Rumba Foundation Blog

Putting animal cancer care first

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:42:47 GMT

We’re delighted to announce a newly forged partnership between The Rumba Foundation and world-leading veterinary care centre, AURA Veterinary . This move elevates our support of animal cancer treatment, a mission that has always been at the heart of what we do.

Rumba has formed an exciting new partnership with world-leading veterinary care centre, AURA Veterinary . This move will cement our support of vitally important animal cancer treatment, a mission that has always been at the heart of what we do.

Our relationship with AURA’s clinical team leaders dates back to 2014, under the Centre’s earlier name of Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue. Among other donations, we have been able to fund the purchase of a C-arm fluoroscope for the Centre, and this has revolutionised advanced and life-saving therapies for animal patients.

As pioneers in veterinary cancer treatment, the Centre’s senior clinical team recently completed a management buyout, giving them the independence to progress the hospital’s work in oncology, soft tissue surgery, interventional radiology and internal medicine for animal patients across the UK and Europe.

AURA’s Clinical Director, Professor Nick Bacon and Senior Clinician Dr Laurent Findji, head up the most experienced animal cancer surgery team in the UK and lead the Veterinary Cancer Research Programme at the University of Surrey. Rumba will be raising funds to support AURA towards investing in the equipment, scientific innovation and research that will push forward the frontiers of cancer care in animals.

We hope you’ll join us in that mission, and we’ll be sharing further fundraising news in the near future.

A Touch of FROST

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 12:48:51 GMT

Learning that your dog or cat has cancer can be one of the most distressing pieces of news you will ever face. It is something that our Founders, Jim and Fiona Hindle are sadly very familiar with. Today’s owners have many more options than ever before to help their companion animals. The Rumba Ambassadors were invited on a tour of the Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue hospital to discover how the experienced cancer specialists are leading the way through innovative techniques and better understanding to maintain or improve quality of life post-diagnosis.

Two is better than one

Friends of The Rumba Foundation will know that we have made a number of donations to fund equipment for the University of Surrey’s Veterinary Cancer Research Programme to support clinical research at FROST - Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue hospital - but you may not know much more about this extraordinary facility and its pioneering work.

It is one of two specialist animal hospitals founded by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. His vision was to create centres of excellence in veterinary medicine and animal care for companion animals. The Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopaedic and Neurology in Eashing, Surrey accepts referrals for musculo-skeletal, brain and spinal conditions, whereas over 70 percent of the dogs and cats being treated at the Oncology and Soft Tissue hospital have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having cancer.

A hospital like no other

On first impressions, we were impressed that the facility did not look or even smell like a veterinary hospital! The Front of House area is beautifully designed, with the needs of both the owner and pets thought out in detail. The hospital has also been awarded the gold standard Cat Friendly Clinic award from International Cat Care, with a separate cat waiting room and consultation room, meaning cats can be spared even a whiff of a doggy odour!

Canine patients are greeted with “love seat” style booths incorporating shields, so that the more nervous patients are given privacy at the family’s feet to avoid potential stress or eye-eye contact with other patients.

It is clear that health and wellbeing are at the heart of the hospital’s care programme. The whole hospital is flooded with natural light and even the lightbulbs are natural day light bulbs, all to improve the wellbeing of both the patients and the team working there.

The separate cat and dog wards not surprisingly are state-of-the-art, with silver impregnated surfaces to keep bacteria to a minimum. Both hospitals have strict protocols against kennel doors with bars - all have glass doors. This also allows the nursing staff to write all the patient details on them and vital clinical instructions. It’s clear from the time we spent in the wards that the staff treat the in-patients like they were their own. Although in-patients are not allowed to bring their own belongings due to infection risks, toys and snuggly blankets are provided and all patients have regular interaction with staff to make sure they fill their cuddle quota!

Going the extra mile

Although the Oncology and Soft Tissue hospital opened its doors in September 2015 the team started treating patients at the Eashing practice whilst the new hospital was being constructed. This means the service has been running since 2014 in which time they have seen approximately 6,500 cats and dogs, at around 160 new cases per month. One in two humans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes, and there are similar ratios in pets. The longer we live, the more our cells mutate and so cancer is the inevitable downside of longevity, but it need not be a death sentence.

