Sheffield charity warns increase in need has been coupled with a fall in income

This left her feeling ‘like she’d been punched in the stomach’ and she sought support from her local cancer charity who helped her ‘piece back together the jigsaw of me doctors couldn’t complete.’

Sadly, this is a situation many of our clients can relate to and which our staff recognise through the hundreds of calls they have taken from worried cancer patients and their carers over the last few months.

Many charities find themselves with the paradox of a dramatic rise in people needing help at the same time as a drastic reduction in income.

Weston Park Cancer Charity had ambitious plans for this year focused on expansion of our services, underpinned by an increase in income, partly buoyed by celebratory events to mark the 50th anniversary of Weston Park Hospital.

We have now planned for a 40 per cent reduction in income this year and our plans to grow and develop services have had to be reviewed.

For people like Alyson, the need for our services are greater than ever – facing cancer is tough, but Covid-19 makes it even tougher.

We have seen a dramatic rise in calls to our helpline from patients and carers worried about interruption to their treatment, about their compromised immune systems and what might happen if they contract Covid-19, and whether a loved one will be able to be by their side if they are admitted to hospital.

Many of those with cancer have been advised to self-isolate and the anxiety and loneliness this creates is palpable.

Although our cancer support centre is closed, we are delivering support through virtual means, free to anyone affected by cancer.

Call our helpline and speak to one of our highly-skilled and compassionate professionals, book an appointment to ensure you are claiming the benefits you are entitled to, or take part in one of our mindfulness sessions. Whatever your need, please don’t suffer in silence – give us a call and we will do whatever we can to help.

Our free, confidential help-line is open to anyone affectedby cancer, Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm, on 0114 553 3330.