Devonshire Freemasons are very happy to announce that a donation of £1500 from us here in Devon has been match-funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation to give a grant of £3000 to Exeter's 'Force Cancer Charity.'
FORCE Cancer Charity provides free support and information to anyone affected by cancer at their centre in Exeter and local community hospitals. They offer counselling, group sessions, complementary therapies, benefits advice, specialist physiotherapy, exercise guidance, and other health and wellbeing support. Their services are available to cancer patients and their families.
The FORCE Cancer Support and Information Centre is on the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital's Wonford site. It's open Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays, between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.
In the last financial year, FORCE has delivered over 7,000 support sessions, as the number of people needing help and support continues to grow post-pandemic.
They also work at the Ottery St Mary Hospital cancer hub, where volunteers support FORCE's team of experts and the nurses delivering chemotherapy daily. On Wednesdays, they provide support at Okehampton Hospital, and there are plans to open an outreach centre in Mid Devon around Tiverton when a suitable location becomes available.
They are an independent charity needing £1.7 Million a year; they receive no statutory funding. The majority of this is funded by local donations, fundraising, grants, legacies and their award-winning shop.
Meriel Fishwick, CEO of Force Exeter, said:
"This donation is a tremendous boost to FORCE, and we're very grateful to Devonshire Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Every year, countless charities benefit from funding from Freemasonry, and I'd like to thank them for all they do for FORCE and the difference they make to communities in Devon and across the country."
Richard Ebrey, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire Freemasons, said:
"Cancer is becoming a huge issue in society as the population ages, diagnosis and treatments are improving all the time, and support for those affected is so important. We're very happy to provide a donation to Exeter's FORCE charity to support the work they do to help patients and families on a worrying journey through Cancer."
