CancerCare in Furness has secured a donation of almost £3,000 thanks to money generated by Co-op members in the local area.
The money has been raised as part of Co-op’s membership scheme, whereby members receive a five per cent reward for themselves with a further one per cent going to local causes when they buy own-brand products or Co-op services. Members can decide how the money is allocated, and are encouraged to select the causes they wish to support online.
The money raised will help the independent charity in providing its wide range of free professional therapy services to people affected by cancer, bereavement and life-limiting illnesses across north Lancashire and south Cumbria. For example, £32 pays for one hour of time with a therapist for someone struggling with the anxiety and distress caused by a cancer diagnosis.
Sacha Hamlin, Funeral Director at Co-op Funeralcare in Barrow comments: “CancerCare plays such a vital role in the local community and we feel honoured to be able to support this essential cause.
“We’re really passionate about supporting local organisations and will continue to help other local causes in the area throughout the year. Every time you use your Co-op membership card you can raise funds to help out local projects like CancerCare.”
When it opened in January 2017, it was predicted that in its first year the Barrow CancerCare Centre would see around 65 referrals; it actually saw more than double that number of people through its doors.
Paul Duncan, Marketing Officer at CancerCare comments: “The Barrow CancerCare centre has gone from strength to strength over the last two and a half years, delivering nearly 5,100 therapies for 370 people and fulfilling an obvious need for its services in the town and further afield on the Furness Peninsula.
‘’Generous donations such as this one from the Co-op allow us to deliver a wide and varied programme to help people from all walks of life following a cancer diagnosis.”
As well as therapies such as counselling, aromatherapy and hypnotherapy, the centre also offers a specialist service for young people and group activities such as Pilates, cookery and arts and crafts – all of which have proved very popular.
The centre has a dedicated development officer and fundraising officer who work to establish links with businesses and community groups in the area which helps spread the word about the charity far and wide. They also help to organise a year-round programme of fundraising events including walks, family fun days, sports challenges and stage shows.
The charity can also call upon the help of a valuable team of willing volunteers who help raise money and awareness in numerous ways from collecting money at events and providing transport for people who live in rurally isolated locations.
Such has been the success of the Barrow Centre that it has out grown its current home at Trinity Church and will soon be moving to a new home on Duke Street in the centre of Barrow which will be renovated with new therapy rooms and a specially equipped play-therapy room for children.
Last year, the Co-op invested £19 million in over 4,000 groups UK-wide, supporting a wide range of initiatives, all of which are helping to make communities across the UK safer, happier, and healthier places to live.
For more information on local causes please visit https://www.coop.co.uk/local-causes
