The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation provides financial assistance to Dorset residents and their families who are experiencing financial hardship due to cancer.
What We Do
£762,664 paid out in awards
878 individuals and organisations helped
We do this in the fastest and simplest way possible: The applicant completes an online form outlining their condition and needs. All requests are put to our Board of Trustees every two weeks and a decision is made within 72 hours of submission. Awards are granted to successful applicants and monies deposited into their bank account between 2 and 5 weeks of the application being submitted.
The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation offers awards to help within the following areas (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Transport and parking costs during treatment
- Overnight accommodation during treatment
- Some treatment costs
- Minor household modifications needed due to cancer
- Respite support
- Domestic help needed due to cancer
- Care costs
- Food bills
- Financial bills while you are out of work due to cancer
- Specialist items
Who We Are
Our Story
The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) was registered as a charity in 2013 by three nurses, after going through cancer themselves and seeing first-hand how many people struggle financially during their cancer journey. Their mission continues to be to help alleviate the financial burden that can come with cancer, with the sole focus on helping Dorset residents.
As a small local charity, we pride ourselves in keeping running costs as low as possible to ensure as much money as possible goes to those who need it most. Our Trustees do not take a penny from the charity and do not claim expenses. We have a very small team consisting of the charity fundraising manager and two part-time administrators, operating in a small office. Unlike most charities we can track exactly where every penny goes and how the money raised and donated is used, offering complete transparency to those who support us.
Eve Went (Co-Founder) Jannine Loveys (Charity Fundraising Manager) Leslie-May Harrison (Co-Founder)
Meet Our Trustees
Our Trustees ensure that we always have a clear strategy and set of goals in place, ensuring that we’re working towards a united and shared goal of supporting Dorset residents who are experiencing financial hardship because of cancer.
Our Trustees are:
Chris Thomas, Chair of Trustees
“My role as Chairman of The DCCF is to steer the charity, ensure we are compliant with legislation and to help as many people as we possibly can – and holding that position is a privilege and source of great personal pride. The growing number of grant applications we receive from cancer patients shows there is a real and often desperate need for the support The DCCF provides. We are unique in being the only cancer support charity, solely for the people of Dorset. Funds raised through our events and the efforts of our loyal fundraisers is used to ease the financial worries of Dorset families, who are already struggling under the physical and emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis. Our roots are planted firmly in our community and will continue to spread across the county, to wherever we are needed. We hope you will consider supporting us in some way.”
Eve Went
“Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our website. I’m Eve and almost 11 years ago, myself and two friends and fellow nurses felt something needed to be done to support cancer patients following their initial diagnosis. We saw people struggling to afford buses to their hospital appointments, to buy expensive mastectomy bras and generally make ends meet in the aftermath of such devastating news. We started holding events and this enabled us to fund items such as supports to help cancer patients during x-rays. News of what we were trying to do slowly grew and as a result, we were able to hold more events and help more and more individuals – as well as projects, such as the creation of the therapeutic garden at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. In recent years we have battled and survived the onslaught of Covid and with the help of a growing number of local businesses and the amazing work of our volunteers we have even expanded our reach across Dorset. So far, with the help of our Patrons, supporters and sponsors we have gifted over £700k to Dorset cancer patients and their families. But we want to do so much more.
Please get in touch if you need our help, or if you would like to help us.
We would love to welcome you to The DCCF family.”
Leslie May Harrison
“I am a Clinical Breast Cancer Nurse. I have also had breast cancer and have undergone extensive treatment. Prior to helping to found The DCCF I established a group called The Harbour Girls and we organised a Ball for breast cancer sufferers, with proceeds to Cancer Research UK. The formation of The DCCF came because The DCCF Co-founder Eve Went and I wanted to raise money for cancer patients here in Dorset and to know the money we raised was going straight to them as soon as they needed it. There are many people out there fighting cancer who are experiencing financial struggles and, in some cases, living on the breadline. Funds raised by The DCCF and its supporters go to providing support for families which need it. It’s a very special charity and I am immensely proud to be part of it.”
Meryl Ponsford
“I was born in Dorset and have had breast cancer. I wanted to do something outside of helping to run our family business that would assist other local people who experience cancer. I am particularly passionate about the way we help people with urgent, short-term needs, like paying their rent. When you are told you have cancer it throws your life into complete disarray. Our help can take away a little pressure. None of us Trustees take payment. We get a great deal of satisfaction from giving our time knowing that The DCCF is making a real difference to families going through very difficult times.”
Vic Szewczyk
“I retired from Rolls-Royce plc after nearly 40 years in engineering and after holding a number of senior appointments in the aerospace and energy businesses. Since retiring I have served as an engineering consultant and Trustee for EDF Energy Trust. I joined The DCCF as a Trustee in March 2020. Having experienced cancer first-hand I appreciate some of the problems people can have and this role enables me to help some of the many affected by this life-threatening and debilitating disease. In my capacity as Treasurer, I have used my business background to develop our policies and manage our finances. This is especially important as we aim to significantly grow the charity over the next few years to be able to help more and more Dorset cancer suffers with our financial grants.”
