At 81 years old, Ray Silvester has faced more than his fair share of challenges — but you wouldn’t know it from speaking to him. A retired teacher and now a dedicated woodworker, Ray has navigated a journey through three separate cancer diagnoses with grit, humour, and humility. “Someone once said to me, ‘You seem to collect cancers’’.
First came Hodgkin’s lymphoma, then prostate cancer, and most recently, bowel cancer — the diagnosis that led him to the CARE programme at Notts County Foundation.
CARE (Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise), is a group-based initiative offering physical activity and emotional support to anyone at any stage of their cancer journey. Sessions run at the Foundation’s community hub ‘Portland Centre’ which is just across the way from Meadow Lane in the Meadows. For Ray, it became much more than an exercise programme — it became a space where he felt seen, supported, and understood.
“One of the questions I never asked was ‘Why me?’ Because I’ve always gone through life assuming bad stuff happens. If you get through life without bad things happening, you’re very lucky. I’m lucky to still be here.”
After major surgery for bowel cancer in 2024, Ray was told he was a “good responder” to treatment and didn’t need further chemotherapy or radiotherapy. That’s when he joined CARE — not just for the physical activity, but for the community it offered.
“It’s not just about the exercise. It’s about the people I’m here with. We’ve all looked over the precipice and managed to step back. Some haven’t been as lucky, but all of us share something — we’ve all been there.”
Each CARE session at Portland Centre includes group exercise and opportunities to talk — moments Ray values deeply.
“What I’ve found is that people here are happy to talk about their story. That’s often hard to do with friends or family, who don’t always know what to say. But here, you can share notes, find common ground, and just belong.”
Ray highlights how the group welcomes every new member with applause — something that stuck with him. “For many of us, it’s about being acknowledged. Everyone is nervous their first time attending, but once you come along, you realise how welcoming it is. You just have to give it a few sessions to get into the swing of things.”
Between twice-weekly CARE sessions and daily walks with his dog, Dylan, Ray has found renewed purpose and stability. “It’s been great for my mental wellbeing,” he reflects. “I sometimes get down about my fitness at my age, but this place gives me the chance to hold onto it. It’s fun, it’s meaningful — it’s made a real contribution to my health.”
Looking back on his journey, Ray summed it up by saying:
“When you get cancer, all you can do is cope and hope. You cope with the treatment and hope your doctors know what they’re doing. I’ve been very lucky — and CARE has helped me keep going.”
