First £20,000 Emergency Grant goes to the wonderful FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together)

FACT (Facing All Cancers Together) is a small charity in the North East and we’re thrilled to be giving them Walk the Walk’s first emergency grant for frontline cancer services.

So many charities are facing a real struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. With little or no income and their workload increasing, the effect is devastating, not only for the charities, but also causing unimaginable suffering and hardship for cancer patients.

“FACT is delighted to be receiving a £20,000 grant from Walk the Walk to help us provide support to some of the most vulnerable people in the North East due to a diagnosis of cancer. Our service users, or FACT Family as we like to call them, are isolated and scared, and the current pandemic is making dealing with the impacts of cancer even more difficult than it would be in normal circumstances. Our fundraising has all but stopped and grants like this are literally a lifeline to us...... which makes them a lifeline for those we look after”. - Joanne Smith, Founder and Chief Executive of FACT

Our Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough was so concerned about the effect on the lives of cancer patients during the past three months, she felt Walk the Walk really had to do something to try and help. At the end of June, we announced we would be stepping in with emergency grants, to support frontline UK cancer charities during the pandemic, giving grants to the value of £20,000 each month until the end of the year.

“I have been overwhelmed by the number of cancer charities who have contacted Walk the Walk regarding the emergency grants, I just wish we were able to help everyone. We really feel that by giving the first of these grants to FACT that it will enable them to continue to make a difference in a part of the country that really needs support during these next few difficult months. Anyone who has come into contact with Joanne from FACT cannot fail to be inspired by her incredible enthusiasm and commitment to helping people living with cancer”. - Nina Barough CBE, Walk the Walk’s Founder and Chief Executive

The emergency grant that Walk the Walk has given FACT will allow them to continue offering crucial support services to vulnerable people affected by cancer. These include telephone counselling sessions, helpline and befriending calls, home visits with food donations and bereavement support.

FACT need money, but would also love to receive donations of food and cleaning products, to pass on to cancer patients within the community. If you’re able to help and live locally in the North East, contact FACT on 0191 442 0833 or [email protected] 

Although our MoonWalks are postponed, the incredible fundraising from you our wonderful supporters during the 2.6 challenge our own virtual MoonWalk Celebration Road Trip, has helped us raise an incredible £100,000 so far.

Thank you so much! Together, we can continue to help amazing charities like FACT during these very challenging times.

For details about applying for a grant, you can email us here.