Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.

Macmillan host a series of annual fundraising events, which include running, golf and cycling events. The most notable event is World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, which has made £75,000,000 since it began in 1991. Macmillan also hosts other large fundraisers, including Brave the Shave which raises over £4,000,000 each year, as well as Go Sober for October which has raised over £3 million

Cancer impacts on life in so many ways. It’s not just the diagnosis and treatment, cancer can affect so much more. People with cancer often have lots of questions but don’t know about support available to them. Getting the right information whenever and wherever you need it can make all the difference.

As part of a three year partnership with Edinburgh and West Lothian Council’s Libraries and Information Service, we are investing over £555,000 to fund Edinburgh Libraries and £700,000 in the West Lothian Libraries Service. Staffed by trained volunteers these services will give people cancer information specific to their worries and questions. With the service being based in libraries, this makes it easier for the community to access. They can also direct people to other local support services and provide leaflets and information booklets.

This service will be available in six libraries in Edinburgh, four in West Lothian and via other community projects; creating more places for people living with cancer to get information and support that’s personal to their needs from the moment they are diagnosed.