Julie Barbary
“I work for the NHS Blood & Transplant service and have a great deal of personal experience of what it’s like to be impacted by cancer. I had breast cancer myself 19 years ago and I lost my mum to stomach cancer five years ago. The shock of my daughter being diagnosed with post-liver transplant lymphoma (PTLD) five years ago, was immense. Thankfully she is now in remission. But whilst she was undergoing many months of treatment in London this put our family through extremely difficult times, both emotionally and financially. Thankfully, a friend put me in touch with The DCCF and the Foundation helped meet some of my costs. After Sophie came home, I wanted to give back to the charity and first helped as a volunteer, then as an ambassador and now as a Trustee. I am deeply honoured to hold this position. It enables me to be involved in decision-making about the charity’s profile, our fundraising and our grant-making; helping people who need help in their darkest hour.”
Diane Bird
“Like many of us I have lost friends to cancer and have seen its devastating effects. I first became aware of The DCCF when I was taken along by a friend to one of the charity’s coffee mornings. I loved the concept of the charity and the people, and it has been an important part of my life ever since. I have a background in motor racing and property management and this business experience, coupled with empathy and a passion for what the charity stands for, has led to me being a supporter, occasional fundraiser and even a speaker at events and on the radio. I feel very proud that my efforts have benefitted those in need and have been recognised. I look forward to working with the other Trustees to take the charity forward to the next level, by ensuring good practice, extending our reach throughout Dorset, and of course raising as much money as possible to help more people and families experiencing cancer.”
Meet Our Patrons
Jeff Mostyn
Jeff Mostyn (centre) and six of the 10-strong Handlebarmy Army.
“Battling cancer is difficult enough, without the financial pressures it can often bring to patients and their families. Nobody understands this better than the incredible people at The DCCF. It’s humbling to witness the time and energy our volunteers and supporters give freely to help people they have never met, and to hear, first-hand, how this help eases the hardships experienced by struggling families. I am truly humbled by their work and commitment.
The DCCF staff and volunteers never forget, never stop caring, and constantly put others first, for me being part of that team is a real honour and privilege.”
Jeff Mostyn
The DCCF Patron and AFC Bournemouth Club Ambassador.
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp (Second) launching the High Five Campaign
“As a proud Patron, I’m only too pleased to lend my support to the fantastic Dorset Cancer Care Foundation and all the great work they do to help local people. Thank you to all involved for your hard work and dedication in keeping this very important charity running for the people of Dorset.”
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp, The DCCF Patron.
Our Team
The DCCF was established in 2013 and since then our small team work hard towards financially supporting Dorset Residents who are going through cancer.
Jannine Loveys – Charity Fundraising Manager
“I live in Broadstone, with hubby & two dogs and I have spent many years working in fundraising and events, for both big and small organisations alike. I saw that The DCCF were looking for a fundraising manager and something about the role just resonated with me so I applied. My father-in-law passed away from cancer but it was all very quick from the date of diagnosis, so there was a lot to come to terms within a very short space of time. It shows how quickly it can change a family, and The DCCF are there to help people who have more than enough to deal with, and if I can just be a small part of that help, then it makes my job more than worthwhile. As a small charity The DCCF is vital for the people of Dorset as a whole who need financial support at a time they may need it most. Raising awareness of the Charity outside of towns in the south of Dorset is vital, so I see part of my role as growing that awareness and support so that we are able help more people over the coming years.”
Penelope Saunders – Charity Administrator
“I had been working for a children’s charity for 16 years – and had faced my own battle with cancer – when I came to work as Charity Administrator for The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation in 2022. I am 48, a mum, grandmother and unfortunately, I am also a BRCA 1 carrier, which led to me having breast cancer in 2011 and again in 2016. I’ve had a double mastectomy and my ovaries removed, but I count myself as lucky I am a cancer survivor. I needed to get a second job due to the cost-of-living crisis. I hadn’t heard of The DCCF when I had cancer. I wish I had. The charity steps in to help lift some of the financial stress which can have a truly unbearable effect on people with cancer. I feel that having first-hand knowledge of cancer and the struggles it brings helps me relate to the people we help. I’m currently studying for a qualification in Cancer Counselling so I can be even more prepared for the difficult conversations I often have in my role for The DCCF.”
Jo Saunders – Marketing & Communications
Similar to many others, I have witnessed the impact of cancer on both family and friends, and understand the devastation it brings to all involved. It wasn’t until I came across the charity’s advertisement that I became aware of its existence. With my three children now grown up, I felt drawn to a new challenge and found the opportunity interesting and fulfilling.
My goal is to raise awareness of the charity within the Dorset community, particularly to assist local families struggling with the financial burdens of a cancer diagnosis. I look forward to meeting you at one of our forthcoming coffee mornings or fundraising events, as together, we strive to make a meaningful difference.
Alongside our small team we are extremely grateful for our dedicated group of supporters which without we could not operate. We are forever appreciative for our fantastic volunteers and sponsors.
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