A CAMPAIGNER from Chester is on a mission to send gifts and treats to families affected by cancer this summer.
Kate Northcott Spall told The Standard she dreamt up the idea while travelling the country and meeting cancer patients.
She noticed a high number of young parents who were dreading the summer as they simply were not able to go on holidays or treat their children.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Kate began drumming up support and she has now already secured the backing of a string of businesses.
She confirmed yesterday that the first batch of Summer Treat Boxes have been dispatched.
“I’m overwhelmed with the support and delighted people love the idea as much as I do!” said Kate. “It looks like this will become an annual event!”
One of the Campaign Kate 'Summer Treat Boxes'.
Explaining the origin of her latest idea, she added: “I’ve had the privilege of meeting and supporting many new cancer patients UK wide. What has been striking is their age. This year I have a large number of young women with children needing advice and support for incurable cancer.
“I am constantly humbled by their tenacity and strength but I have had many conversation in the past few weeks about how challenging the summer holidays are for them with their kids.
“They watch their peers going on holiday and running around with their kids and for many this is just not possible for them. So, I woke up the other day and thought the treatment support and advocacy I can do in my sleep for them - but how do I make them feel special and spoiled?
“And so the Summer Treat Box was born! I want them to open that box like a kid at Christmas and delight in expensive lotions and potions, candles, cooling face spritzes. For the kids I intend to send Lego, craft activities - stuff ‘to do’.”
The letter sent out with each Summer Treat Box.
Among the supporters so far are Aromatherapy Associates, who have sent a range of products, and SpaBreaks.com, which donated a spa day for every box.
Kate founded the Pamela Northcott Fund in 2007, following the death of her mother, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the age of 50 in 2005.
Distressed by the knowledge there was no effective chemotherapy available to treat kidney cancer, she put all her time and energy into researching a treatment for her mum.
Now an expert in NHS cancer commissioning policy, Kate has campaigned for the Cancer Drugs Fund which has provided life-extending drugs to more than 80,000 people.
Voted 2016 Cheshire Woman of the Year, this year has seen her take on a new role as board member for Cancer Research UK on their Policy Patient Sounding Board.
“We get to put a patient perspective on any new campaigns and policy work, a fantastic and powerful platform to be part of and for that I’m extremely grateful,” Kate said.
“I then got asked to be ambassador for the Eve Appeal's #GetLippy campaign to encourage women to speak out about gynae cancer symptoms - they thought as I was the mouthiest campaigner around I would be a perfect fit!”
Kate at the Eve Appeal's #GetLippy photo shoot and launch at Harvey Nichols.
Kate has also been working with NHS leaders giving workshops and speeches on how to make a change in the public sector.
Her most recent partnership for 2018 has been working with Life Kitchen on a new initiative of providing cooking classes to help patients undergoing chemotherapy “find their taste buds again”.
* Kate is calling on anyone who can support the Summer Treat Box initiative, or who needs a box, to contact her at @campaignkate on Twitter or kate@pamelanorthcottfund.org.uk
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