Many of the owners bringing in their beloved pets, will have an idea that they either have cancer or could have cancer. Unsurprising, this can lead to an incredibly emotional time, as treatment can be ongoing. The ambassadors spoke with Professor Nick Bacon, Clinical Director and a Specialist in Surgical Oncology, about caring for both owners and pets during treatments.

“We are very aware that we are treating family members, and so naturally emotions can be high. We have members of the team in place to be able to look after our clients as well as we look after our patients.”

Nick explained to us that great client care is key in achieving this goal and it’s something that the team continue to innovate.

“We have deliberately hired non-clinical members for front of house staff with experience in hospitality, and have a designated point of contact in place for those clients who need extra care.”

Nick also talks about de-mystifying common cancer assumptions.

“Many owners still aren’t aware of the new techniques available to benefit their pets with cancer. The effects of chemotherapy are a great example. In humans, chemotherapy can be a gruelling process and have difficult side effects. When treating pets we give much lower doses. If you met most of our chemotherapy patients you would have no idea that they even had cancer. Our number one priority with all our patients is that they have a great quality of life.”

Shared learnings

There are many parallels between the treatments being received by the animals at Fitzpatrick Referrals and that of human cancer patients. In fact, one of the consultant radiologists from Guildford’s Royal Surrey Hospital regularly attends operations at the veterinary hospital to advise and compare.

Having been struck by the incredible degree of attention paid in every room and by every member of staff, we were left in no doubt that this state-of-the-art facility, its ground-breaking therapies and its insistence on the very best conditions for cancer treatment and recovery, are what puts Fitzpatrick Referrals right at the forefront of veterinary medicine.

Seeing some of the equipment donated by Rumba working in situ to facilitate the amazing advances being achieved at the hospital was a hugely rewarding experience for us. But it reminded us that we can only continue to support the University of Surrey’s Veterinary Cancer Research Programme at Fitzpatrick Referrals and other leading veterinary establishments through the generosity of our donors. If this has inspired you to make a contribution to help fund our next life-enhancing purchase, you can donate here . Your gift will be enormously appreciated.

You’ll be able to read more about Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue’s world-class equipment and therapies in Part 2 of this blog, coming soon.

A real high-flyer

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:15:48 GMT

We’re immensely proud of Rumba Ambassador Simon Rymes, who launched himself out of plane on Sunday 26th May in a sponsored skydive for The Rumba Foundation. Read Simon’s account of his amazing adventure, and the story behind it:

“This wasn’t my first skydive; in 2011 I made a jump to raise funds for the NSPCC, but this time it was a lot more personal. I lost my beloved dog Alfie to prostate cancer last year. I had taken him to three specialists in the hope of finding a cure, but the only treatment available would have prolonged his life for just a few weeks. Even so, I knew that cancer doesn’t always have to mean a death sentence for pets. So, in honour of Alfie, I decided to lend whatever support I could to organisations working to save or extend the lives of other animals.

And that’s how my partner Sherry and I came into contact with The Rumba Foundation. Having researched several charities, we were really impressed by the way that money raised by Rumba goes directly to fund pioneering research and therapies for animal patients. We’d found our home!

When Rumba’s Founding Trustees, Jim and Fiona Hindle, invited us to become Ambassadors for the charity we were delighted. I was keen to start contributing to its fundraising mission as soon as possible.

Which is why, a few months later, I found myself climbing into an aircraft and preparing to take that 13,000 ft leap. I really wanted to do my best for Alfie and the charity.

First-time skydivers have to undertake a ground training session. This covers general safety guidelines and shows you how to leave the plane and land. Having done it before, though, I didn't need much preparation, except to book the day, turn up and jump – and this is one of the reasons why it seemed the most attractive fundraising route for me.

The skydive had originally been scheduled for a few weeks earlier, but when the day came, the jump had to be cancelled due to bad weather. And even when we got the go-ahead for 26th May, we had to wait around for several hours to make absolutely sure the conditions were right.

During those tense hours, my emotions were pretty mixed as we didn’t know for certain that the weather would let us do the jump, so it was a relief to finally get the all-clear.

In the plane on that day were four students, four tutors and two cameramen – these were for the jumpers who were having their skydive filmed (me being one of them).

My nerves were calm until I got near the door of the plane and then I had a flutter of panic. But once I was flying through the clouds, it was obvious there was no turning back. I just kept thinking about Alfie during the 60 seconds of free fall.

I’d love to say the whole exercise was a stroll in the park – but to be honest, I don’t like heights, so even doing that second jump was a big challenge for me. But once I was back on the ground, I was overjoyed to have been able to raise a substantial amount of money for The Rumba Foundation in Alfie’s name. It was so worthwhile – and who knows, I may even consider having another go in the future. Watch this space …”

Simon covered the costs of the skydive himself and succeeded in raising almost £2,000, including gift aid. On the day, he was supported by Rumba Founding Trustee Jim Hindle, as well as his family and friends.

Everyone at Rumba sends heartfelt thanks to Simon. The funds he has raised will have a direct impact on the lives of animals. What a brilliant tribute to his special dog, Alfie!

If you’ve been inspired to support Simon’s skydive, you can do so via his JustGiving page .

Meet Daisy

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 12:42:23 GMT

Do you cross the road to stroke a cat on a wall? Make more of a fuss of your best friend’s pooch than of the friends themselves when you visit? Remember all the names of the dogs you meet in the park? If this all sounds familiar, then like us, you’re an inveterate animal lover! We can’t help making four-legged friends wherever we go, and we thought we’d share a few of our special relationships with you.

Meet Daisy – the first in our series of profiled special pets, and without doubt, one of the cutest dogs we’ve ever met. This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is almost five years old and is lucky enough to be employed as a full-time ‘hotel dog’ at one of our favourite places - Le Mirabeau Hotel & Spa in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Not only does Daisy enjoy the energizing atmosphere and stunning scenery of this beautiful southern Switzerland mountain resort, but she’s treated to the hotel’s gourmet cuisine on a daily basis. No wonder she’s lovingly described as cuddly!

Daisy’s owners both work in the hotel and in their free time take full advantage of the surrounding alpine countryside. They love hiking and Daisy is happy to accompany them. But, being a real social animal at heart, she’s delighted to make friends with the visiting guests, especially those who bring their dogs with them.

You could almost say Daisy has become one of the hotel’s star attractions. Guests often have their pictures taken next to her, and she’ll obligingly pose for them in the hotel lobby. Here’s a photo of her in one of the hotel’s suites.

If you’re tempted to meet Daisy in person or discover more about the hotel’s fabulous facilities, you can find further details of the Le Mirabeau here .

Interview with Rumba Foundation Founder Fiona Hindle

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:23:06 GMT

If you’ve worked with us here at Rumba before, you’ll know all about our mission to support ground-breaking research in veterinary science to help save the lives of animal companions. But how much do you know about Fiona Hindle, the founder of the Rumba Foundation? Read on to discover more about what inspired her to set up the charity, her lifelong love of animals and what exciting projects she has had the pleasure of working on as part of Rumba:

1. What inspired you to start the Rumba Foundation?

When our beautiful Burmese cat, Rumba, was eight years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. After an operation to remove the tumour in his mouth, he received radiotherapy treatment - at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital in Cambridge. In spite of receiving the best possible care, which certainly will have extended his life, it sadly wasn’t possible to save him.

We were determined to channel our loss into something positive to honour Rumba’s life and to create a lasting legacy that could build towards more hopeful futures for other veterinary patients.

And so, in 2012, we founded The Rumba Foundation. As well as supporting the research and treatment of cancer in animals, we wanted to extend our scope to other pioneering fields of veterinary medicine, so that we would be helping to push forward the frontiers of therapies for small animals facing potentially life-threatening illnesses.

