For 2018 Yespromo will proudly be supporting The Sussex Cancer Fund as our main charity of choice for the year and are delighted to have become an official Business Ambassador of the cause. We chose the charity for many reasons; it’s sadly a part of life that we all know someone whom has been affected by cancer in some way, and there are many great charities helping to support those with cancer in many different ways. But The Sussex Cancer Fund stood out to us because it is not only local to Yespromo’s HQ, but because it is almost entirely volunteer led, hiring just one part-time employee, and is one cause that we have seen that is truly desperate for support and funding, and certainly an unsung hero in our neighbourhood. The Sussex Cancer Fund have already raised £3 million since they started in 1981 but are still working hard to make the Sussex Cancer Centre a comfortable place to visit with the best possible facilities.

When I became an ambassador, and learned more about The Sussex Cancer Fund, I was truly taken aback by the charity’s “Wish List”. Modestly displayed on their website, this list contains some essential items that are needed for the upkeep of The Sussex Cancer Centre. There are some large equipment needs; like any charity, the centre would benefit from more kit to allow them to offer services to more users, such as specialist chemotherapy machines at a cost of thousands of pounds. But there are also some very basic items, that you or I might afford by foregoing lunch out for a day… such as heat warming pads at £29.99 or a children’s book box, mugs for the waiting room, or a bedside table so that patients don’t need to eat lunch on their laps. It would be fantastic if members from the local business community would consider donating one item each from this “affordable” list. And perhaps some larger businesses might choose to set their team members a target for example the £307 needed for a waiting room bench, or £1000 for a chemotherapy chair. With cake sales, book sales, dress down days and so on, companies with 50 staff or more might be able to raise these kinds of funds quite quickly whilst building on their internal community spirit.

I know for certain that I’ll be choosing one item from the wishlist myself this month, and I will be making as much noise as I can about the Sussex Cancer Fund on my social media channels throughout the year.

Could I ask my contacts to help spread the word with a simple share of this article? Maybe you’d consider becoming a Business Ambassador too? For more information contact Julia Lenton, Fund Manager on 01273 664930 or email her at scfadministrator@bsuh.nhs.uk.