First Respite Lodge Purchase Agreed
29 March 2023
The ‘4 Cancer Group’, the cancer respite charity with a sporting focus, is proud to announce that it has agreed terms to purchase the charity’s first holiday property. The property will provide respite holidays for families who are struggling to cope with the huge impact of a cancer diagnosis.
The two-bedroom holiday lodge will provide accommodation for between four and six people. The property is located just outside Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and is within walking distance of the town centre. Yarmouth acts as one of the gateways to the Island thanks to its 22-minute ferry crossing to Lymington on the mainland.
Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Nicholson, Trustee at the charity said:
“This is a very important step forward for the charity. For the past twenty years we have been sourcing respite holidays from various holiday providers at discounted rates. However, since the pandemic the cost of buying in holidays has increased significantly.
“Furthermore, the charity’s ability to buy holidays, even at discounted rates, has diminished greatly. Our income during the pandemic fell by 90% and it hasn’t recovered since. By becoming holiday property owners, we will be able to deliver respite holidays for those most in need at a much lower operating cost.”
“This marks the start of a new operating model for the charity. Although the Isle of Wight attracts visitors from all over England due to its incredible scenery and popular attractions, we are aware that families with a severely ill family member do not want to travel particularly far away from home.”
“For this reason, we will soon launch an ambitious plan to add respite holiday properties in several other Areas of Natural Beauty within the UK. When operating at full capacity this will enable us to provide up to 10,000 respite nights per annum.
“From days out to short-breaks in the UK, the charity gives families something to look forward to during the most difficult of times. Time spent away with the people we love from the stresses of everyday life at home, can make all the difference. This time can be incredibly precious especially when someone is terminally ill.”
Since 2001, the ‘4 Cancer Group’ of charities has provided a total of 31,545 respite days, the equivalent of 86.42 years of holidays. Nearly 7,000 people have benefitted from the charity’s help over that time. The charity has an objective in place to deliver a ‘Century of Respite’ (36,500 days) by the end of 2025, a target which it is on track to deliver.
