Health charity, Walk the Walk, has awarded national cancer charity, Cancer Support UK, a £48,941 grant.
The funding will allow Cancer Support UK to provide increased practical and emotional support to people living with and beyond cancer.
Walk the Walk is best known as the organiser of the iconic MoonWalk London, when thousands of women and men walk overnight marathons through the city’s streets, wearing decorated bras or colourful bra t-shirts.
Thanks to Walk the Walk’s award, Cancer Support UK will be able to produce and deliver 750 Cancer Kits and provide 150 Cancer Coach support programme places for people living with and beyond breast cancer, who are struggling with anxiety and mental health issues.
Additionally, the money will enable the training of two Cancer Support UK volunteer facilitators to help deliver the Cancer Coach programme.
Through its Cancer Kits and Cancer Coach services, Cancer Support UK aims to:
- Reduce isolation
- Reduce loneliness
- Improve mental wellbeing
- Ease the financial burden of buying essential items that are needed during treatment
- Create volunteer opportunities
Commenting on the award, Mark Guymer, CEO of Cancer Support UK said: “We are extremely grateful to Walk the Walk for this generous grant. As a small charity we receive no government support – our income is entirely made up of donations, gifts and grants, which are all vital in keeping our services running.
“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.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, said:
“I’m delighted to share that Walk the Walk have awarded a grant to Cancer Support UK, funding 750 Cancer Kits and 150 Cancer Coach support programmes places. 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! Sign up now for our flagship overnight fundraising challenge The MoonWalk London on Saturday 18 May. It’s an incredible, fun-filled fiesta of a night, bringing many people together, putting one front in front of the other and achieving a personal goal, whilst helping others. Come and see for yourself, it is breath-taking!”