LEUKAEMIA Care and Leukaemia UK have launched a new support fund to aid leukaemia patients across Worcestershire with the cost-of-living crisis this winter.
The Cost of Living with Leukaemia Fund has been created in response to the financial crisis in the UK and will help make a difference in the lives of leukaemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) or Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) patients who might struggle this winter with increased pressure on household bills.
Over the past year, Leukaemia Care has provided more than £70,000 of financial support nationwide to people affected by leukaemia, MDS or MPN.
These grants seek to provide help for those who are struggling with increased bills, hospital travel costs or paying for food.
Leukaemia Care has seen a 400 per cent increase in the number of applications to its existing fund as the country enters a difficult winter where people who were already struggling financially due to their leukaemia diagnosis are now facing additional cost of living pressures.
Around 43 per cent of patients reported a financial impact, either due to an increase in costs or a reduction in income, or indeed both. This increases to 55 per cent for acute leukaemia patients. To help address this need, Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have now come together to launch this new fund.
Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, CEO of Leukaemia Care said: “We know how devastating the financial impact of leukaemia is to people affected, and the recent cost of living crisis has only increased this pressure further.
“Because of this, Leukaemia Care are pleased to be working with Leukaemia UK to launch the Cost of Living with Leukaemia Fund to provide additional financial support to people affected by leukaemia and other blood cancers.”
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “Whilst many in the UK are struggling financially, we know that a leukaemia diagnosis adds extra financial pressures, on top of the emotional and physical challenges.
“Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care want to do everything we can to improve the lives of those with leukaemia and so are extremely pleased to be able to launch the Cost of Living with Leukaemia Fund together.”
Visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/support-and-information/support-for-you/cost-of-living-hub/cost-of-living-with-leukaemia-fund for more.