2. Could you tell us more about your career prior to founding the charity?

After graduating in English Literature at Glasgow University, I came down to London and began my career as a training and personal development professional. My focus for the first 15 years was in helping students and graduates identify and launch their own career paths. In 2004, I decided to start my own executive coaching and training business, Make Life Easy.

3. Have you always loved animals?

Absolutely! Jim and I both grew up with dogs, and then one day, 20 years ago, Jim came home with a beautiful Burmese kitten. We named him Rumba and, although we couldn’t have known it at the time, he was to have a profound and lasting effect on our lives. Rumba’s arrival proved to be the starting point for our abiding love affair with Burmese cats. We have shared a large portion of our adult lives with these elegant, mischievous and fiercely loyal felines and, of course, Rumba’s spirit lives on through our work at the Foundation we created in his name.

4. What are you most proud of achieving through the charity?

Veterinary medicine is making extraordinary progress right now – pushing the boundaries of animal treatment and pioneering innovations that, in some cases, could ultimately benefit human patients as well. That we are able to contribute much-needed funding to facilitate the advance of these therapies is exciting and hugely rewarding for us. We’re also delighted that our purchase of equipment makes the treatment more accessible and less expensive for patient owners.

5. Have there been any standout projects for Rumba?

We were delighted to support the development by the Royal Veterinary College of a ground-breaking App, designed for owners of cats and dogs suffering from diabetes. The App monitors and manages the pets’ insulin treatment and has the further benefit of contributing towards diabetes research. Data logged by patients’ owners is being centrally-collected and shared to inform the ongoing study of the disease.

This project has been particularly close to our hearts, having ourselves owned two cats with diabetes, and knowing how stressful this condition can be to owners, who try so hard to give their pets the best treatment possible.

The App has been a storming success right from its launch. To date, it has been made available in four languages and eagerly downloaded by over 10,000 owners. Not only does it empower them to take an active role in managing their pets’ diabetes, but they have the satisfaction of knowing they are contributing to advances in diabetes treatment. The App has been described by the Royal Veterinary College as a “quiet pet diabetes revolution”.

6. What type of events does Rumba hold?

We’re delighted to get behind events and one-off experiences of every kind – from quiz nights to gala dinners. Our early forays into fundraising took the form of Ascot Race Days. We organised three of these, attracting over 150 colleagues and friends to join us for a day of sport and hospitality. Jim also organised the MIPIM Challenge – a classic sports car rally driving from London to Cannes. He planned the spectacular convoy of E-Type Jaguars, Aston Martins and Porsches on the journey down through the French countryside along a series of picturesque routes.

We’ve also been generously supported by friends and colleagues who, as fellow animal-lovers, are keen to make Rumba the designated charity for their own fundraising activities.

7. Could you tell us more about the research in veterinary science you support?

Since the formation of The Rumba Foundation, we have come into contact with some of the leading pioneers in clinical veterinary care, working in world-renowned institutions. Our mission is to provide funding for research that will continue to advance the treatment of animal patients.

Our initial field of interest was oncology, but this broadened when we understood how applications in areas such as imaging and blood transfusion can benefit animal patients with a wider range of conditions and abnormalities. We are particularly, but not exclusively, interested in research that may also benefit human patients. We don’t support any research that involves animals specifically bred or kept for the purposes of research, but The Rumba Foundation will support clinical trials designed specifically to improve the health or welfare of those animals.

8. Outside of your work with the charity, what do you like to get up to in your spare time?

Jim and I both love travel – especially the mountains and the sea. We are very keen skiers and also avid live music fans. We love living in London and take full advantage of the culture on our doorstep. Being an architect, Jim takes his living environment very seriously, and I enjoy interior décor, so making our home comfortable and attractive is something we are both passionate about. We’re currently extending our house and are excited to be making plans for filling the new space. But I can’t mention our home life without including our shared adoration. Our Burmese cats have always been at the heart of our lives, and in the near future, we will most certainly be welcoming a couple of new furry additions!

