Almost 2,000 care boxes given to cancer patients

Volunteers who make care packages for cancer patients in Cornwall say they are soon to pack their 2,000th "little bit of love".

Since December 2023 about 120 Heart of Headland Boxes have been packed each month by a team of volunteers at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro to be given to chemotherapy patients.

Kelly Hallett from Newquay said she volunteers to help pack the personalised boxes because she wanted to give back to the Headland cancer unit after the support she received during her cancer treatement.

She said: "The treatment you go through can be very demanding and having someone take the time to pack a box and just give a little bit of love ... it just absolutely touches me."

Hallett said she started chemotherapy three years ago after she had been diagnosed with breast cancer which had been "a complete shock".

She said: "The whole treatment process was incredible, I think it was about four weeks from diagnosis to treatment.

"The whole process of weekly chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, I've had the whole lot thrown at me, but honestly, the treatment here is incredible."

Since then she has become part of the team packing personalised boxes for others receiving treatment.

A spokesperson for the Headland unit said the team would soon be packing the 2,000th care package.

They said the boxes held £45 worth of goods, including a thermometer, socks, mints, skin products and a puzzle book to help while away the time during chemotherapy.

Hallet said: "We have things like tea for the sickness and we have a pill box because of the amount of medication you have to take to combat the side effects of chemotherapy.

"So it's just all these very little thoughtful items that go into a box and it's just like a little bit of a hug.

"I know how important it is for someone just to take a bit of time to think about somebody else ... for someone to say actually 'here you go, here's something to help you' means a huge amount and I want to give back."

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