A survey conducted by the Children and Young People’s Cancer Coalition – a group of charities that support children and young people with cancer and their families, of which The Joshua Tree are members – has revealed that collectively, their income has plummeted by as much as 60%. This has led to peer-to-peer support and advice events, sibling support groups and schemes that allow families to keep in contact during treatment, being scaled back or stopped altogether.
At The Joshua Tree we are proud to say we have continued to maintain a level of support families during this difficult time, albeit virtually. This is due to having to vacate the new purpose-built support centre three weeks after moving in due to COVID-19 restrictions.
As a consequence, and like many other charities that support young people with cancer The Joshua Tree’s major fundraising events have been cancelled because of the pandemic, leaving a gap in vital funds to ensure the charity continue to support families affected by childhood cancers.
The similarities between Coronavirus and childhood cancer are apparent in that families are not able to socialise with others, they’ve had to isolate, the children have had to miss out on huge amounts of education, grandparents haven’t been able to be around and it impacts mental health.
Every day 11 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK – over 4,000 diagnoses every year – and the Coalition’s 40 members provide essential services that address the individual needs of children, young people and their family.
It is imperative that the support The Joshua Tree deliver is continued, be it face-to-face or virtually. We are here!
