A CANCER charity has called for additional support after reporting a “rising tide” of patients using their services.

The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) say the number of people approaching them for support is double what it was before the Covid pandemic.

The DCCF helps cancer patients with costs including transport, parking, childcare and food bills, but the charity’s trustees say extra funds are “desperately needed” to meet the growing demand for these services.

Eve Went, co-founder of the DCCF, said: “Rapidly rising bills and fuel costs are affecting everyone, but for families already struggling because of a cancer diagnosis, this pressure can be almost unbearable.

“We have many fundraising events planned for 2023 and some fantastic people coming forward to support us with their friends, workmates and families.

"But we simply need to raise more money to cope with the rising tide of people needing our help, so even more support is needed.”

The charity is now looking for companies to sponsor their fundraising events, and volunteers who can help to run them. People are also being invited to make donations to the DCCF or organise their own events in its aid.

Eve said: “There is a way for everyone to show their support.”

AFC Bournemouth ambassador Jeff Mostyn is a patron of the DCCF and has echoed the call for more people to get involved.

He said: “It is heartbreaking to hear how people are struggling under the double weight of cancer and rising bills, but also heartwarming to see how people will readily step forward and fundraise to help people they don’t know.

“I hope people reading this will consider helping us in any way they can in 2023.”