Cancer charity's plea for support in Highlands as its biggest fundraising event faces huge drop in income
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A cancer charity says it needs the support of people in the Highlands more than ever before as it faces an estimated 75 per cent drop in income from its flagship fundraising event.
Last year people in the Highlands raised £113,600 by taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support coffee mornings, helping to fund its vital services including Macmillan nurses and patient grants.
This year, figures show the number of people planning to hold a coffee morning across Scotland has fallen by three-quarters. The charity is worried there will be an equivalent fall in money raised.
The picture is similar across the UK, with early figures showing sign-ups are down by around two-thirds.
The £27.5 million raised in 2019 is expected to fall to under £8m in 2020, the lowest amount the Macmillan coffee morning will have raised in 11 years.
The charity fears its supporters don’t realise the event is still going ahead – albeit in a new virtual or socially distanced format – and is urging people to find out about the new ways to take part.
Macmillan’s Janice Preston said: “There has never been a more terrifying time in recent history to receive a cancer diagnosis, with disruption and delays to treatment and fears of increased risk of becoming infected with coronavirus.
“A huge 98 per cent of Macmillan’s income is from donations and events like coffee mornings. While coffee mornings can’t take place in exactly the same way as before this year, there are still lots of ways to get involved.
“At Macmillan we’re facing a possible tsunami of demand coming towards us this autumn, as the cancer system gets moving again and the backlog of delayed diagnoses begins to be dealt with. Worryingly, this increased need for support would come at a time when our fundraised income has dropped significantly.
“We’re facing the hardest year in our 109-year history. It is no exaggeration to say Macmillan and people with cancer have never needed the public’s help more than we do right now.”
Earlier this year, Macmillan launched a new cancer support service in partnership with NHS Highland which has continued to support people virtually throughout lockdown.
Angeline McLeod, manager of the service, said: “Our Macmillan Cancer Support workers have been a lifeline for many patients in the Highlands at a time when they didn’t know where to turn.
“Throughout lockdown we’ve been providing emotional support through regular phone calls, helping people living with cancer to get the support they need.
“Cancer can be hugely overwhelming at any time, from trying to navigate concerns around your work, income and physical needs to talking to your family and friends about your diagnosis. Having someone who can listen and understand what matters most to you is vital.
“We’ve heard from some service users who say we have helped ‘remove the guesswork out of web searching’ during a hugely troubling time of dealing with not only cancer but also fears around Covid.
“One of the main things we hear about from people living with cancer in the Highlands is isolation and loneliness. So often, what people really need is someone to listen.
“In this socially distanced period we are all in, space to listen seems more pertinent than ever for people living with cancer, and those dear to them.”
Macmillan is encouraging people to take part in this year’s coffee morning however it suits them, from having a socially distanced event safely from their doorstep to setting up a virtual coffee morning online.
Those who prefer to take part in more active fundraising events can also sign up for the first ever Coffee Morning Challenge, tackling a run, walk or cycle to raise cash.
Meanwhile, social media users are being urging people to take a selfie raising a mug for people living with cancer, while making a donation.
To sign up, visit coffee.macmillan.org.uk or call 0330 102 7810.
