Blow for Crowland Cancer Fund as furniture warehouse to close

A Crowland charity that has raised nearly £800,000 for cancer patients and carers over the last 28 years faces losing a vital source of income.

Crowland Cancer Fund, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in October 2020, is to close its furniture warehouse in Crease Drove at the end of August.

A lease on the warehouse is due to expire and the charity has been given notice that it will not be renewed, with rumours suggesting that the building could make way for new housing.

In a statement published in a recent edition of the Crowland Town Magazine, a Crowland Cancer Fund committee spokesman said: "In view of the fact there is nowhere else of a suitable location from which to operate, we have no option but to cease trading from our warehouse facility at the end of August 2018.

"Our volunteers also feel they are no longer physically able to continue with the work involved at the actual warehouse, as well as collecting and delivering heavy furniture.

"We have appealed in the past for younger volunteers to assist us, but none have come forward and our regular volunteers are not in a position to do such demanding work."

The decision has no bearing on Crowland Cancer Fund's shop in East Street which will continue trading, but no longer selling furniture.

Committee chairman Val Capes said: "We're sad that we can't carry on at the warehouse.

"But the fact is we're all getting older and most of us are in our 70s.

"We've helped a lot of charities over the years like Teenage Cancer Trust, Sue Ryder and Abbeyview Surgery in Crowland.

"We've helped a lot of charities over the years like Teenage Cancer Trust, Sue Ryder and Abbeyview Surgery in Crowland.

"However, we feel the time is right to just concentrate on the shop.

The charity held its annual presentation evening at The Crown pub just after Easter when £45,000 was distributed to five beneficiaries.

Peterborough City Hospital's Amazon Ward for children and young people received £3,000, while the hospital's oncology clinic was given £6,000.

Meanwhile, cheques for £12,000 each given were given to Marie Curie Cancer Care, St Barnabas Hospice and Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice.

Lauren Alexander, Lincolnshire's community fundraiser for Marie Curie, said: "This incredible donation from Crowland Cancer Fund is an invaluable amount of money which means a lot to us.

"It will enable Marie Curie to provide a service to terminally ill patients which equates to 600 nursing hours or nearly 67 nights."

Joely Gardner, Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice's senior community fundraiser and who attended the presentation evening, said: "Crowland Cancer Fund is a real community fundraising effort, as is the hospice which provides palliative and end of life care for the Crowland community.

"So we are proud to have been chosen to receive a donation from the Fund once again and the £12,000 given to Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough is extremely generous for which everyone here is very grateful."

Vikki Allen, community fundraiser for St Barnabas Hospice, said: "We are delighted with the donation made to St Barnabas Hospice by Crowland Cancer Fund which will be of huge benefit to the local community.

"St Barnabas must raise £5.5 million each year to continue providing free care to those living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, along with their families and carers.

"This money will certainly make an overwhelming difference to the lives of people in Lincolnshire.”