Hands 4 Wellbeing & 'Focus on Emotions'

04/02/2025

Today is World Cancer Day and I would like to share this link to a blog I wrote about my photographic project which uses non- clinic photographs to describe the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. If you would like further details or wish to arrange a presentation please leave me a message

Share As a complementary therapist working with cancer patients, I thought I understood cancer but nothing prepared me for the emotional impact of a diagnosis. Since then, I have taken a series of nature photographs to represent the emotional impact of cancer called ‘Focus on Emotions’. It repre...

29/11/2024

A big thank you to Nottingham University Sarah Storr for inviting me to deliver my 'Letting Photographs Tell Their Stories' presentation to the cancer research students earlier this week. I had a really lovely day, the students were delightful and afterwards I was treated by Sarah to a fascinating tour of the breast cancer research centre.
If you would like to arrange one of my talks (it can be delivered in person or online) which are suitable for the general public, Health Care Professional, Photography Groups, WI etc etc just message me.

26/11/2024

I am absolutely delighted that my poem 'A Friend in You?' has been nominated for publication of the month at Spillwords Press. This poem is a reflection on how I learnt to live with the fear of breast cancer recurring.

'A Friend in You?'

Why did I make friends with You?
You caused me pain,
Heartbreak and sadness
You made me cry,
You made me angry,
You gave me sleepless nights
And stressful days.

I don’t want You,
I don’t need You,
I didn’t invite You into my life,
So why did I make friends with you?
Unwittingly
You brought love, kindness,
Friendship and laughter.

I know that You are cruel,
I know that You are evil,
I know that You may cause havoc
And chaos once again
So why did I make friends with You?

You chose to come into my life,
You’ll always lurk in the shadows,
But I chose to make friends with You.
Now You have no control over me
That’s why I made friends with YOU!

If you would like to vote for me please just follow the link below - it will ask you to register as this prevents multiple votes by one person. Many thanks as always for your support xx

Spillwords.com Voting Page, where Spillwords Press Members can submit their vote for Author of the Month and Publication of the Month.

16/11/2024

My latest poem has been published recently by Spillwords. Click on this link to take a look at it. It is about how I came to terms with living with the fear of cancer returning. The photo is also one of mine which I chose to enhance the narrative - the frozen path represents difficulties in life, the shadows of the trees is fear and the beautiful sun rising is hope
https://spillwords.com/a-friend-in-you/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGl92RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRMSQcSDp6JeGb9k9z3GTN9JLNzT9ujEFiDwHy-WPRkGCQlKiOhtFRpzEQ_aem_TS3N9FvErQRunAGQIOYncA

Spillwords.com presents: A Friend in You?, a poem by Diane Leopard, an award winning complementary therapist, keen photographer who ...

08/11/2024

08/10/2024

You may or may not already be aware October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am passionate about reminding everyone to check their breasts, 11 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 49, pre mammogram and failed to recognise the early signs of cancer. I didn't have a lump until about 6 months after I had noticed some changes to my breast, I just thought I was at a funny age when things start to change. Breast cancer is NOT always a lump CHECK YOURSELF REGULARLY if you notice ANYTHING different - size, shape, dimple, bleeding, discharge PLEASE GO AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

07/06/2024

A couple of months ago I was approached by an MA Curation student from Exeter University asking if they could include my poem 'GOODBYE MY DEAR' in this excellent exhibition which opens today in Exeter. They have been an absolute delight to work alongside. 'GOODBYE MY DEAR' describes my complex relationship with the cancer prevention drug Tamoxifen which I took for 10 years.

07/06/2024

16/04/2024

Tues 23rd April 10-11am - Free Online Exhibition - ‘Letting Photographs Tell Their Stories’ To join the online talk and exhibition on Tuesday 23rd May at 10am-11am simply click here
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ehf-oxrf-kzf

To tie in with our 'Feel Good' theme this month we'll be pondering whether being creative can help us feel less stressed. Don't miss this online talk & slideshow of Diane Leopard's beautiful photography.

About Diane & 'Letting Photographs Tell Their Stories'

Diane Leopard is a clinical complementary therapist. She co-founded a business called Hands4Wellbeing which provided therapies for cancer patients and people with long term illnesses. In 2013, aged 49 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In 2015, she was awarded the Federation of Holistic Therapists prize for Excellence in Practice, with the prize money she bought a camera and enrolled on an Adult Learning Course. Her course project was to present a portfolio of photographs telling the story of ‘A Journey’. She decided to reflect on her personal cancer journey through photographs of nature.

That was the beginning of ‘Letting Photographs Tell Their Stories’, a series of non-clinical photographs which describe the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Join us online for a slideshow of Diane's work and to hear about how creative expression has been a therapeutic part of her recovery. To join the online talk and exhibition on Tuesday 23rd May at 10am-11am simply click here
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ehf-oxrf-kzf

12/04/2024

'It is amazing how powerful non-verbal communication can be...'

Our story this week comes from Diane, who found that discovering her creativity through photography and writing poetry helped her recovery from breast cancer. You can find it at: www.mission-remission.com/photography

She is also giving an online talk about her collection of photographs at our Changemakers Meeting on Tuesday 23 April at 10am. If you would like to join in and view her inspiring images, email hannah@mission-remission.org.uk for an invite. It's free!

16/02/2024

Super to have a selection of my photographs featured recently at the UK's premiere breast cancer symposium as part of the 'Breast Cancer and Me' poster exhibition by Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre

23/01/2024

Wonderful to see nominated for the Totally Stoked awards - good luck 🤞

⭐️The shortlisted stars of our sector⭐️
Just a week to go until we find out who the winners are!