A funding boost of £4,000 has provided a major step forward in the fundraising efforts of a Fife charity for a pilot project aimed at making life better for cancer patients. Circle of Comfort has secured the funding from Corra Foundation to pay for the administration support for the pilot, but there is still some way to go to meet the overall target of £20,000.
Roseann Haig, Chair and Founder of Circle of Comfort, is leading the fundraising efforts. “We are hoping to run a pilot project to help integrate the use of complementary therapies with medical care in the treatment plans for cancer patients. This is the first time this approach has been taken in Scotland, and because of the success of our existing services we’ve been supported by the Oncologists and Lead Cancer Nurse in Fife do this work. Knowing that the costs of the administration are covered is fantastic, but we still have £15,000 to raise so can’t celebrate too much. We’re applying to other funders and also doing our own local fundraising, and we would be extremely grateful to receive any financial support.”Roseann has literally been walking the talk when it comes to fundraising, having completed the Race for Life and also been packing bags at local supermarkets.
The pilot will involve up to 100 people in Fife, with one group of cancer patients receiving Complementary Therapies in their own home on completion of their treatment and the other group of patients receiving therapies at their third cycle of chemotherapy in the hospital setting. Each patient will receive six treatments and we hope to monitor any changes in pain, appetite, sleep, nausea, anxiety and depression. This will build up further data to add to the existing evidence Circle of Comfort already has.
Mary Craig OBE, Chief Executive of Corra Foundation, said: “This is the first time Circle of Comfort has applied to the Foundation for funding and we’re delighted to have been able to support this new approach to supporting people who are being treated for cancer. I know that helping people stay positive during their medical treatment and find ways to help deal with the inevitable side effects makes all the difference, not just to the patients themselves but also to their families and friends. We wish Roseann and everyone else involved success in raising the rest of the funds they need to be able to start delivering these pilots for people in Fife.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about this work should contact Roseann Haig at circleofcomfort@btinternet.com
