Local people and businesses have been urged to back Macmillan Cancer Support’s £1m fundraising campaign over the next three years to provide better cancer care in Nottinghamshire.

Sue Sanderson, Macmillan partnership manager for Nottinghamshire, said: “Improvements in treatment and an ageing population mean more people than ever are living longer with a cancer diagnosis, which is obviously good news.

“But this huge population of cancer survivors have their own complex needs.

“When there is already a huge amount pressure on the NHS with tightening health care budgets, it’s important that we step up to fill the gap in these times of need.”

Every year in Nottinghamshire 6,151 people are told they have cancer and more than 28,000 are living with the disease.

That number is set to double by 2030 and Macmillan said urgent action was needed to improve services and ensure people received support.

The Macmillan Cancer Partnership in Nottinghamshire has invested more than £6m to improve local cancer services over the last three years.

Macmillan is introducing new cancer support services across the county.

They include:

A Macmillan information facilitator at the recently-opened Macmillan Information Centre at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.
A Macmillan clinical psychologist at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton.
A new specialist team to support people with Brain Metastates.

Continued financial support for people affected by cancer through Macmillan grants, which can be used to fund things such as travel to treatment, energy costs, new clothes or even a day out with loved ones.

Stacey Smalley, fundraising manager for Macmillan in Nottinghamshire, said: “We want to do more, but we need your help — 98% of Macmillan’s funding comes directly from people fundraising or donating, so we are hoping people reading this will get in touch so that we can fund more essential cancer services in Nottinghamshire.”

Macmillan said one of the ways of raising money was for firms to make it their nominated charity.

People could organise events to support the Nottinghamshire campaign or take on a challenge and join team Macmillan, either running, walking, swimming or cycling.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/nottscampaign

People can also become a Macmillan volunteer.

Anyone who wants to help should contact Stacey, call 07809 554963 or email [email protected]