Stone Carving for Cancer Recovery in the Brecon Beacons
A stone carving group can be a hugely rewarding experience . As someone who is travelling through my own cancer journey, I can personally testify to the healing powers of stone carving and how that has given me stability during many uncertain periods in my own life.
We are thrilled to have just finished our first stone carving course for people in our community undergoing treatment for cancer. As ever, all kinds of wonderful elements came together to make for a special experience. A local farmer kindly offered us the use of his courtyard with sublime views over the Brecon Beacons. The Bracken Trust helped to promote the course. The D’Oyly Carte Foundation helped us to pay for it. And Matt Caines, a hugely experienced local stone carver and sculptor designed and ran the course.
Matt approached me with the idea following his own diagnosis with prostate cancer and subsequent proctectomy. During a period of healing and rebuilding his life Matt felt strongly that “an approach to wellbeing was needed that encompasses a person’s physical health, their feelings and mental health and the inclusion of creative work to fully support a well-rounded existence.” Having been directed towards Fathom by his GP, he told me “I have experienced the lack of emotional support available for men with urological cancers in particular and would like to organise an informal group where people can share their stories and give mutual support.”
“Looking at your website feels a bit like coming home, I applaud your core values and programmes, they resonant with me not only in terms of my work experience but also because of my experience as a recovering patient in this area. I believe your approach is absolutely the way forward, and the more your organisation grows, the more recognised your work will become as a support to the NHS.”
For 25 years, Matt has worked as stone carver. In that time he has been a Queen Elizabeth Scholar, a Winston Churchill Fellow and a Wingate Scholar and has worked with marble workers in Tuscany and with the Inuit in the Arctic. (mattcainessculpture.wordpress.com). Matt says, “I have always not only felt the grounding and positive natural dialogue from working with stone but have seen how it really helps others as something emerges from this ancient fossilized material that is a form often with a profound significance for the carver. I have seen it help and empower so many, from excluded kids & young offenders in East London to stressed executives at the Sir John Soane Museum.”
So we set about creating an opportunity for others to discover the profound properties of this ancient craft. We hoped this would enable people who are receiving treatment for cancer to find their way through the various difficulties associated with its diagnosis and treatment. The group received training and guidance on the different tools and techniques required to work with a range of stone types of different densities. They were then supported to create a range of different stone carvings. The focus of working with stone created a common bond within the group. Such is the wonder of working with natural materials in this way, that the group soon formed a safe and trustful ethos within which they felt held, supported, and I hope, understood for the person they are despite the obvious impact of their illness. The quality and breadth of work was remarkable. They now intend to continue their stone carving and several people took stone home with them to begin work on their next project!
“The 8 week course was an incredibly uplifting, supportive, engaging and, for myself, a truly liberating, joyful and a huge self-development / learning experience. Both the facilitators and participants created a fantastic learning and supportive environment, where everybody felt supported to both share their personal story about cancer and simultaneously learn and develop new skills and abilities. The course was absolutely fantastic. The Fathom team should be incredibly proud of what you all achieved. Hopefully we are able to take the course forward in some way and potentially develop other, similar, courses.”
“I found it a truly priceless experience. The course successfully allowed all of us the space and environment to feel less isolated with our illness, to learn, share and develop both collectively and individually.”
“My sincerest thanks to all of you at the Fathom Trust for making this experience possible. I am so impressed with what the Fathom Trust is trying to achieve and the methods you use. I am hoping I can contribute voluntarily in some capacity after my treatment and recovery. “
“I realised that I have been spending more time ‘stuck’ indoors since my cancer diagnosis. I can’t do as many of the physical activities as I used to, but stone carving has opened up a new door for me. I hadn’t heard of the Fathom Trust prior to this and I think what you are doing, working with natural materials and local people is really amazing, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of it.”
“I found it quite emotional writing this as Fathom has had a really positive affect on my current situation.” I had no experience at all of stone carving and really didn’t know what to expect. The passion and knowledge of the tutor and the supportiveness and kindness of the group meant these sessions have been a real highlight to my week. It’s been an opportunity to lose myself in something I didn’t know I could do. Having a whole day each week, I feel, meant that we could spend time chatting to each other, listening to each other’s fears and current situations as well as be listened to ourselves, by people in a similar ‘boat’, as well as working on our stone projects. As the weeks went on many of us had to be torn away from our carvings for the morning coffee break and lunch! And what lovely lunches and treats they were – thank you to the volunteers who organised this side of things. The beautiful location of the workshops and the ability to work inside or outside also added to a feeling of calm and contemplation.”
“I know now that the sessions were important to me for several reasons that I didn’t realise at the time. I was able to be honest about the cancer and its effects in a way that close family members needed to be spared. I was able to walk away from the stone carving and think about what had happened, alone, but knowing that I could talk to any one of the group, sensing that I was in a safe place. I hadn’t realised that I needed this. I also realised that it was OK to be overwhemed, and no-one would judge or tell me to ‘just get along with it’. I know now that these journeys take more time than I had known. Thinking about this is making me feel better! The kindness and generosity of everyone was astounding. I hope that others have opportunities like this!”
