A Dorset-based leukaemia charity is appealing for help as they fear approaching breaking point after a difficult few years.

Leukaemia Educating and Fundraising (Leaf) was first set up in a hospital bed 16 years ago by a mum who was diagnosed with leukaemia shortly after giving birth to her son. 

Natasha Hunt was diagnosed three weeks after giving birth to her second son.

She said: "I spent six months in isolation at Poole Hospital after being diagnosed and that’s when I started Leaf."

Bournemouth Echo: Natasha Hunt and her sons Natasha Hunt and her sons

Over the past 16 years, the charity has managed to support lots of blood cancer patients. However, after a tough year, Natasha said: "We probably only have a few months left if it continues like this, we will be lucky to get to the end of the summer.

Covid meant the charity had to cancel a lot of the events they had planned in the last few years. Natasha said: “This was a massive hit for us because we are only a small charity.

Bournemouth Echo:

“We don’t have an office anymore so I’m working out of my dining room, which is an absolute nightmare, we are trying to find a local business or individual that might have a spare space where Leaf could have an area to work from.”

The charity supports patients in a range of different ways. For example, giving lifts to hospital appointments, looking after pets, and giving out food vouchers to those in need.

Natasha said: “There is such a wide range of things people worry about and it’s nice we can come in and take their worries off them.

Bournemouth Echo:

Natasha said: “We are really lucky that we have some lovely supporters, but I think we still need to grow the awareness of Leaf so that more people know about us.

"I am not going to give up without a fight. Leaf has been going for so long it would be such a shame to see it close after seeing the good that it does for people.”

To find out more about Leaf or to donate visit: https://www.leafcharity.com/