Funding boost for Lanarkshire cancer support service

pA support service helping people affected by cancer has received a #xA3;350,000 boost as it adapts to continue its vital work./p pMacmillan Cancer Support has added the extra investment into its Lanarkshire service, taking its total funding since its 2016 launch to #xA3;1 million./p pJointly delivered by North and South Lanarkshire Councils, it provides a wide range of help including specialist exercise classes, benefits advice and counselling, along with clinical, practical and financial information #x2013; previously made available through library information hubs and now being offered online and by phone./p p/ pAirdrie volunteer Susan McBride called the additional investment #x201C;fantastic news for the area#x201D;, saying: #x201C;Macmillan have a huge impact across North Lanarkshire and are an incredible support to so many people, including me.#xA0;/p p#x201C;I#x2019;m normally out there providing face-to-face support through my volunteering, but it#x2019;s great to hear how Macmillan have adapted to the restrictions and are still able to provide that much-needed help to those that need it via telephone and online #x2013; I honestly don#x2019;t know what people would do without it.#x201D;/p pSusan was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2015, and said: #x201C;Being diagnosed with cancer turns your life upside down, it can be frightening./p p#x201C;To have people there to help with financial advice, the physical side of things and how to deal with emotions it brings goes a long way; it takes the burden away and lets you know you are not alone.#x201D;/p p a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/airdrie-coatbridge target=_blank data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=section-topicClick here for more news from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser/a /p pCraig Tobin, who is Macmillan#x2019;s Lanarkshire projects manager, added: #x201C;A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, and for many people, the financial impact can be devastating #x2013; it can bring all sorts of pressures such as loss of income, increased household bills and travel to and from hospital appointments.#xA0;/p p#x201C;Having someone available to help get the support you need locally and relieve some of that anxiety during cancer is vital./p p#x201C;As Covid-19 continues to cause major disruption, it#x2019;s more important than ever that people know we#x2019;re still here for them #x2013; the emotional, practical and financial support is still available and although you can#x2019;t see us face-to-face, we are just on the end of the phone./p p#x201C;It#x2019;s thanks to the hard work and dedication of our supporters who raise so much money for us that we#x2019;re able to continue such vital services, and we#x2019;re incredibly grateful for their continued support.#x201D;#xA0;/p pNorth Lanarkshire Council chief executive Des Murray called the new three-year investment #x201C;hugely important to North Lanarkshire residents affected by cancer, even more so in these uncertain times#x201D;./p pHe said: #x201C;It enables us to offer continued local access to emotional, practical and financial support, helping with increasing areas of need a cancer diagnosis; and I#x2019;d like to thank everyone associated with Macmillan for everything they do to help people in our communities.#x201D;/p p Macmillan Cancer Support#x2019;s services for Lanarkshire can be reached by emailing macmillan@culturenl.co.uk or calling 01698 332631 during office hours; while further information is available at a href=http://www.macmillan.org.uk target=_blankwww.macmillan.org.uk/a or by calling 0808 808 0000 daily from 8am-8pm. /p