Cancer care and support charity on the Costa Blanca appeals for help ‘at this critical time’

Cancer Care Javea on the Costa Blanca has seen a rise in calls for support and reassurance during the coronavirus health crisis, and with no government assistance or fundraising potential, is appealing for help.

THE charity is one of many in the area doing vital helping the varying causes it’s affiliated to. And continues to offer to cancer patients, in spite of the State of Alarm restrictions.

Secretary, Jeanette Missons, said: “What Cancer Care does is in our name – we give support and care to cancer patients and their families throughout their journey of cancer and beyond.

“We also work very closely with Denia Hospital, having established our cancer research laboratory at the hospital under the name of ECMOR (English Cathedra of Modern Oncology Research).”

Cancer Care Javea also collaborates with other charities, working together to provide the best all round care to cancer patients, including respite care rooms, equipment and nursing services.

“Over the last few years, we have developed and funded our own unique Lynwens Cancer Care Nursing & Advisory service, now manned by a team of six professionals, including qualified nurses and support workers, all with different skills dedicated to assisting cancer patients in Javea and the surrounding areas,” explained Jeannette.

“During this Covid-19 crisis, our focus has remained on helping cancer patients.

“Our team has continued to be available and in fact has been even busier, taking phone calls, guiding and comforting patients who are worried about their condition and medication etc, liaising with the hospitals on their behalf, oncologists and palliative care workers.”

Jeannette pointed out that the charity’s nurses made some essential home calls, but regular visits have been severely restricted, so it’s important “that we remain a crucial contact and assure patients they are not abandoned and we can still give real help.

“People with cancer and their families might feel especially worried about the virus, so one of our nurses has continued to attend on a daily basis, the day care room and Oncology department at Denia Hospital to maintain the contact they have been used to.

“Since the lockdown, patients have had to attend treatment on their own and for many English speaking patients, having the familiar face of our nurse, makes a world of difference.

“The future has become uncertain for most charities and we have no idea how long we will be affected and how long we can sustain the adverse financial impact.”

The charity has received no government assistance and both shops, crucial to fundraising, had to close on the March 13, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

“For over 20 years, they have been at the very heart of our charity, raising significant monies through the shop sales and supplemented by generous donations and specific fund raising events,” said Jeannette, adding: “Our volunteers who work in the shops are unpaid, but we remain with substantial monthly costs for rent and utilities and of course the professional fees for sustaining our nursing team.

“Without our normal regular income, we are now totally reliant on donations and the sustainability of our shops and services will be limited and dependent on what our future holds.”

Cancer Care Javea anticipates getting back to normal will take a long time and in fact, “the only avenue may be to re-invent ourselves with a ‘new normal’.

“At this critical time, we therefore ask for your help, to give us the opportunity and time to weather the financial impact this is having, but more importantly, in order for us to continue with confidence, our Lynwens Cancer Care Nursing & Advisory services, giving very real and daily support to cancer patients at a time they need it most.

“A service that a lot of cancer patients have grown reliant on. We realise the various impacts on the whole of society that this terrible virus has caused and some, more than others, now bear a great financial burden. We also understand that if you have spare cash, you will all have preferences on where you might want to donate. So we simply ask for you to consider our cause and we can assure you that any monies donated to us will be used wisely and directly to maintaining the service of helping people with cancer.”

Payments can easily be made to the charity’s bank: IBANES2000810660020001438754

Or there is a gogetfunding account that Cancer Care Javea has used primarily for fundraising events.

https://gogetfunding.com/CANCER-CARE-JAVEA-2/

Find out more about the charity at:-
https://cancercarejavea.org/

Or the Cancer Care Charity Centre Facebook page

Author badge placeholder
Written by

Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments