Call for more Macmillan volunteers

Volunteers are needed to take on a variety of tasks including store collections, holding stalls at community events and cheering on participants in sporting events such as the Burnley 10k and Pendle Three Peaks.

Hannah Richmond, Macmillan’s East Lancashire fund-raising manager, said: “Joining our Action Team allows people to have fun, develop their skills and make a difference to people affected by cancer all at the same time.

“Volunteers can donate an hour or two of their time whenever it’s convenient for them so this is something which works around other commitments.

“Our Action Team volunteers don’t need to have special skills or experience.

“They just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn. Support and training will be provided by the local fund-raising team and we can help you to develop your skills and explore different opportunities with us.

Macmillan is almost entirely funded by public donations and the charity says the support of volunteers is essential to help raise all the money it needs to fund its cancer services.

Alongside the well-known specialist Macmillan Nurses, the charity supports people with cancer and their families in a number of ways.

In 2015, over £62,000 was awarded to patients in East Lancashire to help with the cost of cancer and 446 people in the area made use of the free Support Line offering medical and emotional support.

Work is also ongoing to improve the availability of information booklets and leaflets in the community and in training staff in Boots stores to better support people with cancer.

There are currently 15 Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists in East Lancashire offering support on the high street.

Growing the number of volunteers will mean services such as these can continue to grow and reach even more people who are living with cancer in the local community.

For more information, call Hannah on 07809 554958 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/volunteering. To access support from Macmillan visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 00 00.