Walk the Walk grants almost £49,000 to charity Cancer Support UK

We’re delighted to have awarded almost £49,000 to the wonderful national cancer charity, Cancer Support UK. Thanks to Walk the Walk’s grant, Cancer Support UK will be able to provide even more practical and emotional support to people living with and beyond breast cancer.

Our grant will pay for Cancer Support UK to...

❤ Produce and deliver 750 Cancer Kits

❤ Provide 150 Cancer Coach support programme places

Mark Guymer, CEO of Cancer Support UK said:

“We are extremely grateful to Walk the Walk for this generous grant. Our Cancer Kits are designed to provide relief to cancer patients during their gruelling treatment journey. Recipients tell us that the kits mean a great deal to them, making them feel less alone, offering comfort and practical relief from the pain and discomfort of treatment. A cancer diagnosis can be life-changing, but going into remission can be equally difficult to navigate. Our Cancer Coach programme gives people who have completed cancer treatment, the tools to support better mental health when moving into life beyond cancer."

Since 2017, Cancer Support UK has sent free Cancer Kits to 18,000 people. There are four different types of kits, including the Chemo Kit and the Cancer Kit. These are free to order for anyone going through cancer treatment.

The Chemo Kit includes items which will help offset some of the unpleasant side effects of treatment, like cold hands and feed, nausea, and sensitive teeth. Meanwhile, the Cancer Kit is designed to help patients who are not receiving chemotherapy, but are undergoing another form of cancer treatment. They contain items like puzzle books to relieve boredom, relaxing pillow spray to aid sleep and toiletries to use on the go.

Walk the Walk’s grant will fund kits for breast cancer patients, like Jo, who requested a Chemo Kit from Cancer Support UK after she was diagnosed with breast cancer:-  

“When the kit arrived, I discovered it included lots of really handy things that help you through the journey of chemo. I have used nearly all of the items and the Sherbet Lemon sweets have been a wonderful help with nausea and dizziness. Most importantly, the kit provided me with the knowledge that I wasn’t alone. It told me that people were there for me during this awful time and gave me joy and excitement”

Jo during treatment for breast cancer

The Cancer Coach programme provided a lifeline to Sam when she needed it most. When her cancer treatment finished, everyone expected Sam to return to her old self, but inside she felt acutely lonely and an emotional wreck. As the COVID pandemic was still raging, she had to remain indoors, as her immune system was severely weakened, so her isolation was further exacerbated. Cancer Coach’s remote peer support groups made a big difference to Sam – knowing that there were other people who all felt the same way and who had experienced cancer, boosted her emotionally.

Sam during treatment for breast cancer

Sam said:

“At the end of 2020, following treatment for breast cancer, I signed up for Cancer Coach. It was so good to be part of a small group of people, all feeling the same way, yet different. It was great to be able to talk to each other and to share tips and ideas in the group. The coach was really nice, too.”

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, said:

“I know from my own experience how frightening and isolating a breast cancer diagnosis can be – the work which Cancer Support UK is doing to help support cancer patients through an incredibly difficult time really is life-changing. Working together, our charities can make such a huge difference to so many people. Grants like this one to Cancer Support UK are very exciting news for Walk the Walk’s wonderful fundraisers – I cannot thank these fantastic people enough!”

Nina has written a fascinating article for our friends at Cancer Support UK about how walking helped her during her own breast cancer diagnosis. Read her fantastic tips here.

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