The grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will enable Firefly Cancer Awareness & Support to replace one of its older patient transport vehicles and maintain the level of service it provides to the community in the Doncaster area.
The
VINCI UK Foundation has awarded Doncaster-based Firefly
Cancer Awareness & Support £10,000 from its 2020 fund to purchase a
replacement for one of its eight patient transport vehicles. The charity’s
volunteer drivers offer a lifeline to cancer patients and their families in the
borough of Doncaster by providing free transport to regional treatment
hospitals. The replacement vehicle will enable them to maintain the
availability of transport and continue this vital service for local people at
the same level.
Founded in 2006 by Denise Dunn to help other local patients through a difficult
time after her personal experience with cancer, Firefly Cancer Awareness &
Support also raises awareness, particularly among young people, to spot the
signs of cancer before it advances.
Denise’s fiancé Ian Bacchus, who now runs the project in her memory, said: “The
ability for local cancer patients to get from Doncaster to treatment centres in
Sheffield in a stress-free environment and free of charge is so important. We
can’t thank the VINCI UK Foundation enough for their kind generosity.”
In addition to the grant, Alan Ellams, QESH (Quality, Environment, Safety and
Health) advisor at Omexom Power Solutions, part of the VINCI Group, will
provide practical support as sponsor.
“Receiving treatment for cancer
is a very stressful time in patients’ lives and getting to treatment centres on
public transport would be an arduous journey with a number of changes involved
– even more so after treatment. Due to COVID-19, Firefly’s fleet of eight
minibuses are running flat out since the number of patients they can transport
at a time is reduced. The money donated by the VINCI UK Foundation has been
used to assist in the purchase of a replacement for a minibus which had in
excess of 200,000 miles on it. Firefly is a great charity that alleviates
stress and brings comfort to people through their cancer journey,” he said.
The VINCI UK Foundation was founded in 2016 to promote social integration and
cohesion among communities surrounding VINCI businesses. Since then, the
foundation has donated almost £1 million to 130 local charities across the UK
and Republic of Ireland, while VINCI employees, as sponsors, have offered their
professional skills to make a difference in whatever small way they can.