Tenovus Cancer Care receives a fantastic donation from the Pink Ribbon Foundation to help support services for breast cancer patients with lymphoedema following treatment.
Tenovus Cancer Care are the fortunate recipients of a tremendous donation of £5,000 from the Pink Ribbon Foundation. The charity’s application focussed on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 for people affected by lymphoedema following treatment for cancer, after so many services across Wales had been suspended for months due to the pandemic.
The award will be used to continue the work of the charity’s Mobile Support Unit, an advanced, articulated vehicle providing a welcoming, flexible and safe environment. Treatment on board is provided in partnership with the Lymphoedema Network Wales.
It is estimated that lymphoedema’s impact in Wales could be twice that of England (Welsh Government, A Strategy for Lymphoedema, 2009). The condition is a form of chronic swelling resulting from damage to the lymph nodes, most commonly caused by invasive treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. Complex and unpredictable, lymphoedema can occur years after the operation which damaged the nodes, often transforms from mild to serious without warning, and in almost all cases requires lifelong management.
Many patients therefore really needed and need to be seen after a such long hiatus between appointments, and the Pink Ribbon Foundation’s wonderful award is vital part of getting Mobile Unit 2 out on the road to serve communities throughout Wales.
Judi Rhys, Chief Executive at Tenovus Cancer Care, said: “It is difficult to overstate the impact of the pandemic on people affected by cancer, not least the quarter of patients who live with a long-term condition post treatment. Our Mobile Unit is a vital part of the care infrastructure that maximizes the quality of life for lymphoedema patients; equally crucial is receiving this generous funding.”
The Pink Ribbon Foundation is a grant making trust with a mission to fund projects and provide financial support to UK charities which relieve the needs of people who are suffering from, have been affected by breast cancer, or who work to advance the understanding of breast cancer and its early detection and treatment.
Lisa Allen, Head of Corporate Partnerships, PR and Events at the Pink Ribbon Foundation said: “The Pink Ribbon Foundation is delighted to support Tenovus Cancer Care with a recent grant which will enable them to support people affected by lymphoedema following treatment for breast cancer. Covid-19 has had an impact on all charities large and small, and we are incredibly proud to still be in a position to help charities such as Tenovus, who do such amazing work."