9. Are you still in touch with the animals whose lives you’ve helped save? Could you tell us about them?

Am glad to say that a lot of animals have received treatment using the equipment we have funded – too many for us to get to know personally. For that reason, we’re not in direct contact with the patients’ owners, but thanks to the Facebook pages of our partner organisations, we do get to follow the progress of some of the cats and dogs that have benefitted from our donations.

10. If you could give one message to others about the Rumba Foundation, what would it be?

We’re so pleased and grateful to have been able to raise funds that have had a positive effect on animals’ lives when they most needed it. In some cases, it has made the difference between life and death. We couldn’t have done that without the fantastic contributions we receive from like-minded animal lovers.

Through our events and individual donations, we have now raised nearly £100,000, which has directly financed our purchases. If anyone reading this has been inspired to add their support – either as a potential donor or as an ambassador for Rumba, we’d be delighted to talk to them!

If you would like to find out more about the Rumba team , would like to make a donation or discuss how we can fundraise together, please get in touch with us today – we’d love to hear from you!

How to Host a Charity Coffee Morning | Rumba

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:03:23 GMT

While there are plenty of ways you can fundraise for your chosen charity, a coffee morning is one of the most popular events to host and for good reason too. Not only is putting on a spread of warming beverages and lovingly homemade treats a great way to encourage people to donate but a coffee morning also presents a fantastic opportunity to get your local community together to show their support for your chosen charity. If you’re planning on hosting a charity coffee morning, here are our top tips to ensure it is a roaring success!

1. Choose Your Venue Wisely

The first thing to do when hosting any event is decide on the venue; where will your coffee morning be held? Choosing a venue that has a capacity large enough to cater for all of the guests you would like to invite is important. However, ensuring that your venue also has sufficient facilities to make this an inclusive event such as disabled access, baby changing facilities etc. is also a must to help it appeal to as many people as possible.

If you are planning on hosting your charity coffee morning for family and friends only, you may choose to host it in your home or garden as this can help to create a familiar and friendly atmosphere where your guests can relax. Alternatively, if you are inviting people that you do not know as well or members of the wider community, you may feel more comfortable hosting your event in a more public venue such as a community centre, library or village hall.

2. Set an Appropriate Date

Once you have decided on where it’s time to choose when you will be hosting your charity coffee morning. However, before you set a date for the big event, be sure to check the calendar to identify any other events, holidays or generally busy periods that may clash or prevent people from attending as the result of other commitments, e.g. half term.

Additionally, as well as giving other people plenty of notice, make sure you set a date that will enable you to have enough time to fully prepare for and promote your coffee morning by making all the necessary arrangements in advance.

3. Invite Your Chosen Guests

Next, you need to decide who you would like to attend your charity coffee morning and how you’re going to invite them. To make your event a true success and raise as much money as possible for your chosen charity, you want to invite as many guests as you can – the more the merrier! As such, think of different ways you can reach out to people and give them plenty of notice to attend. While written invitations are one of the more traditional methods of inviting guests, they are often time-consuming, so why not opt for a speedier approach such as text, email or social media? If your budget allows, don’t forget flyers and posters too!

4. Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

To help your guests feel relaxed and enjoy your coffee morning, you will need to create a welcoming atmosphere. To do this, make a list of some the essential items you’ll need to provide a top-notch experience and encourage people to donate. Even if you don’t have the biggest budget, small items can make a big difference.

If you’re hosting your event at home or in a place where equipment such as plates and saucers, cups and cake stands is readily available, you won’t need to splash out on these essentials. Instead, invest in items such as a table cloth, paper napkins, bunting and flowers, all of which you can use to decorate your venue and create a friendly atmosphere.

Additionally, a nice thing to do at charity events is to provide your guests with the opportunity to write a message or provide feedback in some way, perhaps in the form of a wish or thank you box.

5. Get Your Bake On

As well as the essentials of tea and coffee, you’ll need some delicious sweet treats to entice your guests and to help raise funds, so why not bake your own? Roll up your sleeves and get creative in the kitchen with some easy-to-make recipes – you could even rope in your family and friends to help too! From cute cupcakes and dainty biscuits to chunky cakes and decadent brownies, there’s plenty to make and baking your own goods is a fantastic way to put your own stamp on your event and add a personal touch. Don’t forget to provide some alternative snacks as well as cold drinks for those who don’t drink hot beverages.

