Welcome to the East Anglia Patient Support Group, based in Cambridge.
We are a very active group in normal times. Raising awareness is the primary focus, we look for events and locations at which there will be a large number of people, attracting as broad a range of people as possible. The locations/venues we’ve attended include large supermarkets in Downham Market and Cambridge, Garden Centres, Addenbrookes Hospital Concourse, Mill Road (a Street Festival in the center of Cambridge), The Big Weekend in Cambridge, Science festivals in both Norwich and Cambridge.
We are a lively group; we are committed to helping the clinical team in any way that’s appropriate. The team are brilliant at supporting us, you will often find members at our events.
Our overriding thoughts are that if we encourage just one person a year to seek advice about the heartburn they are suffering that’s our job well done.
If you would like to know more about us, or would like to become an active member of the group, please contact the charity directly on info@heartburncanceruk.org
Future Events attended by The East Anglia Support Group
Stourbridge Medieval Fair – Saturday 5th September
Online Patient Event hosted by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald – Thursday 24th September – for further information and to register, click here
Mill Road Winter Fair – Saturday 5th December
Past Events by The East Anglia Support Group
AquaFest – 5th July 2026
The group attended the Rotary organised, Ely Aquafest, again this year where lots of fun was had on and around the water. The sun shone, and Ely riverside was packed with visitors and several chose to come and talk to the group so, on the whole, it was a pleasant and successful day.
Mill Road Winter Fair, Cambridge – 6th December 2025
Mill Road Winter Fair is a celebration of community along one of the most diverse and vibrant roads in Cambridge. The Fair brings together local businesses and organisations, shops and stallholders, musicians, artists and dancers in one day of festival joy.
The HCUK East Anglia Support Group were in attendance to meet visitors, answer questions, and provide guidance about persistent heartburn, Barrett’s oesophagus, and oesophageal cancer. They had lots of helpful resources, offered advice on early recognition, and raised awareness about the importance of taking action. They raised funds by selling some beautiful handmade Christmas decorations and some of our charity Christmas cards.
Men’s Health Event – 19th November 2025
Our East Anglia Support Group had a wonderful time at a men’s health event hosted by the Cambridge Men’s Health Steering Group and supported by the Cambridge United Foundation at the Meadows Community Centre in Cambridge.
Liz, Richard, Irene, Jacki, and Greg were there sharing friendly advice and information about persistent heartburn, Barrett’s Oesophagus, and oesophageal cancer, and encouraging early recognition and action. Liz said it was a fantastic audience, and it was great to connect with so many people and spread awareness in the local community.
Patient Event – 26th September 2025
This year Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald’s Annual Patient Event was held at School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The informative and engaging evening featured engaging stands and was hosted by Prof. Fitzgerald and Dr di Pietro.
Stourbridge Common Fair – 6th September 2025
This was the first time the team had a stand at the Medieval fair. The weather was kind and they had a steady stream of visitors, Jacki, Alastair and Liz were able to talk to a number of people about their concerns, the merits of the capsule sponge and the work of HCUK. Special thanks to Irene for her help at the beginning of the day and to Will Chipchase for help in setting up and in dismantling the stand at the end of the afternoon. The team hope to go back next year.
Norwich Science Festival – Saturday 22nd February 2025
The Norwich Science Festival was a great success for the group. They had a great spot and a colourful stand which attracted some genuine interest from those attending the event. Thanks from the team at HCUK to all involved in making the event happen.
Caring for Patients with Heartburn and Barrett’s Oesophagus – 26th September 2024
With the support of the East Anglia support group, Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald hosted this year’s Caring for Patients with Heartburn and Barrett’s Oesophagus’ event, with guest speakers Dr Massimiliano Di Pietro and Dr Oliver Stovin. This was an online event, open to anyone affected by, or with an interest in, heartburn and/or Barrett’s oesophagus.
Cambridge Science Festival – 16th March 2024
Norwich Science Festival – 24th February 2024
Mill Road – 2nd December 2023
It was quite a jolly, but cold, day with lots of visitors, including the mayor. Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald and Dr Keith Tan were also on hand to help answer questions and sell some of the merchandise on sale.
Annual Patient Event – 21st September 2023
The annual event was a great success, with nearly 100 attendees on the night and a lot of interest in the recording. Presentations on the night were from experts Professor Fitzgerald, Andreas Hadjinicolaou, Rob O’Neill and Claire Lamb. You can watch it here.
Norwich Science Fair – 18th February 2023
We had a really good day at the Norwich Science Festival, there were lots of visitors and we were kept busy for the whole day – talking to the adults and entertaining their offspring.
Mill Road Winter Fair – Saturday 3rd December 2022
The annual Mill Road Winter Fair took place on the 3rd December and thankfully the weather was relatively mild. The event was well attended which gave the group the opportunity to pass on quite a lot of leaflets as well as explaining about the availability of the Cytosponge via GP referrals. Professor Fitzgerald and several volunteers from the lab also gave up their time on the day.
Westminster Patient Event – 14th October 2022
Our recent Patient Event, held at Westminster College in Cambridge and hosted by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, was attended by over 50 visitors and it was a pleasure to be able to meet in person again following the pandemic.
Clinicians were available to chat to visitors and there was an opportunity to see the equipment currently used to treat patients who need radiofrequency ablation. The increasing interest in developing tests to help early diagnosis of cancer was represented both by the Cytosponge and by equipment used to carry out breath tests capable of detecting scents produced by some cancers. In addition, several demonstrations were set up by researchers keen to share and explain the projects they are currently working on including a new blood test that can be carried out at home by the patient; just four small spots of dried blood can be posted off for analysis, which sounds much easier and more environmentally friendly than travelling to a hospital appointment.
The whole event, including the refreshments, was most enjoyable and we are grateful to everyone who helped to make it such a success.
Norwich Science Fair – Saturday 30th October 2021
This annual event is a regular for the group and they were delighted to be attending on the Health day this year. It was a busy day for the group with a stand inside The Forum and they were able to speak to many visitors.
