Live Cancer Free Ltd which supports people living with cancer, has used a grant for £1895 to provided nutritious weekly food bags to patients whose treatment has stopped due to the pandemic.

The outbreak of coronavirus has brought significant health concerns, practical and emotional challenges and major uncertainty to cancer sufferers. With the help of the grant from the Community Foundation's Coronavirus Support Fund, Live Cancer Free Ltd is addressing some of these concerns by preparing and delivering healthy food parcels to 15 of their patients who are either living alone, with vulnerable partner or are over 65.

The food parcels, which have been specifically prepared to suit patients' individual needs, contain a variety of essentials including immunity boosting ginger juice, food appropriate to patients' current condition i.e. easily digestible food for those who have difficulty swallowing, plus a host of healthy living produce.

Dr Abeer Kholghi, Director at Live Cancer Free Ltd said: "The grant from Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation has been wonderful. It has enabled us to deliver 60 healthy food parcels, free of charge, and offer support to cancer patients who have felt neglected and forgotten during the pandemic.

"With patients suffering both physically due to lack of chemotherapy and mentally due to isolation and reduced immune systems, the grant meant that we could begin immediate relief and we have been so grateful for it.

The healthy food bags which have been delivered by a team of volunteers have been very well received with recipients saying:

"It is wonderful to know that someone cares enough to organise this for us. The contents of the bag were so varied and very usable".

"What a wonderful 'bag full' dropped off this afternoon. We cannot thank you enough for this generous gesture in these times of trouble and illness".

"It felt like Christmas had arrived early".