6. Say Thank You

Once your coffee morning is all done and dusted, and you have successfully raised plenty of funds, don’t forget to thank all of your guests for coming as without their donations, you wouldn’t be able to support your chosen charity! Similarly, be sure to get in touch with those who helped bring your event to life or contributed on the day. A follow up thank you card or email is a nice way to do this and will also provide you with the opportunity to share how much money was raised, a figure that you can all be proud of no matter how large or small!

If you would like to help us in our mission to support the development of ground-breaking veterinary research here at Rumba, a coffee morning is just one of several easy fundraising ideas for animal lovers to try. Alternatively, one-off animal donations can be made via our website, so why not show your support today? You can donate directly or purchase one of our gorgeous hand-made cards for an animal lover in your life!

Six Easy Fundraising Ideas for Animal Lovers | Rumba

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:54:51 GMT

Like us at Rumba, fundraising is essential to the success of any charity, and we greatly value the efforts of those who are aiding us in our mission to support the development of ground-breaking veterinary care, which could help save or extend the lives of many animals suffering from life-threatening illnesses. However, while finding the enthusiasm to support your chosen charity is easy, knowing how to fundraise can often be tricky, especially if you want to do something a little different. To encourage you to do your part, we’ve listed six easy fundraising ideas for animal lovers that both you and your furry friends will enjoy:

Dog Walking

One of the simplest and most enjoyable ways of fundraising is dog walking! While many pet owners walk their dogs as regularly as possible, some may not get out with their four-legged friend as much as they would like for one reason or another. Consequently, offering to walk dogs within your local community in exchange for a donation could make a huge difference, not only to the charity you are supporting but also to dogs and their owners too!

Pet-Themed Cake Sale

While this is one of the most traditional ways of fundraising, adding a pet-themed twist means you can have some real fun with it! Whether you opt for cat-shaped biscuits, dog treat cakes or paw-print muffins, get creative with your baking and encourage others to get involved too by making your creations with family or friends. To achieve the maximum uptake, hold your cake sale in a location or venue in the heart of your community and at a time when everyone can get involved, like the weekend.

Dog Washing

What better way to entice donations than with a dog washing event? A fundraising idea that everyone can enjoy, the first thing to do when organising this event is to find a suitable location that’s accessible to all, whether that’s your front/back garden or the village green. Then, get in touch with local pet shops and ask them to donate some supplies such as brushes or shampoo that you can use to clean your furry customers. Finally, set up a small seating area with drinks and snacks where pet-owners can wait while you get to work on cleaning their dogs for a small donation!

Animal-Petting Coffee Morning

Not only is a coffee morning a great way to bring people in your local community together, but with the added twist of animal-petting, this fundraising event is sure to put a smile on plenty of faces! On a good weather day, you may be able to host your coffee morning outside. However, if it’s cold or cloudy, you may want to get in touch with a local coffee shop to see whether they would consider letting you host your event inside their premises. Once you have selected your chosen venue, make your coffee morning as relaxed and welcoming as possible by providing entertainment and refreshments for both your human and furry guests!

Pet Raffle

A raffle is part and parcel of most charity events, so why not hold your very own pet raffle to raise funds for your selected animal charity? As well as prizes for pet owners, be sure to include some gifts for the pets themselves such as treats, grooming equipment, beds or toys. Once you have secured the prizes, promote the raffle as much as possible before hosting either online or at an event within your local community, with all sales being donated!

While these are some of the simplest and most enjoyable ways of fundraising, there are plenty more for animal-lovers to try! At Rumba, we work closely with all of our fundraisers to create memorable events that help fund vital veterinary research , equipment and procedures which save the lives of many beloved animals. If you would like to find out more about our work, get in touch with our friendly team today to see how you could help the Rumba Foundation make a difference.