Cancer patients rely on charity to heat homes

CANCER patients are being forced to turn to a leading charity in a bid to keep warm over the winter.

Figures released by Macmillan Cancer Support this week show the organisation had paid out £61,878 to 227 Worcestershire residents by the end of last year, with 40 per cent of those people given grants towards their heating bills. The second highest request for grants was for clothing.

David Crosby said: "While most of us were enjoying the festive period, cancer patients were clearly in desperate need of financial support. These figures and our recent research show just how much of a problem keeping up with fuel bills is for cancer patients - especially as the weather is set to get colder.

"Cancer patients need to put their energy into getting better. Instead many are living in cold homes anxious about how they're going to cope with rocketing fuel bills."

For information about paying fuel bills and other financial help visit www.macmillan.org.uk/heating or call the npower Fuel Management Programme on 0808 808 0000.

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