Wessex Cancer Trust enters critical phases of funding crisis appeal

In December, Wessex Cancer Trust announced a crisis appeal to stave off closure. Learn why £600,000 must be raised by 31st January and how community support could help save this vital resource.

#SaveWessexCancerTrust.

What is Wessex Cancer Trust?
Wessex Cancer Trust is a local charity that supports around 11,000 people every year. Its four Cancer Support Centres provide drop-in services, professional counselling, complementary therapies, activities, support groups and courses. The charity also runs outreach services, a popular Sing for Life choir and transport on its Daisy Buses to help patients get to their hospital appointments. 

Why are these services important?
For almost 40 years Wessex Cancer Trust has been there for local people during the most difficult of times. Receive a cancer diagnosis can be a huge shock for the whole family. While the NHS does a very good job of providing clinical care, there are still so many other ways that the illness affects people’s lives, minds, relationships and confidence.

Wessex Cancer Trust provides emotional support to the growing number of individuals in the Wessex region facing cancer diagnoses. More and more people are living longer after a cancer diagnosis – in 2014 there were just over 98,600 people living with cancer in the region, by 2030, it is estimated that there will be almost 165,000. The Trust wants to be there for those people over the next 40 years. 

Why launch a Crisis Appeal?
2019 saw a 30% rise in the number of people using the Cancer Support Centres. But there’s also been a considerable drop in charitable income, including a 65% reduction in people leaving a gift in their wills, and a 15% drop in income from charity shops, which has resulted in a serious gap in funding that the trust is struggling to bridge. In December 2019, it launched a Crisis Appeal and needs the help of the local community in order to reach the target and save these vital cancer support services. 

How can you help? 
- Make a gift by visiting www.justgiving.com/campaign/savewessexcancertrust 
- Set up a regular gift by visiting www.wessexcancer.org.uk/donate
- Donate £10 by texting SAVEWESSEX to 70085 (texts cost £10 plus your standard message rate). 
- Help spread the word on social media using the hashtag #SaveWessexCancerTrust
- Organise your own fundraising event or activity. Please email fundraising@wessexcancer.org.uk if you have any questions. 

To find out more about Wessex Cancer Trust and this appeal please visit  www.wessexcancer.org.uk.

Links: 
www.justgiving.com/campaign/savewessexcancertrust 
www.wessexcancer.org.uk/donate 
fundraising@wessexcancer.org.uk
www.wessexcancer.org.uk