closed the space in Faro), Sandra had already flagged the old primary school in Santa Bárbara de Nexe – «but the condition was such that I didn’t think I would ever be able to lift it», she confesses to the Sul Informação.

 

Old school before the requalification works – photo DR

 

However, the possibility of competing for the Participatory Budget of the City Council of Faro It was what allowed the works to begin.

«It was 30 thousand euros that we really missed, but that were not enough for what we find here now. Fortunately, there were many companies that helped us (with some material, labor or money) and that was it. I also have no words to thank In Green who did this incredible gardening work – as far as I know, if we had to pay for the garden, we would pay almost all of what we received”.

After about a year of work, the space officially opened to the public on the 28th of May – a symbolic date for Sandra.

«That was the day I had my first appointment related to my cancer (in 2008). In 2014, on the same day, I was unintentionally doing the deed of the Association and that's why I decided to open it on this date too».

On the 28th of May, the Association – which has rooms for therapies and a multipurpose space for various activities – received the people supported for a shared snack and to show them what will also be their new home.

«The Association serves to receive the group of supporters, but also their family, friends and caregivers, who want to spend a good time here. Let's imagine someone who wants to get out of the house for a while, come here and enjoy our garden, or read a book, be alone for a while, can do that. This space will also be the home of our associates», explains Sandra.

Reiki sessions, hypnotherapy, nutrition consultations or conversations with an oncologist who is able to give a second opinion are some of the alternatives that the people supported by the Therapies and Care Association here will be able to find.

In addition, there will also be workshops on a wide range of topics (healthy food, handicrafts, pottery…) which will also be open to the general population.

«The patient also has to abstract himself from the reality of cancer: he cannot just focus on the disease to feel positive and these moments will also be good for that».

 

Photos: Mariana Sedge | Sul Informação

Ao Sul Informação, Sandra confesses that she now realizes that this was her life purpose.

Despite performing a daily job, without receiving any monetary support in return, Sandra says it is "out of the question to ask an associate to pay dues" and, therefore, to pay the bills inherent to having an open space, she uses the support from 'outsiders'.

Sandra explains that the Association survives through quotas from people who, not being cancer patients, want to be associated (paying a fee of 20 euros per year).

«This already helps us to make an advance budget for the following year. Not wanting to pay dues, people can also take advantage of our therapies or workshops, paying », which money then reverts to cover the Association's expenses, he explains.

Today, Sandra feels fulfilled for never giving up on this dream that has now come true and for being able, with this space, to help not only people with cancer, but also their families and caregivers.

 

 

 



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