Dorset Cancer Care celebrates anniversary with bunch of fives

he charity’s new, High Five campaign, launched at the anniversary ball at the Bournemouth Hilton on 22 September, asks people to contribute five pounds or more, with the goal of raising £250,000 in the coming year to fund even more grants.

Amongst those donating the first fivers was David Errington, CEO of independent estate agent Goadsby, which has taken DCCF as one of its charities of the year.

He said, “High Five is an excellent idea because it enables anyone to donate to DCCF and know they are helping people with cancer, here where we live.

“The Goadsby team is proudly supporting DCCF through a range of events during this our 60th year, starting with a Southampton to Paris cycle ride which has already raised over £3,000 in sponsorship.

“We hope to have made a sizeable dent in High Five’s £250,000 fundraising target by the end of 2018.”

Former AFC Bournemouth manager Harry Redknapp is a patron of DCCF. He said, “I have been proud to be a patron since the charity began and have seen awareness of its work – and subsequent applications for its help – grow considerably during that time. I hope people will give a fiver or more to the High Five campaign knowing they are helping a person or family who really needs it, here in Dorset.”

Jeff Mostyn, chairman of AFC Bournemouth and a fellow patron of DCCF, agreed, “This appeal reaches out to everyone, from individuals who want to make a small, personal donation, to those who want to arrange their own event, or get together with workmates or friends to make a difference.”

Eve Went, who was one of the original founders of DCCF following her own battle with cancer, said, “I’m immensely grateful to everyone who has helped DCCF go from strength to strength during the last five years and joined us to celebrate this achievement at the ball.

“Through their coffee mornings, sky dives, fun runs, sporting events and personal donations they have helped people with cancer enjoy short breaks with their families, buy equipment to improve their quality of life and even paid for groceries when they had no money coming in.

“We now hope people, groups of friends, businesses – everyone – will get behind the High Five campaign, organising their own events and also supporting ours so together we can help even more Dorset people with cancer in 2019 and beyond.”

Started in 2013, DCCF funds grants to pay for anything from people’s travel to and from hospital, to much needed short breaks and living costs during treatment.